Snail & Boy

By Gal Kleinman

Snail and Boy is a story about a boy who lost his family in the war. From the depths of despair, Boy overcomes his hardships, and discovers universal truths that give profound meaning to his life, and relationship to the world.

Boy's incredible transformation gets noticed by a very inquisitive snail, who eventually discovers Boy’s secrets, as they unfold, raising our awareness to deep life changing insights.

One day, Boy is astonished to discover a snail writing silvery letters on a wall, and from that moment on, a special relationship evolves between the two.

It is a story about love. It is a story about peace. It is a story about freedom.

Hopefully, Boy lives in each and every one of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gal Kleinman
• Release date: Apr 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311803931

Book preview

To Lulki, Nivi, and Sarit

and

to you, dear reader.

May you know and live in peace.

Prologue

I recommend reading this book slowly,

preferably while munching on a

luscious green leaf or fruit.

--- Snail

When I am kind to others and myself,

when I follow my heart,

it is then that my heart is peaceful.

--- Boy

Snail

Snail rested snugly in its shell. The sun warmed its house and slowly thawed out the night's winter chill. Snails can hibernate in their shells for long periods of time, especially when climate conditions are tough. But Snail was extremely curious and tended to stick its body out of its shell, while its other snail friends slept away, protecting themselves from the harsh conditions. Snail just couldn't resist filling its senses with the outside world, exploring and learning about its surroundings.

Maybe it's because Snail was no ordinary snail. You see, snails can't really see that well; mostly they see shades of light and dark. But Snail could see clearly and in color too. Snails can't hear, either. But Snail could hear and was fascinated by the sounds of nature and especially by human language. When put together with the fact that snails naturally have a great sense of smell and touch, all this made Snail very special indeed. I guess you could say that Snail was a kind of super snail with keen senses and insights.

Insights? you may ask yourself. What do insights have to do with this creature?

Well, Snail was a perpetual wonderer and wanderer. Snail liked learning, investigating and asking questions, especially about human nature. Human nature fascinated and perplexed Snail.

Interestingly, snails are hermaphrodites, which means they have both male and female reproductive organs, and they produce both eggs and sperms. So you, dear reader, are welcome to choose the gender of Snail in this story if you want to.

It was a bright lovely morning. The sky was clear blue, and the air as crisp and clear as Snail's thoughts. Snail slowly inhaled fresh cool air, looked at the sky, and slowly exhaled air up to the sky. But just as weather changes so did Snail's mood. In the distance, Snail heard thundering rocks exploding into fire and giant turtles rolling in its direction, spitting fire from their mouths. This calamity had been going on over the past few weeks. It greatly disturbed and bewildered Snail. Once in a while, Snail could see men with long black sticks that made noise and killed other men. The sky was full of giant birds dropping rocks that exploded in a blaze of fire, destroying land and inhabitants. These forms of destruction were referred to by young humans in the neighborhood as bombs, tanks, guns, and planes as they staged mock fights.

What a strange animal humans are, Snail thought to itself.

I can't grasp why they kill each other. If they could just see that living peacefully is much more simple and fun.

Snails may be slow, but they are one of the oldest living creatures on the planet; they've been around for 500 million years! Snail's forefathers had witnessed how humans have been gradually destroying the world and oftentimes themselves.

Humans believe they are the supreme crown of biological evolution, said a passing ant to Snail one day.

Yes, I agree with that, said Snail. "And they are playing out that role