Tom Finds a Snail

Tom sees a snail on a leaf. “A little shell!” he says. Dad crouches beside him.

They look without touching. The snail is still. “Let’s wait,” says Dad.

Slowly, the snail comes out. Tom sees its soft body. “Here you are!”

Its feelers stretch out. “It is finding its way,” says Dad. Tom watches quietly.

The snail glides along the leaf. It moves very slowly. Tom keeps his hands back.

“Where are its legs?” asks Tom. “It has no legs,” says Dad. “It moves on a soft foot.”

A shiny trail is left behind. Tom points beside the leaf. The snail keeps going.

They leave the snail in the garden. “You have your own way to move!” says Tom. Dad and Tom walk on.