The Friendly Zombie Who Forgot How to Smile

Lily was running through the autumn woods, her favorite orange sneakers crunching on colorful leaves. The sun painted everything gold as she played her favorite game of chase with the wind.

Suddenly, she saw him—a lumpy green figure shambling between trees. He looked like a zombie from her storybooks, but something was different. This zombie wore a bright orange tie and carried a basket.

Lily hid behind an oak tree, watching. The zombie sighed deeply, and a small orange fell from his basket.

"Oh no," he mumbled. "My last orange."

Lily stepped out. "Are you... a real zombie?"

He jumped. "Yes, but I'm ZOMBIE the zombie, and I'm terrible at it. I don't want to scare anyone. I just want to make friends."

"Why are you carrying oranges?"

"To share!" Zombie's face brightened. "I grow them in my garden. They're the sweetest in the enchanted forest. Would you like one?"

Lily took a bite. It was the juiciest orange she'd ever tasted!

"What if we run back to my house?" Lily suggested. "My little brother loves scary stories, but he's never met a friendly zombie before!"

Zombie's eyes sparkled. "Would he really want to meet me?"

"Yes!" Lily grabbed his hand. "Come on—running is faster!"

Together they raced through the woods, Zombie's orange tie flapping behind him. When they arrived, Lily's brother was amazed.

"A real zombie!" he cheered.

"The friendliest zombie ever," Lily corrected.

That afternoon, they carved the orange into a jack-o'-lantern and told stories. Zombie realized he didn't need to be scary to be special.

"You know," Zombie said, "I think I'll start a zombie club. For zombies who want to be friends instead of scares."

Lily smiled. "I'll help you find them."

And so, running through those woods became an adventure every day. Lily had learned something wonderful: sometimes the scariest-looking things just need someone to see them differently.