Toby the Tortoise Tells the Truth - A Children's Story

Toby the Tortoise Tells the Truth

By Bill Conley

Moral of the Story:
When you make a mistake, the best thing you can do is take responsibility.
Owning up to something you broke shows honesty, courage, and maturity.
People will appreciate your truthfulness more than a cover-up or a lie.
Telling the truth builds trust, and trust is something you carry for life.

In the quiet meadow near Willow Grove, a young tortoise named Toby loved exploring the world around him.

He wasn’t the fastest—everyone knew tortoises were slow—but he was curious, thoughtful, and kind.

Toby especially loved visiting his friend Lily the Lamb’s house, where they played games, built puzzles, and shared snacks under the big oak tree.

One sunny afternoon, Lily invited Toby in to see her brand-new music box—pink and gold with tiny stars painted on the sides.

“It plays a lullaby when you wind it!” she said, beaming.

Toby’s eyes grew wide with wonder. He reached out to give it a gentle spin…

CRACK!

The lid snapped off, and one of the star-shaped gears popped out, clinking to the floor.

“Oh no!” Toby gasped.

Lily stared at the broken music box, her smile fading into silence.

“I—I-I’m sorry,” Toby stammered, heart pounding. “I didn’t mean to… I was just trying to see it closer.”

Lily’s eyes welled with tears.

“I’ll tell your mom it was an accident,” Toby whispered. But inside, he felt a twist in his tummy—a heavy feeling that didn’t go away.

On his way home, Toby walked slower than usual. He didn’t feel like hopping over puddles or counting butterflies like he normally did.

That night at dinner, his mom noticed.

“Something bothering you, sweet shell?” she asked.

Toby looked down at his plate. He could feel the words building up in his chest.

“I broke Lily’s music box,” he finally said. “It was an accident, but… I should’ve been more careful.”

Mom put her fork down and smiled gently.

“Toby, thank you for telling me. That takes courage. Owning your mistake is the right thing to do.”

“Am I in trouble?” he asked.

“Not for being honest,” she said. “Honesty helps fix what went wrong—and helps people trust you even more.”

The next day, Toby carried a tiny envelope to Lily’s house. Inside was a note he had written all by himself:
"I’m really sorry I broke your music box. I didn’t mean to, and I want to help fix it. Your friend, Toby."

Lily read the note and smiled a little.

“My dad says he might be able to fix it,” she said. “And… thank you for being honest, Toby. That means a lot.”

Toby felt the heavy twist in his tummy melt away. He stood a little taller.

After that, Toby still made mistakes—everyone does—but he always remembered: it's better to own up, be honest, and do what's right.

Poem:
If something breaks and it was you,
Don’t hide the truth—just say what’s true.
Your words can heal, your heart can grow,
And trust will bloom like springtime snow.