Much thanks to Mikell for the info on turtles for this one. You're a lifesaver!
Annnnd, clearly I am not getting the Turtles' anatomy from the movies. Because those guys could retract all the way into their shells.
Soon they took her out of the enclosure so the humans could say hello properly. Mikey held her, presenting her first to April.
"Can I… pet her?" April asked timidly. It seemed an odd question to ask about someone's mother.
"I guess. She might not like it, though. I mean, she's not a cat or anything. But she'll get used to you eventually. Here," he said, handing her a piece of lettuce. "See if she'll eat from your hand. She won't do that for everyone."
She did for April, and it was one of the proudest moments of her life.
When it was Casey's turn, though, she ducked inside her shell at his touch. He didn't seem offended, to Catherine's sons' relief.
"Hey, how come you guys can't do that?" he asked, stroking her shell. Don rolled his eyes.
"Casey, our plastrons don't even connect with our shells. Where exactly are we supposed to put our arms and legs, I ask you?"
Casey studied the (mutant) turtle nearest him.
"I guess that'd be kinda hard, huh?"
"No joke, shell-for-brains," Raph said, nudging him. "Now quit touchin' my mom like that."
Casey jerked his hand away, to the sound of laughter.