turtle tot stories | tmnt 2012

Mikey's New Friend

"Daddy! Daddy! Look what I found!" Mikey cried, running over to where Splinter sat with his eyes closed on the floor of the lair.

It was a normal New York afternoon, and the Turtles were at play in the main room of the lair. As usual, Splinter supervised them from the sidelines while meditating with his eyes closed. He could do both at the same time because he was just that awesome.

"What is it, Michelangelo?" the mutant rat said, opening his eyes and looking at his youngest son.

The other three Turtles hurried over to look, too.

Michelangelo held out his little green hand. In his palm, a tiny caterpillar wiggled and crawled.

"Ooh, I know what that is!" Donnie piped up. "It's called a caterpillar. I read about it in my book once."

"No one cares," Raph informed him.

"Ah, a caterpillar," Splinter said, silencing them both. He looked at Mikey. "Do you know what caterpillars turn into?"

Mikey shook his head with a confused expression.

"I do!" said Donnie. "Caterpillars turn into butterflies. It's something called metamorphosis. Wanna know how it works?"

"No," said Raph.

Donnie looked down at his feet.

"Wow," Leo breathed, coming over to look down at the caterpillar. "That's really neat, Mikey."

"It's not that neat," Raph said. "It's just a little worm."

"One's size does not govern one's strength, Raphael," Splinter told his second-oldest son. "The smallest thing could be the one with the biggest intentions. Never underestimate one's strength because of its size."

"Okay, Dad," Raph said without any real emotion, rolling his green eyes.

"Plus, caterpillars are not worms," Donnie corrected his older brother. "Those are very different from caterpillars."

"I don't care," Raphael replied.

"Daddy?" Mikey spoke, looking up at his father with hopeful eyes. "Can I...can I keep the caterpillar?"

"Michelangelo," Splinter said to his son. "Caring for something is a big responsibility. I would know, for I care for all four of you."

"Please? I can be responsible!"

"No, you can't," Raph told him.

Mikey ignored him.

"Please, Daddy?" he begged. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssseeeeeee?"

Raphael covered his ears and shrunk to the floor.

Splinter thought for a moment.

"Very well," he decided. "You may keep the caterpillar, but only if you promise to treat it with utmost responsibility and care."

"I promise!" Mikey said; his voice was serious, but it quickly turned happy again. "I'm gonna name you Mr. Wiggle!"

"That's a stupid name," Raphael remarked.

But if Mikey heard, he showed no sign of it. The little turtle turned and ran off to his room to play with his new friend.
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A few days had passed since Mikey had adopted Mr. Wiggle, and already the caterpillar was doing well. Mikey kept his little "pet" in a jar with air holes poked in the top; Splinter let him use branches and leaves from the plants in his room to feed the caterpillar and provide a natural-feeling habitat for it. The caterpillar was growing fast, eating a lot and growing bigger quickly. Every day, Mikey took Mr. Wiggle out to play.