By Julie

Jenna looked down from the maple tree she was sitting in and smiled. It was nice to be on top of the world. “Squackk! Hee hee hee!” Sang a kookaburra from far away. Jenna smiled. It was nice, living in Australia. Dusk fell. The kookaburras sang and grinned and giggled. Starburst, Jenna’s favorite kookaburra, landed on her head and slowly swung her head down to look into Jenna’s eyes. A song marched from Starburst’s mouth, singing a song of plain pride. A smile crept slowly up her face. “Squakkkkk! Hee ha hee hee ha!” Starburst burst into uncontrollable laughter. Jenna couldn’t help grinning. She burst into laughter too. Standing up on the thick tree branch, she smiled, laughed and then sang along with the kookaburras. Haunting song filled her ears. Suddenly, she stopped and gasped. Smile, laugh and sing! She thought to herself. It sounded like the name of a poem or book written long ago by a forgotten writer.
MANY DAYS LATER
Jenna danced along on a maple tree branch with the kookaburras. They all grinned and smiled at once, and then burst into a long, shaking, uncontrollable laugh. “Hee ha Hee ha hoo hoo hoot!” Then came the singing. Singing a song of pride, joy, and laughter the kookaburra way. “Eeeka leeka loo moo jot you kam a layyyyyaa..” Over and over again. This had become part of Jenna’s evening routine. Minutes later, leaving honey out for Starburst, she climbed down and walked down the path home. Even now, the smiling, laughing and singing was still ringing in her soul.