The Old Lady who Never Smiled

There was once an old woman in our neighbourhood who never smiled.

She had no family and she lived alone in a big mansion.

When she took a walk in the evenings, we wished her,

“Good evening, Madam.”

The old lady would stop, look at us through her gold-rimmed spectacles, and watch us for a moment.

Then she would reply, “Good evening.”

She said it in a voice as dry as a wooden stick that could catch fire if lighted. We were frightened by that voice and kept our distance from her.

We felt sorry for the sad old lady because she had no friends or family.

One day, while walking, a tiny furry kitten with the cutest eyes followed her home.

She slipped inside through the grand metal gates of the mansion and sat meowing at the old lady’s feet.

The old lady ignored the kitten and went inside. It was a cold November day and the kitten shivered and scratched at the door. We peered through the gate and felt pity for it.

Then something unexpected happened.

The old lady came out of the mansion with a bowl of milk for the kitten. The kitten happily licked the milk and looked at the old lady with her cute eyes. She soon followed the old lady inside the mansion. When the old lady sat down to watch TV, the kitten climbed onto her lap and purred. Then she rolled herself up into a tight ball and slept.

Then something more unexpected happened.

The old lady looked at the sleeping kitten on her lap and smiled.

She smiled a smile of happiness.

She had made the kitten happy and the happiness of kitten had clung to her.

We felt happy for the old lady and her kitten.

Then every day after that, the old lady and her kitten took a walk together.

On some days, the old lady brought us home-baked cookies and stayed for a long chat.

She helped everybody who needed any help in the neighbourhood.

And she smiled more and more. 

Art: Anna Lemos, 10, India

(Adapted from a church sermon)