This summer is full of masks, shelter in place, and 6 feet apart, so TT my terrible Talking Tummy and I are hunting for SMILES. 

I’m sick of looking at tired eyes peeping out above masks. I can’t tell if anyone is smiling or even likes me.

“TT, are you trying to SMILE? Your smile may be the only SMILE anyone sees!”

I’m trying. Sometimes my mouth get’s stuck and I can’t SMILE. Stubb, I’m trying even though my smile is near the ground!

“I’m improving my smile. I stretch my lips and puff out air, my heart SMILES and I SMILE. Our SMILES will  fight the Coronavirus. I expect you to do your best.”

Since I’m an unusual, amazing Talking Tummy my SMILE is STUNNING!

We walk down the street and run into a group of kids.

 Yuck Double Yuck!! They’re all wearing masks! NO SMILES!

“Masks keep the kids safe.”   

I don’t care. They look beat. Their heads are down, and their feet are shuffling along, weird very weird.

“TT, let’s change that!”

I prance up to the kids. My tail turns into a propellor, and I plop down in front of them.

“Let’s give them our best SMILE.”

 SMILING is a dumb idea! Anyway, who cares??

“No TT!  Get ready to flash your biggest smile.”

The kids press closer. “What a cute puppy! He’s staring at us.”

 “Heads up, TT. Ready set GO, SMILE!”

I whirl in a circle. I end up sitting down and stretching tall. Pop! My best SMILE jumps out.

“A SMILING dog!” Giggles pour out from behind the masks, and some of them slip down.

I wiggle all over and squish plop in a circle. I continue flashing my SMILE.

TT gurgles in delight. I saw smiles. The kids like us! They like me!

“Yes, the kids like us, with or without masks.”

“Friends, keep SMILING from your heart to your mask.

Stubb and TT