“I’m so much more than a bus for bugs, and I’m not putting up with it any longer,” said Saoirse Snail angrily as she shook Laoise Ladybird off her for the third time that morning.

“Do you know, I carried Blue Beetle on my back for hours last night and as for Gary Greenshield, he doesn’t even ask, he just lands and hitches a lift every morning with no please or thank you, I’ve had enough,”

Laoise was a bit taken aback, Saoirse was usually in such good humour and never minded before if she asked for a lift.

The early morning chat was Laoise’s favourite part of the day. She liked chatting away to Saoirse happily about everything and anything and thought Saoirse did too. 

This a revelation thought Laoise. She knew that Saoirse was proud of the ancient Snail Silk Trail of Bottom of the Garden. Her family, as far back as the stories went. had taken the same journey from their safe abode under the rocks to the Garden of Abundant Vegetables far down the trail every night. Along the way, many smaller insects hitched a lift. That was the way it was, and is, and always will be, so why was Saoirse so unhappy about it suddenly this morning?

“Oh Saoirse, what is the matter?” asked Laoise.

“I’m just sick of it!” said Saoirse, and she retracted into her shell.

This isn’t good, isn’t good at all thought Laoise, the cool morning is nearly over and Saoirse hasn’t had breakfast, she should eat before she goes into her shell for the day or she may fall asleep for a very long time.

Snails often hibernate in winter and have been known to do so in dry summers, too. This, however, was not a dry summer. It was one of abundant food, so Saoirse should be stocking up for her winter sleep and to help her shell grow strong.

“Saoirse, there is some lovely lettuce in the garden this morning. Come and eat,” said Laoise. Saoirse ignored her. Laoise was worried. She knew Saoirse as long as she knew anyone, and she never saw her so sad before. She wasn’t sure what she should do. She waited for a while, but Saoirse did not reappear, so Laoise went to get her breakfast.

When Laoise returned, she carried with her a leaf of lettuce with the help of Gary Greenshield and Blue Beetle. They were happy to help. When Laoise told them that Saoirse, quiet and peaceful, Saoirse had thrown Laoise off and retreated to her shell they knew something had to be wrong.

Blue Beetle had been in a slumber when Laoise called him to help, and Gary had been sunning himself on a leaf, but busy as they were resting, they went anyway. Blue Beetle tapped on the shell. No reply.

Gary called out “Saoirse, I’m sorry if I took you for granted, I never even thought.” No reply.

Laoise called out, “Saoirse, I have your favourite type of lettuce here.” No reply.

The three friends sat outside Saoirse’s shell wondering what to do. This was not the Snail they knew. What could be troubling her?

As they sat, they talked. They talked about the weather, the multitude of swallows, and housemartins that surrounded their realm. The giants in the big castle had decided to let nature alone, let the grass and wildflowers grow. Before this, they were mowing down the clover, daisies, buttercups, and dandelions before they got a chance to bloom. It was getting a bit scary the attention their world was getting from frogs and even newts now, too.

On the plus side, there was an abundance of food as the meadow grew, and the giants planted fruit and nut trees and lots of scrumptious vegetables. The journey to and from the Garden of Abundant Vegatables to the Bottom of the Garden took much longer and was more difficult, but Saoirse made it easier for them and never complained.

They all went quiet, and Laoise tapped on the shell. “Saoirse, sorry we never noticed how hard you already worked, and then how much harder you had to work just to keep us comfortable. You should have said something.”

“I shouldn’t have to,” mumbled Saoirse from within the shell.

“Sometimes things don’t get noticed until you point them out,” said Gary Greenshield, master of disguise. “I regularly get unseen, but that suits me here in this dangerous but oh so beautiful world.”

“We didn’t notice because you made it look so easy, and you’re so quiet, going about your business without a sound” said Blue. 

“Not like you!” Laoise laughed. Everyone made fun of Blue for the noise that this ground beetle made scuttling across the stones. He wouldn’t go unnoticed.

Saoirse had popped her head out while they laughed and was munching on the leaf her friends had brought. Happy again, she enjoyed the chitchat they were having. They looked over at her and smiled. Sometimes, that’s all it takes. A little recognition for making things look easy that are evidently not.