Rosie gazed at the puddle beside her, expecting to see her reflection grinning back, but all she saw was a frown. She tried scrunching her face, wiggling her whiskers, and even tickling her own ears, but her smile had vanished completely.
"How can a bunny lose her smile?" she wondered aloud, feeling a little tear gather at the corner of her eye.
Sammy the Squirrel, energetic and always up for mischief, skitters over. Olivia the Owl, calm and thoughtful, watches closely from above.
"Rosie, what’s wrong? You always have the biggest, brightest smile!"
"I woke up and... it was just gone. I’ve looked everywhere," replied Rosie, her ears drooping even more.
"Maybe your smile is hiding with the acorns!" teases Sammy, digging through his stash.
"Sometimes smiles hide inside memories. Rosie, what makes you happy?" suggests Olivia.
"Remember when you hopped so high you landed in my berry basket?"
"And you shared your berries with me, even the biggest one," Rosie giggles a little, the sound surprising her.
Milo the Mouse, tiny and bold, performs a silly dance, while Hazel the Hedgehog tells knock-knock jokes.
"Knock knock! Who’s there? Lettuce. Lettuce who? Lettuce in, it’s cold out here!"
"Oh Milo, you’re so silly!" laughs Rosie, feeling a giggle bubbling inside.
"See, Rosie, your smile was never lost. It just needed a little love," says Olivia, her eyes twinkling.
"Thank you, everyone! I think my smile is here to stay," cries Rosie, hopping with happiness as her friends cheer and celebrate around her.
