The Intrepid Snail

I scampered right out under our heavy door and clattered down the sunny steps to inspect the courtyard bricks! Tucked against the mossy mortar lay a smooth, empty snail shell, coiled into a glorious spiral tower. Naturally, this called for my debut as The Great Snail. I hoisted the shell onto my back, clicked my knees into a low crouch, and began an intensely dramatic, slow-motion crawl along the narrow brick edge. But my clumsy hip wiggle proved a bit too enthusiastic—wobble, tilt, whoosh! I tumbled right off into a plush bed of green moss, landing flat on my back with the shell balanced upright on my tummy. Ta-da!