Theme: Perseverance

The snail lesson

Marquinhos was a healthy and active boy. He had a lot of energy, he liked to play and meet his friends. He used to make a thousand things at the same time.

But he had a problem. He often left things undone. If he was doing something and suddenly something else interested him, he didn't think twice about dropping everything. He forgot to store the toys after he finished playing. He left his plate at the table at lunch saying that he was no longer hungry, but in a short time he could already feel his belly growling.

His mother always warned him and said that he needed to finish things and do them well.

One day, Marquinhos was doing his homework on the living room table. But, as he did not like to dedicate himself to this, everything distracted him.

First, he got up and went to get his phone to listen to music while he was writing. Then he thought he was hungry, so he went to the kitchen for a snack.

His mother, who was doing the dishes, asked:

- Have you finished the task, son?

- No! It's too much! I can't do everything! I don't think it's worth to make effort for so long time because I will probably deliver it incomplete again - replied the boy, discouraged.

The mother then looked at him and said firmly:

- Marquinhos, you have to dedicate yourself. I already went to talk to your teacher about it and she showed me that home activities are just a complement to the classes you already took. Come on, son, concentrate so you will be able to finish it soon.

The boy, still annoyed by the obligation he had to do, suddenly saw a small animal on the kitchen floor. He came over to see it up close and said:

- Mommy! There's a snail here!

The kitchen had a door leading to the backyard, where there was a large lawn and lots of plants. The little snail came from there.

- I am washing the dishes. Take it with a chopstick and take it back to the yard - asked the mother.

- I'll do it... - said the boy, not wanting to do that either.

Marquinhos watched the snail. He was so small and he walked so slowly. He dragged himself a little forward with each movement.

“Poor thing. How long does he take to get around like that? He can't go that far. He must have been walking for days to have managed to get here, in the middle of the kitchen”, thought the boy.

Marquinhos left the snail right where he was and went out to play in the yard, thinking he would soon be back to take him out.

Some time later, his mother called:

- Marquinhos, did you finish the school assignment?

The boy ran into the house, because he did not finish it. As he passed the kitchen, he remembered the snail.

- Mom, where's the snail?

- I don't know, son! I thought you took him out to the lawn.

They searched the kitchen for the bug, but didn't find it.

When they gave up looking, Marquinhos went to the living room and saw the snail on the floor.

- Mom! - He called - Look where he ended up! How did he manage to walk so much in such a short time?

The mother came to see and said:

- See, Marquinhos... The snail came to the room because he did not give up. He did not digress. For some reason, he started walking here and was reaching his goal. Now take him back to the yard. Put it under a plant, so he can be protected and in the shade. If he feels good there, he won't wish to come in here.

The boy did as his mother said. And he wondered what had happened.

Then he came back, sat down and devoted himself to his duties until he was finished. And, to his surprise, it didn't take as long as he expected.

He felt good about having finished his duties. He put his stuff away and went to play.

Marquinhos was unable to change his behavior overnight. But sometimes, when he had a hard time doing something, he remembered that little snail and thought "if I keep doing it, I will do it."

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com