How I Won the Great Snail Race of Miami-Dade County
(with sincere apologies to Mark Twain)
In the middle of a snail population explosion,
inspired by Mark Twain’s short story,
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of
Calaveras County,” we planned a snail race.
We thought snail races would be more fun
than frog races…longer to cheer,
longer to observe snail behavior,
and longer to shoot a snail video.
Calaveras County frogs get only three jumps…
Snails take their own sweet time
Keesha’s strategy to win the race
was to choose the largest snail.
Seth just wanted to shoot a snail video
and win an award at the county fair.
Jo planned to lure her snail with lettuce.
Clarence thought his snail would win
if he cheered louder than anybody else.
Clarence didn’t know snails can’t hear.
My strategy was to learn a lot about snails.
I did research. I drew a diagram and
labeled the shell, the foot, and the eye stalks.
I studied hard so I could pick the best snail;
I was sure my snail, Speedy, would win!
On the day of the snail race, we drew
two concentric circles on the tile floor.
Keesha had chosen a gigantic snail.
Jo had her lettuce ready.
We all put our snails in the center circle.
The first snail to leave the outer circle
would win the race. “Go, Speedy!” I whispered.
Seth had just started videoing the race
when Clarence began to cheer.
Even though snails don’t have ears
and can’t hear, they feel
sound wave vibrations
with their lower tentacles…
All the snails retreated into their shells!
“Shhh!” we told Clarence.
Speedy came out of his shell first.
Keesha’s giant snail had decided
never to come out again!
Jo’s snail was moving very slowly
away from the lettuce, leaving a slime trail
as it crawled into the outer circle.
Speedy certainly was fast, but he
couldn’t seem to move in a straight line;
he careened aimlessly around the outer circle,
leaving little silvery squiggles behind him.
Jo’s snail was about to cross the finish line.
Clarence couldn’t keep still any longer
and began cheering again for his snail.
Jo’s snail stopped immediately, just inside
the outer circle, and pulled into its shell.
Speedy was so smart, he finally wandered
outside the circle and won the race.
If you don’t believe me, you can watch
Seth’s video at the county fair.
After the race, we released the snails
far away from vegetable gardens.
Keesha’s giant snail finally came out of its shell.
Clarence apologized for making noise.
We washed the snail slime off our hands
and enjoyed an ice cream party
to celebrate Speedy’s big win.
Maybe someday, I’ll write a story,
“Speedy, the Celebrated Racing Snail
of Miami-Dade County!”
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
Inspired by a snail race in a sixth grade science class I taught in Miami. I am considering adding illustrations and developing this into a book for young readers, ages eight to twelve.
Gulf Coast Poet 
Oh Cheryl, what a wondrous story you have woven…. so magically narrated, and yes, I was quietly barracking in the background, for ‘Speedy’, the clever snail….🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌😀😎
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Ivor, you are so kind! I am so glad you liked the story. Thank you for taking time to read and comment. I always like hearing from you! Take care, Cheryl
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Always my pleasure Cheryl
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Such an interesting one. Yes, a illustrated book will be enjoyed by kids. Wonderful idea Cheryl 👍🏻
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Thank you, Radhika. I value your opinion. Thank you for reading and commenting. Your support is greatly appreciated. All the best! Cheryl
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Wow…..so nicely you’ve arranged the snail race and woven such story…
Really it will helpful for young reader.. .
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Ankit, I am so pleased that you think the book would be helpful to kids. I remember having a snail race in my classroom. Both the kids and I had a lot of fun! So I used that experience to write a story. Thank you for your feedback! I hope things are going well for you. Cheryl
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Your welcome Cheryl….
Have a blissful day ahead🌼💙
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Enjoyed from top to finish line. I guess the book would do wonders. All the best. I want Speedy to be on my side. 😀
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Kritika, your kind comments made my day! Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment. I can assure you, Speedy is on your side! Take care. Cheryl
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My pleasure always Cheryl. 🙂
You too take good care. How is your health now?
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Thank you, Kritika, for asking about my health. I went to a new doctor yesterday. He was a very old school diagnostician and helped me “put the pieces together.” He is faxing test results and his notes to my primary doctor. I have a checkup with him in a couple of days. We have ruled out many negative possibilities, and the prognosis seems good. I am slowly recovering from this four-month illness.
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Wow. This is awesome. Glad to hear that you are recovering. You will be better sooner 🙂 Happy to hear this, 🙂 🙂
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Fun, fun, fun…enjoyed the race and all its lessons!
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Laura, Thank you for your kind comment. After reading what you had to say, I realized that there actually are lessons to be learned in the story. I really didn’t have that in mind when I wrote it. I guess you just can’t take the teacher out of the girl! Hope all is well with you! Cheryl
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Picture six is so cool.
You were also mentioned in a blog I have just read. made me smile and I agree with them.
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Thank you, Msdedeng, for visiting my blog and commenting. I like that picture too. I wondered if the photographer set the snails up in a line like that or just caught them that way. They do look chummy, don’t they? I hope things are going well for you. Cheryl
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Lovely, Cheryl. Very interesting.👌👌
Take care.
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Thank you so much, Murali, for reading and commenting. I am glad you found it interesting. All the best! Cheryl
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An interesting race. Lovely story.
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Kinge, comment is below.
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Thank you, Kinge, for reading and for your kind comments. Have a great day! cheryl
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This story is full of wonder, capturing every child’s interest. It is an exciting adventure, as well as showing a bit about the scientific method, and evaluating behaviours in a caring way.
Thank you for suggesting this to read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 😁
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Thank you, Hamish, for reading and commenting. I am pleased that you think it would appeal to children, and I am glad you enjoyed reading it. I hope all is well with you. Take care, Cheryl
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Despite of Clarence noise your snail Speedy looked like the best prepared and remained on its way . I am glad, Chery, to see we have common memories of our childhood ! 🙂
Love ❤
Michel
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Thank you, Michel, for making an effort to find this post. I appreciate your kind thoughts. You are the only other person I ever heard of racing snails. My father used to say, “All great minds run in the same channels!” Love, Cheryl (: ❤
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Yes your father was right . “Grand minds look alike ” ! 🙂
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I love it. You picked some really slow critters to race. Next year you can do inchworms!
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Thank you, Dwight, for your helpful comment. I’ll keep an eye out for some inchworms! ❤ 🙂 ❤
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