Written and illustrated by Kurt
Crow was perched in the uppermost branches of an ancient, weather beaten Sycamore tree. His shape stood out starkly against the steely Autumn sky.
Taking flight, crow descended from the tree’s heights and came to rest on a hollow, mushroom festooned log, close by a small pond. As crow sat watching the still water’s surface, he heard an unusual sound coming from below. It was a strange sort of sound; a gurgling, sniveling, liquidy sound. A most curious sound indeed.
Crow cocked his head and peered under a large leaf next to the log he sat upon. He saw a snail. It was the snail that was making the curious sound, and to crow the snail looked and sounded quite forlorn. “Why so upset, snail?” asked crow.
Snail responded, “Why shouldn’t I be upset? Everything about my miserable existence is bad! I’m truly the most unlucky of creatures in so many ways.”
“Well,” said crow, “be specific.”
“Alright, I will,” said snail. “Other creatures can move about in excellent ways. Some, for example, can soar through the sky on their amazing wings. Others can glide through the water effortlessly with glistening tails and fins, and still others can race along on strong powerful legs. But me? I can only slither along the ground in my snail-like way.”
Just then a snake came slithering by, close to where crow and snail were talking. The snake was fast and silent as he made his way.
“Look at snake,” said crow. “He slithers along just like you do, and he’s about to sneak up on frog thanks to his slithery nature. I don’t hear snake complaining, do you?”
“That may be so,” said snail, “but there’s also my unfortunate skin to consider. Some creatures have the most beautiful feathers, and others have thick luxurious fur. And here I am stuck with this slimy, slippery skin.”
Just at that moment, the slithering snake sprung at the unawares frog. The snake would have had frog for a meal, but because he was slimy and slippery, frog was able to squirm out of snake’s jaws and make his escape.
Crow cawed with delight and said “Look snail, frog is slippery and slimy. Do you think he is feeling sorry for himself right now?”
“You’ve got a point crow, but you can’t deny that I have a monstrous burden with this blasted shell I have to lug around. It truly weighs me down horribly.”
As snail was bemoaning his misfortune, snake was slithering his way back in their direction.
On his way he passed a turtle who was calmly sunning himself on a log. Snake passed right by without a second glance.
As snake neared, crow asked him, “Why didn’t you try to catch turtle like you tried to catch frog?”
Snake answered, “Why bother? Even if I caught him I couldn’t eat him with that hard old shell he wears.”
As snake slithered away crow said, “Hmm, turtle’s shell looks much more cumbersome and heavy than yours, snail. I don’t hear one bit of sniveling from him, do you?”
Snail seemed to ponder all that he had seen and heard. At last he said, “You know, crow, I can see that you have a point. I have some things to be quite glad about.”
Crow said, “That’s true, snail, but it’s really kind of sad.”
“What is?” asked snail.
“That we never seem to see the good of things until it’s too late.” That said, crow quickly pecked at snail, cracking his shell with his strong beak. Crow plucked out the tender body and flew with it up to the top of the old Sycamore tree.
Enjoying his treat, crow thought to himself, “It’s good to be a crow.”