The Snail Who Packed a Picnic

How it begins

Stanley Spiral packed a picnic for two.

He packed four blankets.

He packed six cups.

He packed a very large cake and a small cake in case the large cake felt too serious.

Lottie Dot arrived carrying one loaf of bread.

'Where shall I sit?' she asked.

Stanley looked at his picnic wagon.

The blankets filled the bottom. The cups filled the middle. The cakes occupied everything that might have been a seat.

'Perhaps on the basket.'

'The basket has a pie on it.'

'Perhaps beside the pie.'

'There is jam beside the pie.'

Stanley considered the jam. It was excellent jam. He had made it on purpose.

The adult ladybird put down her loaf.

'What do we need for a picnic?'

'Food.'

'We have food.'

'A place to sit.'

'We do not have that.'

Stanley took one blanket from the wagon. Beneath it lay three cushions and a small decorative umbrella.

'I wanted everything to be lovely.'

Lottie smiled.

'I'm already here. That is part of lovely.'

They unpacked the wagon. One blanket went back inside. Two cups followed. Stanley chose the small cake because it looked less likely to require a committee.

The large cake went to the neighbors, who had a table and several useful forks. The extra blankets stayed home, where blankets enjoyed being extra.

At last, a space appeared beside the basket.

Lottie climbed in. Stanley took the handle.

They traveled all the way to the sunny patch beside the next flowerpot.

'We haven't gone far,' Stanley said.

Lottie spread the blanket.

'We've made room.'

Stanley sat beside her. There was bread, jam, a small cheerful cake and enough space to put down his shell without knocking over a cup.

For a moment, he wondered whether they needed anything else. Then Lottie offered him a slice of bread, and he decided to begin with what they had.