The Long Journey to School

by Ben Grain

It was a cold, frosty and snowy morning. Outside the cars were all slightly bigger than normal, and every single one was white. Fred knew it was going to be a difficult morning. It was always difficult when it snowed, but even more difficult if you were an inch high. Even more difficult still if you only had one foot, like Fred. It was extremely hard to cope with snow at all if you were a snail, which Fred was.

Fred thinks he shouldn't go to school in the snow.

Fred's mother convinces him to go.

Fred headed into the snow. It was horrible because he could barely get through the snow. Fred wanted to make his mother proud so he struggled on. At the end of his road he turned towards the school, which was half a mile away down the hill. He wondered how he was going to make it that far. He stood and thought for a minute. He didn't want to be late. Then he noticed that the school was moving towards him. Slowly at first and then it got faster and faster. Fred looked down and saw that the path was clear, cold and slippery. Ice. He was sliding down the hill.

"AAAAAAAARGGGGHHHH!" Fred screamed.

He slid past the houses.

He slid past the bank.

He slid past the shop.

Faster and faster and faster. This wasn't scary anymore. This was fun.

"Wheeeeee!" Fred cried.

As he slid past the library

"Whooooooooo!" Fred shouted.

Fred had never travelled so fast. He felt ecstatic. This must be what jet pilots feel like, Fred thought.

Then he saw it. The playground. Big and grey and sprinkled with white. Salt. Fred was in trouble. Salt and snails do not mix.
He couldn't slow down and he couldn't stop. Maybe he could steer. He leaned, trying to aim for the edge of the curb where it sloped up. He hit it and shot into the air like a bullet and felt like he was moving at the speed of sound. He was heading for the fence. He leaned backwards. He scraped over the top of the fence, shaking the snow loose. He was heading right for the closed door of the school. He was going to splat right into it.

He closed his eyes and waited for it all to be over. He could feel the wind on his antennae and rushing over his shell.

Then he heard something amazing.

DING! DING! DING!

The school bell! If the bell was ringing, then the door would be opened! He opened his eyes just as the teacher opened the door.

Fred zoomed past the teacher. He hit the floor and skidded along the corridor, through the door and straight into his classroom. He was cold. He was confused. He was dizzy. He was where he needed to be, right on time.

His mum would be proud. If she believed him!