Today Eve made a friend, an especially courageous and congenial snail she called Snailza.
For an hour Eve held Snailza close, whispering wise words about the world and its wonders into her tiny friend’s listening, twitching tentacles. Eve fell in love fast and hard.
Then, Eve’s mom pried Snailza off the bedroom bookcase and told her snails could not live in the house. Eve cried as she waved goodbye, freeing the snail into the front yard wild. She cried in her carseat all the way to Taco Market. At lunch, through tears, Eve asked for prayers and her family prayed that God would help Eve have joy.
Later, listening to Eve’s loud laugh, Eve’s mom said, “Eve! You’re so happy! God gave you joy!”
And Eve said. “Yes,” nodding slowly. “He told me to stop crying.”