Once upon a time, there was a hard-working slug. She was a happy soul who always saw the best in every situation. Other slugs complained about being slow or how dangerous their lives were without even a shell to protect them, yet she was pretty content with her soft beautiful body. She knew how important her work was to the ecosystem, processing the decaying leaves and making them into nutritious soil, and that purpose kept her going and gave her fuel to work hard and steady.
Sometimes in the summer she ate the lettuce leaves and the farmer wasn't very happy with her then. However, he understood that she also did a lot of good by cleaning the garden of organic scraps, then turning them into nitrogen-rich fertilizer for his plants so he let her be. This way the slug was happy, the plants were happy, and the farmer was happy, well, for the most part. The slug lived in the hips of leaves in autumn processing what nature was shedding before winter came. Once she was full up and content, she burrowed underground to survive the coldest months in the warmth of the precious soil.
One autumn day, a toad wandered into the garden of the farmer. He was puffed up and very scary, and she didn't quite know where to hide from him since he was so much faster than she. The slug didn't give up easily though. After all, her life was at stake here. The toad followed her all the time yet he could never find her in plain view to eat her. She was getting tired of this chase and living in fear and stress so she decided to do something about it.
One morning, a stork landed by the farmer's pond. The slug knew it was her chance. She approached the stork from behind so that before the bird could eat her, she would have a moment to plead with this relentless predator. In fact, the slug had a deal to offer to the bird. She went carefully yet rushing in her own way, for she knew the stork would not be there for very long, to make her a cunning proposal. Sneaking up from behind she called to the slender bird:
"Dear stork, be so kind and don't turn around."
"Why shouldn't I turn around?" replied the bird in a bewildered voice.
"I'm just a little thing but I'm scared you might want to eat me. Yet, I have a much better proposition which might help you and it will certainly help me," replied the slug bravely.
The stork was confused by this usual situation yet being a curious bird she only asked: "What is that deal that you offer?"
"I have a free lunch for you. No hunting necessary!" cheerfully proposed the slug thinking herself smart.
That's when the bird quickly turned around and seeing the gastropod she started laughing hysterically.
"You have some nerve! How on earth are you going to offer free lunch to me when you are tiny and can't move fast!?" The stork ridiculed the slug.
The tiny animal, however, was more courageous and cleverer than the stork ever imagined. The gastropod explained her plan quickly and with confidence, knowing all too well that if the bird lost her patience with her, she would just eat her.
The stork listened attentively and replied nothing, just nodded her agreement thinking she had nothing to lose, then turned round towards the pond to admire her own water reflection. The slug meanwhile rushed back to the corner of the garden where she knew the toad was looking for her. At the agreed time, she bravely exposed herself to the toad's attack by climbing the picket fence. The toad smiled with all his face sure the slug would not escape him now. When suddenly from above a huge, majestic stork spiraled in on the poor toad and no one ever saw him again!
