Sunflower Smile

A Small Bravery in a Quiet Town

“So what did you think of the town?”

“Everyone is very stoic. They stared at me as if they were looking through me, not at me.”

“Really? People are nice. They just don’t want to say hello first, that’s all.”

“Hmm. I’m not so sure of that.”

“Just give it a try the next time you see a passerby. Smile first.”

Intrigued, the young boy went out into the street and walked.

He passed a clean-shaven young businessman, and smiled at him.

The businessman returned his glance and smiled back, showing a dimple on the left side of his cheek.

“Interesting,” thought the young boy.

Next approached a young girl in a beautiful flower dress in the pattern of sunflowers.

He smiled at her. She looked sheepishly at him, then smiled radiantly.

It was the most beautiful smile the young boy had ever seen. His heart palpitated.

The young girl walked by him for 4-5-6 steps. The young boy kept walking for 4-5-6 steps.

Then at the same moment they turned around as if they had both seen a shooting star.

And then the sheepish young girl approached the young boy, and the young boy, who had thought everyone in the town was mean, approached the young girl in the sunflower dress.

He smiled again. “I’m David.” She smiled. “I’m Sarah.”

He giggled, so did she.

“Where are you walking?” he asked.

“Just around,” she replied.

“Me too,” he answered. “Would you mind if I walked around with you?” he asked. His question surprising even himself.

When you see a shooting star in a sunflower dress, what else are you supposed to do?

And it all began with a simple smile.

A story by Pemba Umoja