On a quiet night, under a blanket of stars covering the vast sky, Charlotte the cockroach strolled through the damp garden soil. Dew pearls adorned the leaves of the bushes, and the fresh breeze carried the scent of wet earth. It was a perfect night to explore and enjoy the silence that only the tiny kingdom of insects could offer.
Charlotte, with her perfectly placed leaf hat and snug petal boots, was on the lookout for a new adventure. After her recent tap dance classes, where she had learned to move with rhythm and grace, she felt the world was even more vibrant and full of possibilities. Her little legs still remembered the cadence of the movements, and she couldn’t help but take small dance steps as she advanced through the grasses that, to her, were as tall as trees.
In the distance, she heard a sound that broke the tranquil ambiance of the night. It was a rhythmic and constant noise, like a steady drumming. Charlotte, always curious, headed toward the source of the sound. She approached carefully, sneaking through the shadows of the large leaves covering her path, until she reached a small mound of earth that separated her from the origin of that strange noise.
Peeking cautiously, Charlotte found herself facing an unexpected scene. On a well-marked dirt path, illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the leaves, a large and shiny snail was doing something that Charlotte found astonishing. With its shell gleaming under the silvery light, the snail was moving at great speed—or at least as fast as a snail could move. But the most surprising thing was the noise its shell made as it scraped against the dirt and stones on the path, producing a constant and loud drumming.
The snail wasn’t alone. Around it, a small group of insects watched the scene with evident irritation. Charlotte recognized some of them: Benny the beetle, who always kept his den clean and tidy, and Wendy the spider, famous for weaving the most intricate and perfect webs in the entire garden. Both had their antennae and legs crossed in a sign of displeasure.
“Ronnie, please!” exclaimed Benny the beetle. “Some of us are trying to sleep!”
“It’s midnight, Ronnie!” added Wendy with her sharp, vibrant voice. “This noise is unbearable!”
Ronnie, the snail, didn’t seem to listen or at least didn’t care much. He continued with his race, completely absorbed in his own effort.
Charlotte, with her characteristic enthusiasm, stepped forward to join the discussion. She knew she had to do something. The snail’s noise was disturbing the peace of the garden, and although she herself had enjoyed making noise with her tap shoes, she knew there was a time and place for everything.
“Hello, everyone!” said Charlotte as she approached the group, lightly waving her antennae in greeting. “Wow, Ronnie, your race is impressive! But... don’t you think you could save it for another time?”
Ronnie, who had barely noticed Charlotte’s arrival, stopped when he heard her voice. He slowly turned his body to face her, his bulging eyes focusing on the cockroach with a mix of surprise and pride.
“Charlotte!” exclaimed Ronnie, with a deep voice that resonated like the echo of a drum in a cave. “I didn’t know you were here. Have you come to admire my skills?”
Charlotte smiled kindly, always willing to solve problems with patience and a good conversation.
“Your skills are impressive, Ronnie, no doubt about it,” said Charlotte. “But... have you noticed it’s midnight? The neighbors need to rest, and the noise from your race is disturbing their sleep.”
Ronnie slightly frowned, which was quite hard to notice on a snail.
“But the night is the best time to run,” insisted Ronnie. “It’s when the air is cool and the ground is damp. Why should I stop doing something I enjoy so much?”
Charlotte understood that Ronnie was a stubborn snail, but that wouldn’t stop her. She knew she had to find the right way to make him understand without hurting his feelings.
“Ronnie, I understand you enjoy running at night,” Charlotte responded in a soft tone. “But have you thought about the others? While you’re running, they’re trying to rest so they can be full of energy during the day. If they don’t rest well, they might not have the strength to do what they enjoy. Plus, we’re all neighbors here, and part of being good neighbors is caring for each other’s well-being.”
Ronnie seemed to reflect on Charlotte’s words, but he still wasn’t convinced. The idea of giving up something that gave him so much pleasure didn’t appeal to him at all.
“I don’t want to bother anyone,” Ronnie finally said, “but running is what makes me happy. It’s the only time I feel free when the speed gives me the sensation that I can fly.”
Charlotte thought for a moment. She needed to find a solution that would work for everyone, something that would allow Ronnie to enjoy his passion without affecting others.
“Ronnie,” she finally said, a spark of inspiration in her eyes, “what if we found a place where you can run without bothering anyone? Maybe there’s a corner in the garden where your noise won’t be heard as much. We could search for it together.”
The snail seemed to consider the idea. It wasn’t easy to give up his usual path, but Charlotte had proposed a solution that could work for everyone.
“Alright, Charlotte,” Ronnie finally agreed. “Let’s find that place. But it has to be just as good for running as this path.”
Charlotte smiled, relieved to have taken the first step toward solving the problem.
“Let’s go then!” said Charlotte enthusiastically. “I know a few places that might be perfect.”
The two bid farewell to the other insects, who thanked Charlotte for her intervention, and began to explore the garden in search of the ideal spot for Ronnie’s nocturnal races.
Charlotte guided Ronnie through various paths, crossing small puddles that seemed like large lakes and dodging fallen branches that were like enormous logs to them. The moon shone high, lighting their way as they ventured into parts of the garden that Charlotte herself hadn’t fully explored yet.
They arrived at an area where the flowers were particularly tall and dense, creating a natural roof of petals and leaves. The ground was soft, covered in moss, and the moisture in the air made it a pleasant place for any creature that preferred the coolness of the night.
“This could be a good spot,” Charlotte suggested, observing how the moonlight filtered through the leaves, creating a peaceful atmosphere. “The moss could cushion the noise of your shell as you move, and the surrounding flowers could block any sound that escapes.”
Ronnie tested the ground, moving slowly over the moss. He made a few turns and straightaways but didn’t seem completely satisfied.
“It’s nice,” Ronnie admitted, “but the moss is too soft. It doesn’t give me the resistance I need for a good race. I need something firmer under my shell.”
Charlotte nodded, understanding Ronnie’s need to feel the firm earth beneath his body. They continued their search, exploring other areas of the garden. They found a small clearing where the ground was more compact, but the nearby trees didn’t allow enough moonlight to illuminate the space, making Ronnie uncomfortable as he couldn’t see his path well.
“Light is important for my night races,” Ronnie said, a little disappointed.
Charlotte didn’t get discouraged. She knew that finding the perfect spot wouldn’t be easy, but she was confident that with a little more effort, they would succeed.
Finally, they reached a hill of earth that Charlotte hadn’t noticed before. It was taller than the others, and from the top, you could see much of the garden. The most impressive thing was the view of the sky: clear, with the full moon shining brightly and the stars twinkling in the vast dark sky.
“Look at this, Ronnie!” exclaimed Charlotte in awe. “It’s the perfect place to see the moon while you run!”
Ronnie slowly climbed the hill, testing the ground. The soil was firm but not too hard, offering the resistance he needed. Moreover, the view was truly impressive. The moon seemed much closer, and its light clearly illuminated the path.
“It’s... it’s perfect,” murmured Ronnie, his eyes shining with the moonlight. “Not only can I run with the firmness I need, but the view inspires me. This will be my new nocturnal racing circuit!”
Charlotte smiled, happy to have helped her friend. But there was still one detail left to resolve.
“And the noise, Ronnie?” she asked gently. “Do you think it might bother anyone from here?”
Ronnie paused, listening to the silence around them. The hill was far enough from the other garden areas that his noise wouldn’t travel far.
“I think I won’t bother anyone here,” Ronnie said with a smile. “I’ll be able to run as fast as I want without worrying about disturbing anyone’s sleep.”
Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied that they had found a solution that worked for everyone. Ronnie would have his space to run, and the other garden neighbors could rest in peace.
From that night on, Ronnie began training on his new circuit on the hill. His shell softly resonated against the ground, creating a rhythm that, instead of bothering, seemed to blend with the night sounds of the garden, creating a melody that accompanied the sleep of the inhabitants.
Charlotte, for her part, continued to visit Ronnie on his race nights. She had become his biggest cheerleader, watching with admiration as the snail improved his speed and agility with each training session.
One night, after one of his races, Ronnie approached Charlotte with a look of gratitude on his face.
“Thank you, Charlotte,” said Ronnie. “You didn’t just help me find a better place to run, but you also made me see how important it is to consider others. I’ve learned that I can enjoy what I love without causing problems for others. You’re a true friend.”
Charlotte smiled, feeling a warm happiness.
“I’m glad I could help you, Ronnie,” she responded with her usual optimism. “And remember, I’m always here if you need an adventure companion. Maybe someday you can teach me to run like you!”
Ronnie let out a soft laugh, imagining Charlotte with her little leaf hat and petal boots trying to keep up with him.
“Maybe I will,” said Ronnie, as the moon began to descend on the horizon, signaling the end of another night of adventures.