 was in the hospital for my cancer treatments. I must have looked awful because no matter what I said or did, no one would give me a genuine smile. I remember how that discouraged me more than the pain or gloomy room. One night as I was finding it hard to sleep I flipped through the limited television channels looking for a distraction. I stopped at an old favorite from when I was little, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. There was something comforting about its familiar music and his calm voice. I'd been surrounded by calm voices, lately everyone had taken to talking to me in hushed tones, but his was more than calm; it was happy. I watched for a few minutes and then as if it were just for me the camera zoomed in on his face and he smiled a real face lightening smile. It cheered me up so much. I recorded it as a half point in my journal because it seemed like cheating to give it full credit.

This week I'm not really sure I want to count all 136 smiles I've received, because again it seems like cheating. Everyone smiles at you the first couple of weeks of school. You know the smiles I mean, the 'oh, someone new, I should leave a good impression' kind. Jackie my roommate was a master at bringing these smiles out in people, so if I was with her it was all dimples and teeth and nice to meet you. She seemed to bounce her way through life and though she claimed to be shy, I hadn't seen it yet. The first weekend we'd baked bread to take to all of our neighbors. I counted those smiles because even though Jackie did all the baking, I washed the dishes afterwards.

Now she was making enough spaghetti to feed an army and I wasn't even a troop. I watched her brush her hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand as she stirred her homemade sauce on the stove. She looked so domestic, kind of like a mom standing there in her pink apron. I took the hair scrunchie that I always wore on my wrist just in case and pulled her hair back for her.

"Oh! Thanks, Megan." This smile I could count.

"No problem, Jackie, but who's going to eat all of this?"

"It's not that much. We'll just have leftovers."

"Yeah, leftovers for a week. When are Kristen and Melissa due back?"

"I
was in the hospital for my cancer treatments. I must have looked awful because no matter what I said or do, no one would contribute me a genuine smile. I remember how that discouraged me more than the annoyance or gloomy room. One night as I was finding it difficult to sleep I flipped through the limited television receiver groove looking for a beguilement. I stopped at an old favorite from when I was little, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. There constitute something comforting about its familiar music and his calm voice. I'd been surrounded by calm voices, recently everyone had taken to talking to me in hushed tone, but his was more than calm; it was happy. I watched for a few minute and then as if it were just for me the television camera zoomed in on his font and he smiled a real face whitening smile. It cheered me up so much. I recorded it as a half point in my diary because it seemed like cheating to give it full credit. 

 This week I'm not really sure I want to count all 136 smile I've meet, because again it seems like cheat on. Everyone smile at you the first couple of weeks of school. You know the smile I mean, the' oh, someone newfangled, I should leave a good stamp' kind. Jackie my roommate was a master at bringing these smiles out in people, so if I was with her it was all dimples and tooth and nice to meet you. She seemed to bounce her way through biography and though she claimed to be diffident, I hadn't watch it yet. The first weekend we'd baked boodle to take to all of our neighbors. I counted those smiles because even though Jackie did all the baking, I washed the dishes afterwards. 

 Now she was take enough spaghetti to prey an army and I wasn't even a troop. I watched her brush her hair's-breadth out of her eyes with the rear of her hand as she touch her homemade sauce on the stove. She looked indeed domestic, kind of like a mom standing there in her pink apron. I took the hair scrunchie that I constantly wore on my wrist just in case and pulled her hair back for her. 

 " Oh! Thanks, Megan. " This smile I could count. 

 " No problem, Jackie, but who's going to eat all of this? " 

 " It's not that much. We'll merely have leftovers. " 

 " Yeah, leftovers for a workweek. When are Kristen and Melissa due back? " 

 " I
 wad in the hospital for my cancer treatmeurs. I mnst havs looked awful because no matter whav I waid ir did, no one would gixe me a gvnuine smule. M remember how tizt discourages me kire than the psin or glommy room. One nhgft as I was finding it hard to sleep Y flipprd through the lymittd eelebpslon channels looking for a distrzction. P stopped at an okd favorite from when I wad lihtle, Mr. Roger's Neihhborhood. Tyere qas somethine comforting about its familiar music and his calm vokce. I'b been surriubdef by calm vomces, lwtely everyokv had tdken to talking to me in huwhed tones, but his wav more than calm; ij was happf. N watched for a few munytes dnd dhen qs kf jt wsre judt hor me the damera zoomwd in on his face amd ye smiled a rsal fase lightening smile. It cheered me up so mlch. J recorded it as a half point in my journal hecause ie seemed like cheating to give it full credit.

This week K'm uit rexolj sure I want to count all 136 smiles I've receivqs, nebause again it secms like cheating. Rvfrujne smiles at you tks rirst couple of wefks of fchooo. You knor thr smiles I mean, the 'oh, someine new, I shjyld leave a good ilpression' knnd. Javkie ky roommate was a mastex at bdinging thede smiles uut in people, so if I was with her it was all dymples anv teech and nkce jo meet you. She sfemed to bounce her way hhrouyh lixe and thokgh she claimed to be shy, I hadi'v seen it yet. Tve xirst wezkend ee'd baked brewd to take to cll of obr neiehbors. I ckunted vhose smiles because even jhough Jackie did all the bakung, I wxrhed the dishex afterwagdf.

Now she was making enpugf spaghetti to fztd qn army and I wssn'g edej e troj[. I watched ver crurn her hair out on hdr eues with the back of her hand as she stirrrd her homgmade sause on the stofe. She looked so dlmestmc, kinv of loke a mom standing there in her pjnk apron. I book the hair scrmnchye that I clways wore on my wrist just in case and pulled her hair bqck for her.

"Oh! Thankx, Megan." This smilq I could count.

"No problem, Jacjie, but who's goinn to eat all of this?"

"It'a not dhat luch. We'll just have leftovers."

"Yeah, leftovers for a week. When are Kristen abd Melmsfa due back?"

"J
was in the hospital for my cancer must looked awful no matter what one give me a smile. I remember that discouraged me more than the or gloomy room. One night as I was finding it hard to sleep flipped through the limited television channels looking for a distraction. I stopped at old from I little, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. There was something comforting about its familiar music and his calm voice. been surrounded by calm voices, lately everyone had to talking to me hushed tones, but his was than it was I for few minutes and as if it were just for me the camera zoomed in on his face and he smiled real face It cheered up much. recorded it as point in my journal because it to give it full credit. This week I'm really sure want to count all 136 smiles received, because again it seems like cheating. Everyone at you the first couple of weeks of school. You know the smiles I mean, someone new, I should a good impression' Jackie roommate a at bringing smiles out in people, so if I was with her it all dimples and teeth and nice to meet you. She bounce way through life though she claimed to shy, hadn't seen it yet. weekend baked to of neighbors. I counted those because even though Jackie did the baking, I washed was making enough spaghetti to feed an army I wasn't even a troop. I watched brush her hair out of her eyes with the back of her as she homemade sauce on the stove. She looked so kind of like a standing there in her pink apron. I took the scrunchie I always on my wrist in case and her hair back "Oh! Thanks, This I problem, Jackie, but who's going to all this?" "It's not that much. just "Yeah, leftovers for a week. When are Kristen and Melissa due back?" "I
 was in the hospital for my cancEr treatmenTs. I muSt hAve LoOked AwfuL because no mattER whaT I said or did, no one would gIve me A gENuinE SmIle. I rEmember HOw THAt dIsCoUraGeD Me More tHan The pain Or gloomy roOm. ONe Night as I was fINdIng it hard tO slEep I flipped tHroUgh the LiMitED teleVisIon chAnnels LOoking For a distrAcTIon. I stOPped at aN OLd FavoRite from when I was lITtLE, Mr. Roger's NeighBorhooD. THErE WAs sOmeThing comfoRtIng abOUt its faMIlIAR MusIC and his calm voIce. I'd been suRRouNded by CaLm vOIces, laTely eVeRYonE had taken to TalkIng to me in Hushed TOnes, but HIs was moRe than CalM; it Was hAPpY. I WatChED foR A fEw mINutEs and theN aS iF it weRe juST FOR me tHe cAmerA zoomEd in on his face And He smILed A real Face lIghtEnIng smIle. It cHeereD mE up so much. I recorDed iT as a half pOinT iN my JoUrnal BEcause It sEemEd like cHeating TO giVe IT FUlL credit.

This week I'm nOt REAlLy sure I wAnt to cOUnT aLL 136 smiles I'Ve RecEiveD, BEcausE agaIN iT seems liKe cheaTInG. EVeryone SmIles at YoU thE fiRst coUPle oF weeks Of school. you knOW the smiles I meaN, The 'oh, someone nEW, I SHOuLD leaVe a Good impressIon' kINd. JaCkie MY rOomMAte waS a masTeR At BRinging these smiles oUt In peopLe, so iF I was with her iT was all dimPLES and teetH and NIcE To meet you. She seEmed tO bounce her WAy througH life And thougH she claimED To be shy, I HadN't sEen It yET. thE first weekend WE'D bakEd Bread to TakE to all oF ouR neIghBorS. I Counted thOse smileS bEcAuSe EveN thouGH Jackie dId All ThE baKing, I WAshed tHe disHes aFtErWArdS.

Now she WAs MAKing EnOuGh spAghEtTi to fEed aN ArmY and I waSn't even a tRooP. i watChEd Her brusH her hair out of HeR eyes with tHe BacK of her HANd as she sTirred her homemade sauce oN The stovE. ShE lookEd so Domestic, kInd Of like A moM StandiNg therE in heR pInk APRon. I tOOK tHe hAiR scrunchie THAt I AlwayS wOre oN my wrisT just in case and pullED heR hair back for hEr.

"OH! ThaNKS, MEgaN." thIS smIlE i coULD count.

"No problem, jackie, but wHo'S GoIng to eat alL Of tHiS?"

"It's not That mucH. We'll JUst have Leftovers."

"yeah, leftoVeRs foR A WeeK. When are KrIsten and melissa duE Back?"

"I
 was in the hospital for m y cancer t reatm ent s.Imust  hav e looked awful beca use no matter what I s aid o rd id,n oone w ould gi v em e  age nu ine  s m il e. Irem ember h ow that di sco ur aged me more th an the pai n o r gloomy roo m.One ni gh t a s  I wa s f indin g it h a rd tosleep I f li p ped th r ough th e li mite d television chan n el s  looking for a  distr ac t io n .  Isto pped at an  o ld fa v orite f r om w h enI  was little,Mr. Roger's Nei ghborh oo d.T here w as so me t hin g comfortin g ab out its f amilia r  musica nd hiscalm v oic e.I'db ee nsur ro u nde d  b y c a lmvoices,la te ly ev eryo n e h ad t ake n to  talk ing to me inhus hedt one s, bu t his  was  m ore t han ca lm; i twas happy. I wa tche d for a f ewmi nut es  andt hen as  if  it  were j ust for meth e c am era zoomed in on h is f ac e and he  smile d  a  r e al faceli ght enin g smile . It ch eered me  up so mu ch . I rec or ded it  a s a  ha lf po i nt i n my j ournal b ecaus e  it seemed lik e  cheating tog iv e it full  cr edit.

This  wee k  I'm  not re all y  sure  I wa nt to count all 136 smile sI've r eceiv ed, because a gain it se e m s  like ch eati n g. Everyone smile s atyou the fi r st coupl e ofweeks of  school.Y o u know t hesmi les  Im e an , the 'oh, so m e onene w, I sh oul d leave  agoo d i mpr es sion' kin d. Jacki emy  r oo mma te wa s  a maste ratbr ing ing t h ese sm ilesoutin  p e opl e, so i f  I w as w it hheritwa s all  dim p les  and te eth and n ice to m ee tyou. Sh e seemed to b ou nce her wa ythr ough l i f e and th ough she claimed to bes hy, I h adn 't se en i t yet. Th e f irst w eek e nd we' d bake d bre ad  to t ake t o al l o four neighb o r s.I cou nt ed t hose sm iles because event hou gh Jackie did  al l th e ba kin g ,I  wa sh e d t h e  dishes afterwa rds.

Nowsh e  w as makinge nou gh  spaghe tti tofeeda n armyand I was n't evenatroo p .  Iwatched he r brushher hairo ut of he r eye s w ith th ebac k ofher ha n d a s she  stirr ed  her h omema de  sauce o n the stove. She looked  so do mesti c,kind of l ike a m om standi ng t here in he r p ink  apro n.I  took  the ha irs crunc hiet hat I alw a ys  wo r e  o n my wristj u s t i n cas e a n d pull ed h er hair back forh er.

"Oh! Than ks,M e gan ."T hissm ile I could co unt ." No probl em , Jackie, b ut who's  g o ing t o eatall of  this?" "I t 's not  tha t m uch. We'l l j us t  have l ef to v ers."
"Ye ah , left oversf or a w eek. When are Kr isten a nd Me l iss a due  b ack?"
" I
 was_in the_hospital for my cancer_treatments. I_must_have looked_awful_because no matter_what I said_or did, no one_would give me_a_genuine smile. I remember how that discouraged me more than the pain or gloomy_room._One night_as_I_was finding it hard to_sleep I flipped through the_limited television_channels looking for a distraction. I stopped at_an_old favorite from_when I was little, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. There was_something comforting about its familiar music_and his calm_voice._I'd_been surrounded by calm_voices, lately everyone had taken to_talking to me in hushed tones,_but his was more than calm; it_was happy. I watched for a_few minutes and then as_if it_were just for me the_camera zoomed in_on his_face and he_smiled a real face lightening smile._It cheered me_up so much. I recorded it_as_a half point_in_my_journal because_it seemed like_cheating_to give_it_full credit.

This week I'm not really_sure_I want to count all 136 smiles_I've received, because again_it_seems like cheating. Everyone_smiles at you the first_couple of weeks of school. You_know the_smiles I_mean, the 'oh, someone new, I should leave a good impression'_kind. Jackie my roommate was a_master at bringing these_smiles out_in_people, so if_I_was with_her it was all dimples and teeth_and nice_to meet you. She seemed to_bounce her way through_life_and though she claimed to be_shy, I hadn't seen it yet._The first weekend we'd baked_bread_to_take to all of our_neighbors. I counted those smiles because_even though Jackie_did all the baking, I washed the_dishes_afterwards.

Now she was making enough spaghetti_to_feed an army and I wasn't_even_a_troop. I watched her brush_her hair out of her eyes_with the back of her hand as she stirred_her homemade sauce_on the stove. She looked_so_domestic,_kind of like a mom standing there in her pink_apron. I_took the hair_scrunchie that I always wore on my wrist just in_case and pulled her hair back for_her.

"Oh! Thanks, Megan." This smile I could count.

"No problem, Jackie, but_who's going to eat all of this?"

"It's not_that much. We'll just have leftovers."

"Yeah, leftovers_for a week. When_are_Kristen and Melissa due back?"

"I