The Snail Derby

Leaving the porch behind, I trotted down the pathway toward the sunny garden border to see what was happening outside. Nestled along the smooth gray curb stones, I discovered a small brown garden snail steadily gliding across a damp cedar mulch chip. Remembering my red whistle role, I nudged a dropped yellow marigold petal right in front of its path to mark a proper finish line. I leaned my muzzle down close to the soil, watching the snail's tiny silver trail glisten under the afternoon light. Cheering silently with a flick of my plush tail, I kept careful time as the little racer finally nudged over the petal edge!