Hannah's Super Smile

Hannah loved her school playground. It was full of noisy, happy sounds and bright, sunshiney colours. Her favourite thing was the big, red slide that twisted like a giant noodle. Whoosh! Down she'd go, her pigtails flying, with a brave giggle that chased the butterflies away.

Just as she landed with a soft *thump* on the woodchips, her teacher, Mrs. Gable, called out, "Alright, little joeys! Time for our graduation pictures!" Hannah saw a big, black camera on a tall stand. It looked like a giant, winking eye, and suddenly her tummy went all wibble, wobble.

"Hannah, you're next, sweetie!" said Mrs. Gable. Hannah’s feet felt as heavy as sleepy koalas. She walked towards the bright light and tried to make her lips smile, but they just trembled a little. The wibble, wobble in her tummy got bigger and bigger, so she looked down at her sparkly shoes, wishing she could hide inside one of them.

The photographer waited kindly. Hannah took a deep breath, puffing her cheeks out like a little blowfish. She remembered Mum and Dad telling her, "You are so brave, our Hannah." Thinking of their cuddles and the whoosh of the big red slide, she opened her eyes, looked right at the giant camera eye, and gave the biggest, brightest, bravest smile she had. *FLASH!* The picture was taken.

"Now that's a super smile!" the photographer beamed. The wibble, wobble in Hannah’s tummy disappeared completely, replaced by a warm, fuzzy feeling, just like a hug. When Mum and Dad saw the photo, they gave her the biggest squeeze. "Look at our brave girl," Dad said. "That smile is full of sunshine." And Hannah knew that even when things felt a bit scary, her brave smile was always there, waiting to shine.