Not too long. Although a story that gets a lot of attention or strikes my fancy can see a longer version written.
31 short stories in 31 days of July.
Let's call it, "I Got Better"
"Hey, Rod."
"How's it going, Slick?"
"Not bad. Haven't seen you for a while. Is everything all right?
"Oh, man! You didn't hear?"
"Well, I've been keeping my eyes out, but no. What happened?"
The snail paused in its glide to look more carefully at the spindly insect.
"That darned newt grabbed me again and used me for a 'Magic Wand'. Darn, that hurts!"
Rod awkwardly reached back and rubbed his nether end.
"Ouch," said the snail.
"I wish he'd go back where he came from,"
the walking stick shuddered for a moment.
"Where's that?" The snail glanced around slowly.
"They say he used to be a human," the exasperated insect muttered.
"I wish he'd go back to it." Looking around, he continued,
"I heard that some witch changed him somehow, and he's been
making my life miserable for way too long."
Slick bobbled his eyes in agreement. "Well, we can always hope he'll get better."
Rod stared motionlessly at his friend, and then shuddered again,
before walking on in a very stiff manner, "Oh, yeah, like that's going to happen!"