You thought wrong!

Siloh is an apprehensive turtle who has always been happy being the quiet one.
He doesn’t like to be noticed.
He doesn’t want extra attention.
He just wants to be with his friends and listen quietly to their stories.

But just because Siloh is quiet doesn’t mean he isn’t courageous.
The story I’m about to tell you will help you see what I mean.

One day, Siloh was sitting in the lunchroom at school when Tory the fox came over.
Tory was not the nicest fox in school, and when Siloh saw him, he let out a small sigh.

Tory leaned in close and said,
“Let’s me and you race after school today.”

Siloh shuffled back a little and replied,
“No thank you.”

Tory stepped forward again and gave Siloh a small shove, but Siloh stayed right where he was.

“What’s the matter?” Tory sneered.
“Afraid you’re going to lose? No one expects you to win — you’re a turtle. So what are you scared of?”

Siloh calmly answered,
“If everyone already knows I’m going to lose, then what’s the point of racing? Have a good day.”

Siloh tried to walk around him, but Tory blocked his path.

“The point,” Tory said, “is that I want to race. And we’re going to race.”

Just then, Damon — Siloh’s friend — walked over.
He had heard the conversation and wanted to support Siloh, even though Tory made him more nervous than usual.

Siloh looked at Damon and realized something important.

He wasn’t afraid of Tory.
And he wasn’t afraid of losing the race.
He just didn’t like being the center of attention.

But Tory was a bully — and he had bullied Siloh’s friends before.

So Siloh took a deep breath and said,
“I’ll race you — but only on one condition.”

Tory crossed his arms. “Yeah? What’s that?”

“If I win,” Siloh said, “you leave my friends alone from now on. And you apologize to them — in front of everyone.”

Tory burst out laughing.
“If you win?” he taunted. “Fine. I’m not worried about that.”

Siloh walked past him and called back,
“After school, then.”

When the school day ended, students — and even teachers — gathered outside for the race.
Most of them expected Siloh to lose badly… except his friends.

The teachers explained the rules and reminded Tory about his promise.

“Yeah, yeah,” Tory laughed.
“I’ll apologize — and I’ll even copy their homework if I lose.”

Siloh and Tory stepped up to the starting line.

“Ready to lose, loser?” Tory smirked.

Siloh shook his head.
“I’m ready to race,” he said. “But I’m not sure you are.”

The teacher raised her hand.
“On your mark… get set… GO!”

Before Tory could even take a step, Siloh was already gone.

The crowd gasped.

“Can turtles really run that fast?” someone whispered.

Tory panicked and started running, but it was too late.
Siloh crossed the finish line before Tory could catch up.

“That’s not fair!” Tory shouted.
“You didn’t say you were fast!”

Siloh didn’t respond.
Instead, he walked calmly toward the teacher.

“Tory,” she said, “do you have something to say?”

Tory clenched his fists. He didn’t want to keep his promise.

But the crowd began to chant, “Liar! Liar!”

Siloh raised his foot to stop them.

“We don’t like it when people call us names,” he said.
“So let’s not do it to someone else.”

Tory stared at Siloh in disbelief.

After everything he had done, Siloh was still being kind.

Slowly, Tory took a breath and apologized.

That day, Tory learned more than just the fact that turtles can be fast.
He learned that real strength isn’t about winning —
it’s about being brave, kind, and standing up for others.

The End