Samuel the Speedy Snail

Samuel was the slowest snail that ever existed. Yes, he moved so slowly that even his mother said that Grandpa snail moved faster than he did. If it took the others to get from point A to point B in 1 day, it would take him 3 days. He was just generally slower than the others. And nobody knew why. His family tried training him with Speedy Snail (who by record was the fastest snail in their colony). But he still could not move faster-not even by one microsecond. His friends tried to build up his stamina by giving him the best of the plants. After being fed like a pig, he still did not manage to move faster. Instead he became fat like a pig and moved even slower! They then asked Mr. Millipede whether he had any extra legs which he could spare Samuel. He had some prosthetic legs which he used for his damaged legs. And when Samuel put them on and tried to walk, he broke the legs and came tumbling down like Humpty Dumpty. You can imagine his frustration and disappointment in himself. Why could he not move faster? Even his baby sister could move faster than him. And she was only 3 months old!

Life went on for the snails, but Samuel did not get any faster. In fact he got even slower. Day by day, he gazed longingly at the other snails who pass by him, shaking their tentacles at his slowness. He envied the butterflies who fluttered pass, the dragonflies who whizzed pass and the bugs who buzzed their wings and sped pass him. He was jealous of the caterpillars and even the worms. And he was 25 years old now, nearing the end of his life-span and yet he never had a breakthrough where speed was concerned. 

He had nightmares during the nights where he was in a race and that the snails who had just hatched from their eggs beat him shells down. By the time the little baby snails had turned 5 years old, he was still nowhere near the finish line. He had dreams where he tried to move faster and pushed himself forward with all his might that he popped out of his shell and died amidst the laughter of others. But he had dreams where he had the last laugh. In some dreams, he grew wings and flew amongst the dragonflies. In other dreams he glided along the path as though he had skates on. And there was once where he dreamt he came in second place in the 'Who Wants to Be A Speedy Snail Contest'.

And so it was just like any other day when it suddenly dawned upon his snail brain. And he wondered to why he did not think of it in all of his snail life? So he set his heart upon it. For one month he made sure he ate the best leaves in the garden and got all the rest that he needed. And he made sure he flexed his snail muscles everyday. And once the month was over, he started his journey.

'Where are you going?' asked his fellow snails. 'You'll see,' Samuel said with a smile. 'Oh come on, Samuel. Don't tell me you are still thinking of moving faster after all these years?' asked Slimy Snail. 'Yeah man, what do you think you are doing? You wanna turn into Slug Slime?' asked another. But Samuel ignored them all and persevered on. It took him another 3 weeks to reach to his destination. And then he waited.

'What do you think happened to Samuel?' 'I think he got crushed,' said Speedy. 'I think he expired before he even reach to god knows where!' said Slimy. And they all shook their snail heads and snuggled into their shells for their sleep.

The sun rose, the cockerel crowed. And the snails slept on as usual. That is until a rumbling from afar and a voice shouting for them to get up, jolted them up from their sleep. And the dragonflies shouted with excitement yelling for the garden community to wake up and to see what was happening. And they couldn't believe their minuscule eyes. Samuel was on the handle of the big bike and he sped pass them. And he was faster than all the snails put together! And he was having the time of his life. He was at optimum speed and clinging on to dear life as the big bike went roaring by.

And so it was night time when the big bike came roaring back with Samuel as the passenger. And the whole garden community was waiting in the garage for him. 'What was it like?' asked his fellow snails. 'It was exhilarating, crazily fast and awesome beyond words!' Samuel replied excitedly. 'I couldn't have asked for anything more!' he said. And they all went home feeling amazed that Samuel the slowest snail became Samuel the speedy snail in such an unorthodox way. He had the last laugh indeed! And he died a very satisfied snail.