Under the Broad Leaf

I followed the silvery trail right to the edge of the large green dandelion leaf. I stopped two paw-lengths away... and tilted my head. Something small and round was tucked underneath the curled edge, hiding from the bright afternoon sun. Carefully, I lowered my nose and nudged the crinkled stem just a little bit. It bobbed upward. Beneath the cool shadow sat a tiny brown garden snail, pulled tightly into its spiral shell. I tucked my paws underneath my chest and rested my chin flat against the gravel, watching its quiet shell rest in the shade.