😄 The Day Happiness Got Lost (and Friendship Found It) Once upon a Tuesday (a day famous for losing things), Happiness went missing. Poof. Gone. Just like socks in a dryer. Everyone in the town of Snickleberry noticed immediately. People woke up grumpy, toast burned itself out of spite, and even the pigeons were walking around with “don’t talk to me” energy. Mayor Picklebutton made an announcement: “Citizens! Happiness has escaped! Again! Anyone who finds it will receive—uh—preferential parking privileges!” The crowd gasped. Parking in Snickleberry was serious business. Enter: Juniper and Muck Juniper was a cheerful human who believed every day was improved by snacks. Muck was her best friend—a frog-like creature who had the emotional intelligence of a potato but the loyalty of ten golden retrievers. “Let’s find Happiness!” Juniper said. “RIBBIT,” Muck answered, which in frog-language meant: “I don’t understand what’s happening, but I’m here for the vibe.” The Search for Happiness They looked in all the usual places: Under the couch (only crumbs and regret) In the fridge (cold lasagna, not happiness, though close) Inside the mailbox (junk mail: definitely not happiness) Finally, deep in the forest, they found Happiness sitting on a rock, looking confused and slightly sparkly. “Why’d you run away?” Juniper asked. Happiness shrugged. “Everyone kept expecting me to do all the work. I needed a vacation.” Muck nodded in agreement, even though he didn’t really know what a vacation was. Happiness continued: “People think I’m this big, magical thing. But I’m tiny! I live in small stuff! Warm socks. A good joke. Snacks. Friends.” Juniper looked at Muck. Muck was currently trying to hug a tree. “…He’s not very smart,” she said. “But he’s my best friend.” Happiness sparkled brighter. “Exactly.” So What Is Friendship? Friendship, it turns out, is: Someone who looks for Happiness with you when it wanders off Someone who shares snacks Someone who doesn’t leave when you act weird (especially important) Someone who hugs trees with enthusiasm, even if they don’t know why Friendship is basically the universe saying: “Here, you don’t have to do life alone.” And What Is Happy, Anyway? Happiness explained it like this: “I’m not a treasure at the end of a quest. I’m all the tiny silly things during the quest.” Then Happiness hopped onto Juniper’s shoulder like a sparkly parrot and said, “Let’s go home. I miss lasagna.” Muck cheered. Loudly. Very loudly. And the three of them walked back to Snickleberry—Happiness included.