It was a morning at the end of summer, when everyone was coming back to work. Schools were still closed, so children and teenagers were trying to catch the attention of the adults. Near the bus stop a wee kid with a plump face and long and curly hair was jumping on the pavement. He had sticks in his hands and was putting them in a corner on the road, focusing on drawing imaginary scenes in the air. “there is my shack, and now i’m going to build a bridge... It’s far, i cannot walk... I have to drive a car..brum, brum, brum.”The car sped along the curb, turned around a tree, and then suddenly stopped. A snail, frozen with fright before him caught the attention of the child and he went down on his knee to better observe. Hey! You missed me by the skin of your teeth. - -slow down a bit, laddie!- i’m sorry, i didn't mean to.- eh, everybody that’s what everyone says. Is my little home ok?- if you want my home is near... I do not want to hurt you.The child took the snail from the curb and he went to the shack. He parked the car in the middle of the road because it was a fantasy car that nobody could see.- what do you have on your back?- my home.- and do you bring it with you all the time?- sure. I am fond of it. I will never change my ways.- but you will always see the same place, the same people.- and so? The world is huge. The world has more colours.- but it is dangerous too. If you didn’t see me on time, you would have crushed me on the road. But why did you stop?- i was curious to see you. I’ve never seen a snail until now. - so? Are you not afraid of the unknown? Asked the snail. - why should i be? Child replied. - because i could be dangerous. I could have a dangerous disease. The snail explained. - do you have it? Child asked. - no, i don’t have it. - so, i’d like to talk with you. And i don’t feel in danger now. The child reassured the snail. - should you not go home for lunch?- no, it’s still early.- but the sun is in the middle of the sky. Noticed the snail, pointing to the sky. - yes, but i am not hungry.- but you always have to eat at the same time. Every day. It is a rule. The snail said. - why?- because that’s what human beings do. - not everyone. - when they grow old. The snail argued. - and later they don’t have the pleasure of meeting a nice snail like you. And now i’m talking with you.- but it’s a waste of time.- for me it’s not. The child firmly replied. - you cannot earn money in this way. - i don’t need money. I want to know you better.- why?- because i met you today. I want to know something about you. Asked the child to the snail. - i’m vegetarian.- i have some salad around the corner. Do you want it?- yes, thanks.The child went to the other side of the hut and picked some grass. At the window of the hut there was an animal with four paws, a long neck and a nice face, with big and white teeth. It had some brown spots in its skin. “what is it?” Child and snail wondered to themselves, going out into the garden and standing in front of the animal. - “ hey, who are you? Why did you gather some leaves?” The giraffe wanted to know.- just for fun. My mommy left me to play by myself so i started to gather only the green ones. The child replied. - oh, they are my favourite. Can you give me some, please? The giraffe asked. - of course.- do you let her enter your home immediately? The snail asking, surprised. - i know that she is a giraffe and she is hungry and i gathered some leaves i cannot eat but she can. It’s enough. The child interrupted. - but responsible people are not to behave in this way.- and that’s why adults are always sad, never with grins on their faces. All day they think about money. They don’t know anyone, but they think that they know everything, just because they are adults. They don’t know you, snail, or the giraffe.In the evening the child played with the snail and the giraffe, in his shack, near to the bus stop. From the snail he learned to take care of everything, from the giraffe to be curious about the unknown, always looking for the good in everything and everyone.The three friends spent their evening and all night playing with cards, singing and dancing to the tunes of their own clan.Do you want to know if they will continue to be friends forever?Try to imagine your own ending!
