Moments with Gary the Blue Viper- 7

In his cozy little apartment in Zootopia, Gary the blue viper was buzzing with excitement. Today marked the start of his brand-new workout routine, and he was determined to give it his all. In the center of his living room, he carefully nosed out a bright blue fleece blanket, rolling it open with delicate precision. As it unfurled, he admired its soft texture and grinned. "My very own snake treadmill!" he announced proudly to no one in particular.

With his usual dimwitted charm, Gary slithered onto the fleece, positioning himself right in the middle. He took a deep breath, puffing out his chest. "Alright, Gary! Time to slither yourself into shape!" he cheered, wiggling his tail with anticipation.

Starting slow, he began to move his body in the classic serpentine motion. But to his surprise, he wasn't going anywhere. The smooth fleece provided absolutely no traction, and instead of moving forward, he found himself slithering in place. His head bobbed slightly, and his body wiggled in a rhythmic, fluid motion. "Oh, this is perfect! It's working!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm growing.

Encouraged by his perceived success, Gary picked up the pace. His body wriggled faster and faster, the smooth texture of the fleece allowing him to slither in place without any friction. "Feel the burn, Gary! You've got this! Faster, faster!" he panted, his breathing growing heavier as he put more effort into his movements. His whole body, from the tip of his snout to the end of his tail, was in constant motion, the blue scales gleaming as they caught the light.

Minutes passed, and Gary's muscles began to ache in the best way possible. He could feel the workout taking effect, and he pushed himself even harder, wiggling with all his might. "No pain, no gain!" he huffed, his voice determined, even as metaphorical sweat (because snakes don't sweat) metaphorically dripped from his brow. His tail twitched with every push, his whole body a blur of motion on the slick fleece.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Gary slowed to a stop, panting heavily. Gary lay sprawled on his fleece "snake treadmill," feeling the satisfying burn from his workout. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, basking in the afterglow of what he believed to be a highly productive exercise session. "What a workout!" he muttered, a goofy grin spreading across his face. "I feel healthier already! Who knew fitness could be this fun?"

Content and ready to slither off for a well-earned drink, Gary tried to move. But something was wrong. His body didn't budge. He blinked in confusion and tried again, wriggling his long form slightly. Still, nothing. His smile faltered. "Wait... what's going on?" he murmured, looking down at the fleece beneath him.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. The same frictionless, silky-smooth fleece that had made his "snake treadmill" such a perfect tool for his workout was now preventing him from moving off it. His scales couldn't find any traction on the sleek surface, and no matter how much he tried, he remained stuck.

"Oh no, no, no!" Gary cried, panic setting in. He started wiggling, first slowly, then with increasing desperation. His body twisted and turned, his head jerking back and forth as he tried to generate some momentum. "C'mon, Gary! You can do this! Just a little more effort!" he encouraged himself, his voice rising with each attempt. "You've got this! Just slither, slither like your life depends on it!"

But the more he struggled, the less progress he made. His body writhed wildly, his scales gliding effortlessly over the fleece without gaining any purchase. His tail thrashed and his head bobbed in frantic circles, but he remained firmly in place. "No, no, no! I can't be stuck! I've got to get off this thing!" he shouted, his voice tinged with hysteria.

"Okay, okay, think, Gary, think!" he muttered, trying to calm himself. His breathing was ragged, and his wide eyes darted around the room as if searching for an answer. "You're a strong, independent snake! You don't need help! Just... just get a grip! Get a grip, Gary!" he urged, though his body refused to cooperate.

He twisted his upper body, trying to use the tip of his tail to push against the floor beyond the blanket's edge, but the angle was all wrong. His tail slid off the smooth surface, leaving him floundering in the same spot. "No, no! Come on! I don't want to be stuck here forever!" he whined, his voice cracking as the panic deepened.

Desperation set in as he wiggled with renewed vigor, every muscle in his long body straining. His scales shimmered with effort, his body a blur of frantic motion. "Please, please, please! Just let me off!" he cried, his voice echoing in the small apartment. "I'm too young to be a fleece prisoner!"

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't move an inch off the blanket. Exhausted, Gary finally collapsed in a heap, his body splayed out on the fleece. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, tears of frustration welling in his eyes. "I'm doomed," he whimpered, his head drooping. "Stuck here forever, a snake who couldn't even get off his own treadmill..."

Just then, his eyes caught sight of a small slip of paper lying on the floor—the directions that came with his fleece "snake treadmill." Squinting, he read the instructions aloud: "To get off the fleece, first periscope, then lean sideways to get your head off the blanket and pull yourself off."

Gary blinked, his mind wracking itself to understand. "Periscope? What does that mean?!" he muttered. He thought hard, scratching his head with his tail. After a moment, a lightbulb went off in his mind. "Oh! Periscope! That's when I lift my head up to look around! I do that all the time! Silly me!" he chuckled.

Gathering his strength, Gary raised his head and the front part of his body off the ground, his long neck arching gracefully. "Periscoping, check!" he announced with a grin. Then, with a little giggle, he let himself tip sideways, his head flopping onto the floor with a soft thud. "Now, to pull myself off!"

Using his single fang like a hook, Gary stabbed it into the floor and began dragging himself off the fleece. It was slow going, but with each determined pull, more of his body slid free. Finally, with one last mighty tug, he was off the blanket completely.

Gary flopped onto the floor in triumph, panting but elated. "I did it! I'm free!" he cheered, wiggling in celebration. "And I got a bonus workout too! Who knew getting off a blanket could be so intense?" He chuckled to himself, basking in his success. "This fitness journey is off to a great start!"