Silly Sally Smiled Her Silly Sally Smile
By Kalen Marquis
Silly Sally was a small, toothless six-year-old. She wore orangey-brown clothes, had orangey-brown hair, and was spotted here and there with orangey-brown freckles. But still, no matter how small, toothless and orangey-brown she was . . .
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
Silly Sally lived during one of the greediest times, a time when many people could have anything they wanted. All around her there were people who had more than she could ever imagine. They drove the fastest, flashiest cars. They wore the coolest, funkiest clothes. They lived in great, sprawling mega-houses. They sat, rocked and reclined in matching mega furniture. And they filled their fancy cars and their mega houses with the latest-greatest electronic toys.
In fact, times were so greedy that the more they got, the more they wanted, and the more they wanted, the more they got. And the more they got, the more they wanted still. The people were not happy. No matter how much they had, they could never get enough. But still, as greedy as these times were,
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
Silly Sally lived during one of the poorest times, a time when many people were poor. All around her there were people who went without. They did not drive the fastest, flashiest cars. They did not wear the coolest, funkiest clothes. They did not live in great, sprawling mega-houses. They did not sit, rock or recline in matching mega furniture. And they had no cars or homes to fill with the latest-greatest electronic toys.
In fact, times were so poor that they were lucky to find good food to eat each day and a warm place to sleep each night. The people were not happy. The little they had was never enough. But still, as poor as these times were . . .
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
Silly Sally lived during one of the most terrible times, a time when some people did mean, hurtful things. All around her there were people who hurt and because they hurt, they wanted others to hurt too. They hurt each other’s bodies. They hurt each other’s feelings. And they hurt each other’s things. What they wanted they stole and what they could not steal, they broke.
In fact, times were so terrible that people paid money to protect their bodies, read books to protect their feelings, and bought insurance to replace their stolen and broken things. The people were not happy. They felt sadness and pain. But still, as terrible as these times were,
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
Silly Sally lived during one of the scariest times, a time when some people were extremely frightened. All around her there were people who could not enjoy their lives. They were scared to drive their fastest, flashiest cars, to wear their coolest, funkiest clothes, to sleep in their great sprawling mega homes, to sit, rock and recline in their matching mega furniture, or play with their latest-greatest electronic toys.
In fact, they were scared they might lose their jobs, scared that they would not have enough food to eat, and scared not to have a place to sleep at night. They were scared to be out at night and, in some places, scared to be out during the day. The people were not happy. They were afraid—very, very afraid. But still, as scary as these times were,
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
All around her the people were getting anxious and sick. It had happened so gradually that the grown-ups hadn’t even realized it. The kids, whose memory did not stretch back as far, would always use their wild and colourful imaginations to dream of some happier, safer time but it didn’t take long before they were grown-ups too. And grown-ups were often too practical and busy to bother with dreams. Either that or they no longer believed that dreams do come true.
But now, all of a sudden, the grown-ups were worried—really, really worried. The world was so rich, but instead of knowing happiness and peace, too many people only knew sadness and fear. Grown-ups from far and widefinally agreed. Something had to be done and it had to be something BIG. Something quick!
But still, while town halls filled with important people holding long, gusty debates. . . and ministers gave tearful sermons and choirs sang beautiful hymns. . . and people gathered to sing and cry and let candles burn deep into the night. . .
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
But that was not enough. The problems still would not go away. The people were terrified. Something more had to be done.
But still, while the mayor and her council wrote meaner, tougher laws . . . and the police threw more and more people in jail . . . and newspaper and television reporters spread dark, depressing facts . . .
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
But that wasn’t enough. The problems were getting worse. It wasn’t just adults either. Kids were doing it too. Something more had to be done.
But still, while the principal suspended more and more kids . . .and teachers gave more and more detentions . . . and moms and dads gave more and more groundings . . .
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
But no matter how hard they all tried, the problems still would not go away. It got worse and worse. Even the artists and dreamers of the world began to lose hope. Something more had to be done.
But still, while artists sculpted and painted the beauty of all the ages . . . and musicians sang teary songs of the peace and harmony yet to come. . . and authors wrote clever stories retelling old, forgotten truths. . .
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
But no matter how hard they all tried, the problem still would not go away. It got worse and worse. All around her, the grown-ups ran hither and thither, doing every imaginable thing, any possible thing they could think of. But still, no matter what . . .
Silly Sally smiled her Silly Sally smile.
So, what did this small, toothless, orangey-brown six-year-old know? What was her secret? Well, you see, it was quite simple—quite silly—really. Silly Sally knew that happiness and peace could only be created. . .
one Silly Sally smile at a time.
© 1991 Kalen Marquis
