At 5:00 p.m. I stopped at the market to pick up a few things for daily life—cream for coffee, eggs for breakfast and medicine for my terrible headache.
Having been rushing all day, I was tired out and did not want to shop with other shoppers. But I told1it was my last stop before going home. So I took a deep breath and entered the last market.
That's when I saw her, a baby2looked about 9 months old sitting in a shopping cart(购物车) with blonde hair and large blue eyes. We looked at each other. Then I did3I always do with children. I gave her my best smile. That's a habit I developed after I became a mother. She reminded me4my first child. At that fantastic time, my first baby 5on the sofa by me and held up his tiny head to watch me.
About three years later, my smile would6an expression of fear, worry or anger. But it never left my face. It happened that same way with my second and third child.
And now, after all these years, I can't help7at children. I've learned that all children, young and old, need8to smile at them.9their parents and grandparents,……their teachers and coaches, family and friends. And yes, even strangers at a market.
The baby and I smiled at each other. That got a smile in return from every shopper I passed. I waved to her with "Goodbye" and she10me a kiss.
I was still smiling when I got home and realized I'd forgotten to get the medicine. I didn't need it because my headache had disappeared already.
A smile is a good medicine.
