The Crab and the Snail

Once upon a time, a crab went travelling and met a snail. Intrigued by her spiral shell, he stopped scuttling to ask her about it.

The snail shrugged a slow, gloopy shrug.

"I don't know," she said, "I've always had it, as long as I can remember."

"Don't you get bored of it?" he asked. Being a hermit crab, he'd inhabited several shells and thought it odd to be stuck with the same one forever. He didn't want to offend Snail by saying this outright. Instead, he told her proudly,

"I've had many shells. I choose them mostly for their fit, but some are beautiful. Some are light as feathers, some are strong. It's wonderful to be free, to inhabit any shell I choose."

The snail was fascinated. The process of moving into a new shell left one vulnerable to predators, but Crab saw admiration shining in Snail's expression, and didn't mention that part.

At last, having exhausted himself as a topic of conversation, Crab said, "Have you considered getting a new one? That one looks... heavy."

Snail, feeling small and dull, confessed that actually, yes, it was heavy... But she'd never known it could be removed.

The crab gave her lots of encouragement, because encouraging people is kind, and his mother had always taught him to be kind. Then he scurried away on his adventures.

Snail was determined to rid herself of the shell which she now realised felt like such a burden. "But it's part of you!" some of the other snails said, aghast.

"No it isn't," she replied, determined. "And that's why it has to go."

Snail befriended Bird, who was, naturally, delighted to help her with the unwanted shell problem.

Some snails were secretly heartbroken for her, but said nothing. Their mothers, too, had told them to be kind. So they gave her only encouragement and admiration. Snail basked in it. Eventually she celebrated, bleeding, as Bird pecked away at her wondrous curling shell until it was completely destroyed.

Forever marked and vulnerable, Snail relied on the village to tend to her. And they did, because one must always be kind.

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Word count: (excluding note): 366

Submitted on: 4th April at 13:02

*Quick Author's Note*

First, and most importantly: thank you for reading! Especially if you are one of the people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you 😁

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one makes an 95 day streak since the 1st January. I'm collating them all here.

The story behind the story: I wanted to write a story in the style of an old fable. I'm not sure whether I've done a good enough job of it, here. I think it might be too clunky. It should be simple, streamlined. Fewer layers. Less open to interpretation. Still, this is my effort.

Living with teenagers, I find myself repeating messages of self-acceptance often. This is not the modern way; if you don't like yourself, you can just change. <gloopy shrug>

Well, I don't like this modern message and I'm countering it.

I wanted to say: even though your body can feel awkward or uncomfortable, or a part of you can feel burdensome, it doesn't mean it's not spectacular in its own right. That you're not spectacular just the way you are. This is especially true for teenage girls, I think, but many people (especially women, but many men and boys as well) are likely able to relate.

It need not be so literal either; the "part of you" could be literally a part of your body, or it could be another part of your Self. Your past, for instance. I wanted to promote self-acceptance, in particular when the alternative is self-destructive. And also urge caution; when someone is encouraging your self-destruction, they are either gaining something from it, or it's easier for them to smile and look away.

Thank you

Thank you again!