The World That Lost it's Smile

The World That Lost Its Smile

Kirsten Toepperwein 

Once, in a town full of laughter and joy, there lived a man known as Mr. Smile. He was the heart of every party, the light in every room, and the reason even the grumpiest of souls would chuckle. Wherever he went, happiness followed. Children giggled at his jokes, babies cooed at his warm grin, and even the elderly found their worries melting away in his presence.

But one day, everything changed. A shadow crept over the town, a darkness known as Mr. Covid, or as the people called him, The Gloom. He didn’t speak, didn’t laugh—he only whispered fear into the wind. People shut their doors, covered their faces, and forgot what it was to smile. The streets grew empty, laughter faded, and even the newborn babies never saw the joy of their mothers' faces.

Seeing this, Mr. Smile tried to fight back. He danced, he joked, he laughed—but nobody could see his grin behind the masks. His joy had no power anymore. Feeling defeated, he wandered to the craggy hills, wrapping himself in a blanket of silence, hiding deep inside a cave where the cold and loneliness swallowed him.

For a long time, the town remained under the shadow of The Gloom. But one day, shivering in his cave, Mr. Smile felt something stir inside him. Enough is enough. He missed the laughter, the joy, the life that once filled the town. So he climbed down from the hills, stepping back into the world he once knew.

To his dismay, the town was different. The people still covered their faces. Their eyes, once bright with joy, now looked dull and tired. Even the children, who had once run to him with glee, only stared in quiet confusion.

But Mr. Smile had not forgotten his magic. Reaching deep into his heart, he pulled out his magic wand and waved it high above his head.

"No more shadows, no more fear! Let joy return, let smiles appear!"

With a brilliant shimmer, the spell swept through the town. One by one, people felt a warmth inside them. A man hesitantly pulled down his mask and grinned at his wife. A child giggled. An old woman clapped her hands with delight. Laughter filled the streets once more.

Mr. Smile threw off his mask blanket and began to dance—a wild, joyful dance that made everyone around him do the same. The Gloom lost its power, the town came back to life, and soon, the world was filled with smiles again.

And from that day on, no matter what came, the people never forgot how powerful a simple smile

could be.

The End.