Martin’s Snail Path

Martin and Adrian walk through the school garden after a shower. A small snail is crossing the damp path in front of their teacher.

Martin stops before his shoe reaches the snail. “It is right where people walk,” he says, watching its brown shell move slowly along.

Adrian suggests picking it up, but their teacher asks them to wait. They can give it room to move without touching its soft body.

The teacher places an orange cone beside the crossing place. Martin stands nearby. He politely asks the next group to use the other side of the path.

The snail stretches forwards and leaves a thin trail behind it. Adrian bends to look from a distance. The snail travels much more slowly than the children.

At last it reaches the edge of the flower bed. It slides beneath a damp leaf. The children can still see part of its shell.

The teacher removes the cone once the path is clear. Martin and Adrian look at the shiny trail and talk about why they stopped.

Back in class, Martin draws the snail beside its little crossing place. “We did not need to carry it,” he says. “We helped by making room.”