Short story

Harry is surprised to learn there is such a thing as World Smile Day and decides to put it to the test

Harry was working out the staffing schedules for February when the Clark sisters knocked on his office door. “What can I do for you?” he asked.

He tried not to have favourites among his employees, but if he’d had to choose, the sisters would have been top of the list. They had joined Tye’s stationery wholesaler straight from school way back when his father ran the business. Forty years on, they were still there, the only members of staff who always referred to him as ‘young Mr T’.

“It’s Amy Keen,” they chorused as one. “We’re worried about her.”

They nodded towards where Amy could be seen photocopying a pile of memos. Pam said: “She’s been acting strangely all morning.”

Harry stood up to take a better look. “She looks fine to me. She’s smiling.”

“That’s why we’re worried about her. Amy hardly ever smiles,” Susan said. “Hardly ever,” Pam agreed. Harry regarded the sisters. Two nicer women you couldn’t hope to meet, but they did have a habit of sticking their

The sisters had a habit of sticking their noses into other people’s business...

noses into other people’s business – usually with the best of intentions.

“Let me get this right. You’re worried about Amy because she’s happy?”

“We think she’s putting on a smile as a cover up for some sort of problem.

There must be something wrong,” Susan explained.

“Badly wrong,” Pam added. Harry sighed. In a strange sort of way, it made sense, but he wondered why the sisters hadn’t spoken to Amy themselves. It wasn’t like them to hold back.

“Can’t you have a word with her? Woman to woman?”

They looked at each other. “We didn’t like to,” Susan said.

“You’re the boss. We thought we should leave it up to you,” Pam said.

During the morning, Harry kept an eye on Amy. Her smile never faltered, even when she had to deal with a difficult customer on the phone.

Until today, he had never taken much notice of her. She was one of those quiet, unassuming women who dressed sensibly and concentrated on her work. Harry guessed that she was around the same age as him, in her 40s. It was surprising how different she looked when she was smiling. It might be a cliché, but it really did light up her face.

When Amy headed to the little kitchen for a coffee break, Harry decided to seize the opportunity. As they waited