by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2025
(Feb. 21, 2025) — “Long ago, deep in the forest, there lived a community of rock trolls. A rock troll is a creature who -“
“You’re taking too long! Let me tell the story; after all, it is mine to tell. Ahem, this is the story about my friend, Filbert, a rock troll, and how he helped me find my home. Back then, I was the saddest snail. You see, I had no shell, no place to call home; I was born that way. Because of the lack upon my back, the other snails would have nothing to do with me. Filbert was my only friend. I fear I was not much of a friend to him, in those early days. I was so consumed with my own troubles. But Filbert was very patient with me; he stayed by my side and listened to all my woes.
“Then, one day, he excitedly told me about a place he had heard of where I could have my choice of shells! He told me it was a long journey, but he would take me there. He set me on his shoulder, sheltered by a mushroom that was growing there, and off we went. On the way, he told me all about our destination: the seashore, where hundreds of unoccupied shells (of all shapes, sizes and colors) were left every day.
“By the time we arrived, my heart was beating fast with anticipation. Filbert took me off his shoulder and set me down in the midst of a varied selection of empty shells. I had never seen anything so beautiful in all my life! I hurried (as fast as I could) from shell to shell. I couldn’t decide. Then I became critical. None of them seemed right. I turned to voice my complaints to Filbert, but the smile on his face closed my mouth. A tear came to his eye as he told me how happy he was for me and how he couldn’t wait till I found my home.
“Suddenly, I realized I had never taken a good look at Filbert. He had one leg longer than the other and a crooked back. It occurred to me how painful our journey must have been for him, but he never complained once. Looking at him, I knew I had never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. I made my way up onto Filbert’s shoulder and snuggled under the mushroom there. As we watched the sun dipping into the ocean I told him I had found my home.”
