The Giggle Fountain

In the middle of Fruitville Park stands the Giggle Fountain.

All day long, it sprinkles and sparkles, and anyone who walks by starts to giggle. Hee hee! Ha ha! Nobody knows why. It is just that kind of fountain.

But one quiet morning, the fountain stopped.

No sprinkles. No sparkles. No giggles at all. The water sat still and gray, like it had forgotten how to be happy.

"Oh no," said Little Cherry. "The fountain has the morning grumps."

The friends tried everything. They tried polishing the fountain until it shone. They tried saying please, in their nicest voices. They tried standing on one foot — that was Pip's idea. But the water just sat there. Still. Gray. Grumpy.

Banana-Man put on his thinking face. "Everybody, let's help it remember!"

Little Cherry sang her happiest song. High notes, low notes, la-la-la! One tiny drop of water jumped. Plip!

Pip told his silliest joke. "Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because it wasn't peeling well!" Two drops jumped. Plip! Plop!

Baby Melon did her wobbliest dance. Wiggle, wiggle, bounce! Three drops jumped, and one landed right on Banana-Man's nose.

Banana-Man laughed — a big, real, belly laugh. "Ha-HA!"

And just like that — WHOOSH! The fountain sparkled! It sprinkled! It giggled and bubbled and danced in the sunshine!

Old Mr. Fig was walking by with his serious face on. A sprinkle landed on his hat. Then another on his nose.

Mr. Fig tried not to smile. He really, really tried.

Then — "Hee hee!" — Mr. Fig giggled for the first time all week.

"The fountain is back!" cheered the friends, splashing in the sparkles (only a little).

Banana-Man smiled. "Giggles are like sunshine," he said. "When you share yours, everybody's day gets brighter."

And from that day on, whenever anyone in Fruitville felt the morning grumps sneaking up, they knew just what to do: find a friend, and share a giggle. It works every time.

And the Giggle Fountain sparkled happily ever after — especially on grumpy mornings.

The End. 💦