Smart, Strong, and Brave!

Chapter 1: Feeling Unsure

Annie sat on her bedroom floor with her math worksheets spread out on her bed. The numbers made her head spin, and her tummy felt wiggly. “I’m not smart enough,” she mumbled, pushing her pencil until it rolled away. Her room was quiet, except for a soft buzz of her iPad on the bed. A FaceTime call came through, and Annie’s eyes lit up when Grammy’s face appeared. “Hey, Sparky!” Grammy said. “What’s my favorite girl doing?” Annie shrugged. “Math’s too hard, Grammy. I’m not smart.” Grammy smiled and said, “Oh, Annie, you’re smart. And strong. And brave. And don’t forget that!” Annie giggled, but inside, she wasn’t sure. Brave? She felt more nervous than brave.

Grammy lived far away and had a garden full of sunflowers. She visited Annie once a month, sometimes twice if she could make it. But every few days, Annie would curl up with her iPad, and Grammy’s face would pop up on FaceTime. “You’re smart, strong, and brave, Annie,” she’d say. That made Annie feel good. Slowly, Grammy’s words started to feel real to her.

Annie started raising her hand at school, even when she was nervous. One day, she answered a question about planets, and her teacher said, “Great job, Annie!” She smiled and thought maybe she was smart. At the park, a short walk from her mom’s house, she tried the tall slide. Her legs shook, but she climbed up and slid down fast. “Strong,” she said to herself, thinking of Grammy. But brave? She wasn’t sure about that.

A few weeks later, Annie’s class did a science experiment with a volcano. She was nervous to try it. She remembered Grammy’s words: “You’re smart, Sparky.” Annie raised her hand. “I’ll pour the vinegar,” she said. Her hands shook, but she poured it, and the mixture fizzed. Her classmates cheered. “Good job, Annie!” her teacher said. Annie smiled. That night, she FaceTimed Grammy from her mom’s house. “I did a science experiment, Grammy!” she said. Grammy smiled. “That’s my Sparky! Smart, strong, and brave.”

The next month, Annie and Lily played tag at recess. Annie usually watched, thinking she wasn’t fast enough. Her tummy felt wiggly. But she remembered Grammy saying, “You’re strong, Sparky.” “Okay,” Annie said. She ran, dodging Lily’s hand. Annie laughed when she reached the safe spot. Lily said, “You’re fast, Annie!” Annie felt strong. That weekend, Grammy visited and walked with Annie to the park. Annie said, “I played tag, Grammy, and I was fast!” Grammy pushed her on the swings. “See, Sparky? Smart, strong, and brave!”