In an ancient garden bathed in golden sunlight lived a little snail named Oliver. Oliver’s shell was caramel-colored, with several rings of patterns that looked like donuts. He always walked very slowly; with every step, he would first extend his feelers to feel his way, then carefully move his soft body forward.
In a corner of the garden stood a beautiful rosebush named Rosa. Rosa’s branches were covered with plump, pink blossoms that looked like shy little faces and gave off a sweet fragrance.
Oliver loved Rosa the most. But Rosa grew so tall that it took Oliver a very, very long time to climb up just to the lowest leaf on the rosebush.
“Rosa, Rosa,” Oliver tilted his head back and called up, “Your flowers smell so good! Can I climb up to take a whiff?”
Rosa bent her head down and gently shook her leaf, making a rustling sound: “Of course you can, little Oliver. But take your time—don’t rush. I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
Oliver nodded and continued climbing. As he passed a leaf, he spotted a sparkling dewdrop on it. He stopped and washed his face with the dewdrop; it felt cool and incredibly refreshing.
“Rosa, I just washed my face!” Oliver shouted happily.
“That’s wonderful,” Rosa said with a smile. “The dewdrop is a little gift from the sky for you.”
Oliver climbed for a while longer and came across a little ladybug taking a nap. Afraid of waking it, he stood on tiptoe and tiptoed very, very quietly around it.
“Rosa, I just walked on tiptoe, just like a little ballerina!” Oliver whispered.
“You’re such a polite little gentleman,” Rosa said, her voice as gentle as a breeze, “The flowers are all clapping for you.”
Finally, just as the sun was about to set, Oliver crawled up next to Rosa’s tallest flower. He extended his antennae and gently touched the soft petals. Wow, it smelled so good! It was as if he’d breathed in all the sunshine of spring.
“Rosa, I can smell you!” Oliver sighed contentedly. “This is the happiest moment of my day.”
Rosa gently let a petal fall onto Oliver’s shell, as if tucking him in with a little pink blanket. “Thank you for coming to see me, little Oliver. Because you took your time, I got to see so many sights I wouldn’t normally see. And your persistence has shown me that waiting can be a wonderful thing.”
The moon rose, casting a silvery glow over the garden. Oliver let out a tiny yawn, curled up inside his shell, and nestled against Rosa’s branch, ready to sleep.
“Good night, Rosa.”
“Good night, my little Oliver. Sweet dreams.”
The garden was quiet, with only the gentle breeze rustling through the air. The rosebush and the snail drifted off together into sweet dreams.
