The Sleepy Snail’s Journey Home
Xavier the snail travels slowly home across the garden at bedtime, meeting sleepy friends along the way before reaching his cozy shell-house.
- 5 min read
Xavier the snail stretched his eyestalks and yawned the tiniest yawn you’ve ever seen. The sun was painting the sky orange and pink, which meant something very important: it was almost bedtime.
But there was just one teeny, tiny problem. Xavier wasn’t at home. He was all the way across the garden, visiting his friend Maple the mushroom.
“Oh my spirals!” Xavier exclaimed, looking at the sleepy sky. “I need to get home to my cozy shell-house before the stars come out!”
Maple giggled, which made her spotted cap wobble. “You’d better hurry, Xavier! But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.”
Xavier waved goodbye with one tentacle and began his slow, steady slide across the garden path. His silver trail shimmered behind him like a ribbon of moonlight.
Slooowly, slooowly, went Xavier, because snails—as you probably know—are not very fast.
As he glided along, he passed Beatrice the butterfly, who was fluttering down to rest on a purple thistle.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Beatrice asked, folding her beautiful wings.
“I’m going home to bed!” Xavier called out. “But I’m moving as fast as my foot can go!”
Beatrice smiled. “I’m getting ready for sleep too. See? I’m finding the perfect flower to rest on. Good night, Xavier!”
“Good night, Beatrice!” Xavier continued on his way, feeling just a little bit sleepier.
Slooowly, slooowly, went Xavier.
Next, he passed a puddle where Frederick the frog sat on a lily pad.
“Ribbit! Hello, Xavier!” Frederick croaked. “The evening bugs are extra delicious tonight!”
“I can’t stop for bugs,” Xavier said, though his eyestalks drooped a little from tiredness. “I’m on my way home to my cozy bed.”
Frederick nodded wisely. “Me too, soon! I’m having one last snack, then I’m diving down to my muddy sleeping spot at the bottom of the pond. The stars make me sleepy.”
Xavier looked up. Sure enough, the first star was beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky. It looked like a tiny nightlight.
“Good night, Frederick!”
“Sweet dreams, Xavier!”
Slooowly, slooowly, went Xavier, leaving his glittery trail across a smooth stone.
By now, Xavier’s shell felt extra heavy, the way your head feels heavy when you’re really, really tired. His eyes were getting blinky. But he kept going because he knew something wonderful was waiting for him.
Under the garden gate he went, where he met Penelope the pill bug, who was rolling herself into a perfect little ball.
“Penelope, what are you doing?” Xavier asked.
“I’m practicing my bedtime routine!” Penelope said proudly. “Roll up tight, rock back and forth three times, then snuggle under this cozy leaf. Want to see?”
She demonstrated, rolling back and forth—rock, rock, rock—then tucking herself under a crispy brown leaf.
Xavier giggled. “That’s wonderful! My bedtime routine is different. I have to get all the way home first!”
“You’re almost there,” Penelope said sleepily. “I can see your shell-house from here. Good night, Xavier!”
“Good night, Penelope!”
Slooowly, slooowly, went Xavier, and now he really WAS almost home.
There it was! His beautiful shell-house, tucked beside the garden wall where the moss grew soft and green. A tiny mushroom lamp grew nearby, glowing gently in the twilight.
But Xavier’s journey wasn’t quite finished yet. Oh no! Xavier had a very special bedtime routine, just like you do.
First, he slid past his shell-house to the dewdrop pool. He dipped his tentacles in the cool, fresh water and washed his face. Splash, splash! “All clean,” he said.
Then he visited the moonflower vine and nibbled three tiny bites of a tender leaf. “My bedtime snack,” he said with satisfaction. Munch, munch, munch.
Next came Xavier’s favorite part. He found the smoothest pebble in his collection and rubbed his shell against it gently. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh. “Nice and shiny for sleeping,” he murmured.
Finally, FINALLY, Xavier arrived at the entrance to his shell-house. The inside was lined with the softest dandelion fluff and dried flower petals. It smelled like lavender and fresh rain.
Xavier slowly, slooowly curled himself inside his shell. He pulled in his eyestalks and tucked in his foot. His shell fit around him like a perfect hug.
“Ahhhhh,” Xavier sighed. “Home at last.”
Through his shell, he could hear the gentle night sounds of the garden. Cricket songs. A soft breeze rustling the leaves. An owl hooting a lullaby somewhere far away.
Xavier thought about his journey home. He’d said good night to Beatrice on her flower, Frederick by his pond, and Penelope under her leaf. Everyone in the garden was tucked in safe and sound, just like him.
“Good night, garden,” Xavier whispered. “Good night, stars. Good night, moon.”
His eyes closed.
His breathing slowed.
And curled up tight in his cozy shell-house, with his silver trail sparkling behind him like a map of his adventure, Xavier the snail drifted off to sleep.
He dreamed of tomorrow’s journey—another slow, wonderful adventure across the garden. But that’s a story for another bedtime.
For now, Xavier was exactly where he wanted to be: safe at home, warm in his bed, fast asleep.
The End
Sweet dreams, little one. May your journey to sleep be as peaceful as Xavier’s journey home.