Long ago, when animals could speak and lived much like humans, Turtle was known as a creature of sharp intelligence but deep selfishness. He was clever enough to survive difficult situations, yet he constantly looked for ways to benefit himself, even if it meant deceiving others. In many stories, Turtle’s wisdom was always shadowed by greed and manipulation.
One day, the birds of the sky received a grand invitation to a magnificent feast in the heavens. The food there was said to be richer and more delicious than anything found on Earth. When Turtle heard the news, his desire overwhelmed him, but there was one problem. Turtle had no wings and no way to reach the sky.
Refusing to accept this limitation, Turtle devised a plan. He approached the birds humbly and begged to join their journey, promising to behave respectfully and follow every rule. After much pleading, the birds finally agreed. Each bird gave Turtle one feather, allowing him to assemble temporary wings so he could fly with them.
Before the journey began, Turtle made another suggestion. He proposed that everyone change their names for the trip to make the occasion more formal and meaningful. Secretly, Turtle chose the name Everybody, but he never explained why this name mattered.
When they arrived in the sky, the hosts prepared a lavish feast and announced, “This food is for everybody.” At that moment, Turtle stepped forward and declared that his name was Everybody, claiming that the entire feast belonged to him. Without shame, he ate nearly all the food, leaving only scraps for the birds.
The birds were furious, realizing they had been tricked, but they waited silently until the feast was over. On the journey home, they demanded their feathers back. Suddenly wingless and suspended high above the ground, Turtle panicked. In desperation, he sent a message to his wife below, asking her to spread soft cloths or thick leaves to break his fall.
The birds reached the ground first and deliberately twisted the message. They told Turtle’s wife to clear everything away and leave only the hardest surface possible. When Turtle fell from the sky, he crashed violently onto the bare earth. His shell shattered into many pieces. Though he survived, his shell never healed completely, remaining cracked and patched forever.
From that day on, people said that Turtle’s broken shell was the result of greed, dishonesty, and thinking only of oneself. The story has been passed down through generations as a moral lesson, reminding listeners that selfishness may bring temporary gain, but it ultimately leads to loss, humiliation, and lasting consequences.