The Badger And The Snail – A Children’s Story

Horacio saw everything in life as a big adventure, which isn’t hard when you are a tiny snail who lives on in a little wooden house on the inside of a windowsill. Because of this though, every day became special. His Papa Edgar was special, even though he wasn’t a snail.

Edgar was a Badger that found Horacio on his rose bush after the wind had carried him there in a storm. As soon as he saw him, Edgar took care of the little snail, and raised him as his own. Every morning, Edgar would take Horacio his breakfast, usually some form of carrot, to eat.

Both Edgar and Horacio loved carrots. It didn’t matter whether it was carrot soup, carrot pancakes, carrot soufflé, though that was usually for special occasions. Edgar made it for Horacio’s birthday, Easter, and Christmas.

Every day to Horacio was wonderful, but Saturdays were extra special. This was the day that Edgar and Horacio went to town. Edgar would wear his special hat, the one that had a little room for Horacio, with it’s on window.

The first place they went was to the library. Edgar loved books, he had taught Horacio how to read. Though the library’s books were normally too big for Horacio, Mrs. Mouse would let him borrow one of her little one’s books. It was as big as Horacio, but much smaller than the others.

Edgar would prop it up outside Horacio’s house on the windowsill at home so he could read and turn the pages when they got home. After the library, they thanked Mrs. Mouse for the books, and went to the toy store. Most of the toys were too big for Horacio, but Mr. Otter always carved a little toy or two for Horacio to pick from that was his size. Mr. Otter had to use a magnifying glass to do it, but he became very good at it.

Next, the two would go to Edgar’s favorite stop, the museum. They would see all sorts of things, paintings, statues, suits of armor from the Great Rabbit War, and little teeny ant armor from the Fire Ant Conflict of the last century. That night Edgar would tell Horacio a different bedtime story about one of the things they saw there.

Both Edgar and Horacio loved stories. They loved learning, it was one of the gifts that Horacio inherited from his Dad. That and most importantly, a kind heart for all. Edgar would often say that “Love is the one thing you can give away, and only have more of when you’ve given it.”

After the museum Edgar and Horacio would stop by Warbler Market, and place their grocery order. While waiting for it to be filled, they would walk over to the diner for dinner. Edgar would have carrot soup, and Horacio would have carrot fries. While eating they would laugh and talk about all the funny things Willy and Winny Warbler said at the market.

At some point Horacio would always say “I Love You Dad, thanks for bringing me.” Edgar would always smile and say, “I Love You Son, thank you for being mine.” They’d share the big event of the day, a piece of Chocolate Tart, and head back to the store.

Edgar would pull the groceries home in a little wooden wagon, and they’d spend the rest of the night laughing and playing chess. At bedtime, Edgar would tell Horacio a story from long ago, and it would not be long before Horacio was sound asleep. He would hear the end of it tomorrow, and start a whole new adventure.