The Turtle Who Kept Tucking In

In this modern fable we follow the story of  Barnaby, a box turtle who possesses the surreal ability to turn himself inside out, retreating into a "velvet void" within his shell to escape the friction of reality. Through encounters with a hyperactive rabbit, sensitive crocodile and a Portuguese man-of-war, Barnaby learns that his habitual withdrawal is a form of emotional stagnation that mirrors the avoidance strategies of others.
The story reaches a climax when a salesman attempts to sell him an automated vacuum for deleting reality, forcing Barnaby to choose between sterile emptiness and the painful beauty of the physical world. Ultimately, the text serves as a poignant metaphor for vulnerability, suggesting that true life requires one to remain perceptible despite the risks of being hurt. It concludes with the protagonist embracing his physicality, choosing to live with his neck extended rather than remaining a "perfectly preserved nothing."