The Zombie Who Forgot How to Smile

On a sunny island where the sand sparkled like sugar, there lived a zombie named Zom. But Zom wasn't like other zombies. He didn't want brains — he wanted friends! The problem was, everyone ran away when they saw his green skin and crooked teeth.

Every morning, Zom sat under his favorite palm tree, feeling lonely. His friend, a wise old parrot named Pablo, would squawk, "Zom! You need your sunshine vitamin! It comes from the special coconuts that grow only on this palm tree during the golden hour!"

One day, a brave girl named Maya was running along the beach. She loved running — her feet pattered against the sand like rain on a tin roof. When she saw Zom, she didn't run away. Instead, she stopped and smiled.

"Hello!" she said. "Why do you look so sad?"

Zom was shocked. Nobody had ever talked to him before! "I'm lonely," he admitted. "And I haven't had my sunshine vitamin in weeks. It only grows when the sun sets, and I'm too slow to climb the palm tree in time."

Maya's eyes lit up. "I love running! Maybe I can help!"

Every afternoon, Maya came running back at just the right moment. She would climb the palm tree, her strong legs carrying her higher and higher. Then she would toss down the magical golden coconuts to Zom.

The first time Zom ate one, something amazing happened. His green skin began to glow, his crooked teeth straightened, and — most importantly — he smiled! It was the biggest, happiest smile anyone had ever seen.

"Thank you, Maya!" Zom cheered. "The sunshine vitamin doesn't just make me healthy — it fills me with friendship!"

Soon, other children saw how happy Zom was. They stopped running away and started running toward him instead. They learned that Zom told wonderful stories and gave the best hugs.

Zom taught Maya that the most important vitamin wasn't in the coconut at all — it was the vitamin of friendship, found in the palm of your hand when you hold someone else's hand.

And every evening at sunset, if you look closely at the palm tree on the sparkly-sugar beach, you might see Zom and Maya running together, laughing as they collect golden coconuts, sharing their friendship vitamin with anyone who needs a smile.