The Snail and the Cherry Tree
Once upon a time, in a very beautiful garden, there lived a wonderful cherry tree. The cherries looked like little rubies and shone brightly from its branches.
In this garden lived a little girl snail. Her name was Shelly. Shelly was a happy snail. In spring and summer, she played with butterflies and watched the birds. But during the cold winter, Shelly curled up in her warm shell and slept like a log.
Spring and Hunger
When such a winter ended, Shelly woke up from her long sleep and came out of her shell. She looked outside to make sure spring had truly arrived, and to her delight, it had. She saw all the flowers happily stretching towards the sun. She watched the little bees flying, kissing the flowers, and the butterflies danced, welcoming spring to the garden.
As Shelly strolled through the garden, admiring its beauty, her stomach suddenly rumbled.
— Oh, I ate so little during winter that now I could eat anything. Mmm, but what can I find in this big garden?
She looked around and her eyes then fell upon the big cherry tree.
— Oh, the cherry tree! How wonderful! I'm going to eat all the sweet and juicy cherries from it. I hope they're tasty!
So Shelly crawled to the cherry tree and began to climb.
Encounters on the Way
When she reached the twisted roots, a frog darted out from behind the bushes. It was Shelly's friend, Mr. Wac Wac.
— Hello, Shelly! Where are you off to on such a beautiful morning? — Oh, hello, Mr. Wac Wac! I'm very hungry and I want to eat the cherries that grow at the top of the tree. — Wac! But, my dear Shelly, this cherry tree has no cherries at all. It barely has a few leaves. — Maybe not now, but by the time I reach the top, there will be cherries. — If you had legs like mine to jump as fast as I do, you wouldn't have to struggle so much. I'm off to catch some flies for my breakfast. Wac! Do you want to come with me? — Uh, I mean, no, thank you. I'm sure the flies will make a delicious breakfast. — Are you sure? Flies are just as juicy as cherries, you know? Maybe even more so. — Yes, yes. I'm very sure. I don't want that kind of delicacy. Well, goodbye, Mr. Wac Wac! I must go. Enjoy your meal.
Then he left and jumped after a fly. But in his eagerness, he jumped too hard and too high and bumped right into a tree.
— Ah! How good that I don't jump! I'll crawl at my own pace.
She crawled slowly and reached the large trunk of the cherry tree. There she met another friend, Bondy the bumblebee. Bondy buzzed closer as soon as he saw Shelly.
— Shelly! What are you doing here? Have you come to enjoy the breeze? — Aha! No, Bondy. I've come because I want to eat the sweet cherries that grow high up on this cherry tree. — Cherries? But they only grow in summer! Now there are only leaves on the cherry tree! — Yes, I see the leaves. I know the difference between leaves and cherries. Thanks. But I'm slow, and by the time I reach the cherries, it will already be summer. — Seriously? Then I'll help you! When it's cherry time, you can climb onto my back and I'll carry you quickly through the air! — Oh, no, thank you. I'd be too dizzy if you carried me. I might even fall! — You wouldn't fall at all! It would be a very safe ride. But, very well. If you don't want to, then don't. Goodbye! I hope you find the juiciest cherries!
And Bondy took flight.
The Way to the Top
After that, Shelly turned back and began to climb slowly and steadily. Throughout the days, Shelly sometimes got very tired. But she thought of the big, red cherries and started climbing again. When it got dark, she went into her shell and rested well, and the next day she started climbing again.
Slowly, slowly, summer began to arrive, and little Shelly saw that the cherry tree already had flowers on it. As she looked, she suddenly felt a strong gust of wind. It was her friend, Wingy.
— Oh, hello, Wingy! You almost blew me off here. — Hello, Shelly! Have you come to see the flower buds? They look very beautiful, don't they? — Not as beautiful as the taste they'll have when they turn into the cherries I want so much. — Cherries? Is that why you came here? But there are only these flower buds here. You came too early. — No, Wingy! I didn't come too early. I came just in time. — Mmm, if you had wings as big and beautiful as mine, you could easily fly to the top. Look! Aren't they beautiful? Aren't they so... Ah! — Goodbye! How good that I don't have wings at all!
Shelly continued to go. There was only one direction she could go: up. When she reached the branches, she saw that the cherry tree was now full of wonderful white flowers. Their scent filled the air and the garden. When she stopped to smell the flowers, she heard two little birds chirping happily and talking to each other.
— Hey! Isn't that Shelly? — Where? Where? Oh, yes, it's her! How did she get up here? — Hello, Shelly! What are you doing up here, so high in the tree? Isn't it too tall for you? — Oh, hello! Yes, I've never been this high before. I came because I wanted to eat the cherries that grow on this tree. — You climbed all the way up here for cherries? Wasn't it difficult? — Of course it was! The climb was long and I was very hungry. But every time I thought of the cherries, I climbed further. And it was a lot of fun because I met many friends along the way. — You did an admirable job! But I feel sorry for you. There are only flowers on the cherry tree. — No worries! My journey isn't over. I still have a little more to climb. Just a little more. Well, goodbye! I must continue my journey!
The birds said goodbye to Shelly, as she continued to climb the branches. Soon she reached the top of the cherry tree and was very tired. But when she looked around, she was surrounded by the most beautiful red cherries she had ever seen.
— Wow! They look so juicy! Ah, which one should I eat? Which one? Oh, it doesn't matter! I'll eat them all!
The Reward
Shelly ate and ate until she was so full she couldn't eat anymore. She became as round as a cherry.
— Ugh! I'm so full! Ah, I'm glad I didn't give up! The climb was long and hard, but the result is extremely delicious!
And indeed, Shelly was happy. She had worked hard and been patient in her climb and efforts.
Shelly understood that if you truly want something, you must never give up.
