Gingersnap’s Garden Guest

Gingersnap noticed the silver trail before she noticed the snail. It crossed one paving stone in a shining curve, slow enough for a kitten to investigate without missing a single detail.

She followed the tiny traveler past thyme, under a fern, and around a puddle. Whenever Gingersnap leaned too close, the snail tucked away. Whenever she sat politely, two careful feelers appeared again.

The journey to the lettuce bed lasted nearly all morning. Gingersnap could have arrived in three leaps, but she stayed beside her guest. It was the first time she learned that an adventure did not have to be fast to be interesting.