The Zombie Who Lost His Smile

Penny had the most magnificent wild curly hair that bounced when she walked. It was reddish-orange like autumn leaves, and it always made her feel brave.

One day, while spying through her telescope from her bedroom window, Penny saw something extraordinary in the forest behind her house. A great fuzzy bear was waving at her!

Penny tiptoed outside. The bear's name was Barnaby, and he looked very worried.

"My friend Zedd needs help," Barnaby said. "He's a zombie, but not a scary one. He's magical and clumsy and very kind. But he lost his orange pocket-watch, and without it, he can't do his happy zombie dance."

Penny's eyes sparkled. She would be a spy and help find it!

Together, Penny and Barnaby searched the forest. They looked under mushrooms and behind waterfalls. They found an orange butterfly, an orange mushroom, even an orange shoe – but no orange pocket-watch.

Finally, they reached a hollow tree where Zedd sat, looking very sad. He was green and friendly, with stitches that spelled "SMILE" on his jacket.

"I miss dancing," Zedd sighed.

Penny noticed something glinting high up in the tree. "Wait! I spy it!" She climbed up, her curly hair flowing behind her like a superhero cape.

The orange pocket-watch was stuck on a branch! As soon as she pulled it free, Zedd's face lit up.

"Thank you!" Zedd cheered. He did a funny, bouncy dance that made Penny and Barnaby laugh so hard their tummies hurt.

"Friends help friends," Penny said, feeling warm inside.

From that day on, Penny, Barnaby, and Zedd had adventures together. Penny learned that even zombies who look different can be wonderful friends, and that being brave enough to help others is the best magic of all.

And sometimes, when no one was watching, Penny would spy Zedd doing his happy zombie dance, his orange pocket-watch swinging, and she would smile, knowing she had helped bring the joy back to her new friend.