cover
At the outdoor bus stop on a gray overcast morning, Sunny clutches her backpack and looks up at Mrs. Glow. Mrs. Glow smiles warmly beneath the small metal shelter beside a bright bus-stop sign.
Sunny woke to gray clouds. At the bus stop, Mrs. Glow smiled. "Be the sunshine," she said. "Even when skies frown?" Sunny asked. "Especially then," Mrs. Glow replied.
Inside the classroom during soft morning light, Sunny kneels on the tile floor gathering scattered crayons. A frowning classmate watches the colorful mess beginning to smile as crayons roll between desks.
On the bus, Sunny shared a smile. At school, crayons spilled; she helped. "We can fix this," she said. The frown beside her softened. Her heart glowed like morning windows.
In the brightly lit classroom while rain streaks the windows, Sunny sits at a round table starting a drawing circle, colored papers and markers spread out. Other students lean in, giggling as they sketch beside her.
Rain drummed, and recess was canceled. Groans rolled like thunder. "Let’s make sunshine inside," Sunny said. She started a drawing circle and thanked each helper. Giggles bubbled, bright as lamps.
Outside the school entrance in golden late-afternoon light, Sunny adjusts her backpack straps as Mrs. Glow waves with a gentle smile. The brick wall and tall school doors behind them glow with warm sunset hues.
After school, Mrs. Glow waved. "You carried light today," she said. "I chose it," Sunny answered. "Even when it was hard," she added. Mrs. Glow said, "Choose it tomorrow."