Story

Pollyanna

30 minAges 7-9

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The story

Introduction

Hello there, little listeners! Have you ever tried to find something good, even when things feel a bit gloomy? Well, today we’re going to meet a very special girl named Pollyanna. She plays the most wonderful 'glad game'. It's a game that helps her and everyone around her find joy, no matter what. Join us as we discover how Pollyanna's sunny spirit changes an entire town.

A Sad Start, A Happy Game

Our story begins with little Pollyanna, who lived with her kind daddy. He was a missionary, which meant he travelled to help people far away. They didn't have very much money, and sometimes things were a bit difficult for them. One day, Pollyanna really, really wanted a beautiful doll! But instead of a doll, a box arrived with some crutches inside – for someone else who needed help walking. Pollyanna felt a tiny bit sad, but her daddy smiled. 'Let's play the glad game, my dear,' he said. 'What can we be glad about right now?' Pollyanna thought very hard. 'Oh, I know!' she chirped. 'I'm glad I don't need the crutches myself!' And that, my friends, was how the wonderful glad game began. It was a special game about finding something good in every single thing, even when it felt a little gloomy. Her daddy taught her always to look for the bright side, and soon Pollyanna was a champion at it. She could always find a little bit of sunshine, no matter what.

Meeting Aunt Polly

Pollyanna’s glad game was truly special, tucked safely in her heart. One day, Pollyanna's dear daddy, who taught her the glad game, went to live among the twinkly stars. Pollyanna was very sad, but remembering his words, she found something to be glad about: 'I’m glad I had such a lovely daddy to teach me the game.' Now, Pollyanna had to move in with her Aunt Polly, whom she’d never met. Aunt Polly lived far away, in a grand house in Harrington. Her little suitcase, decorated with bright, wobbly stars, hummed with adventure as it was loaded onto the train. The train chugged past green fields with fluffy sheep and sleepy villages. It was a long journey, full of new sights and sounds. Aunt Polly’s house was very grand, with a huge front door and perfectly trimmed bushes. Aunt Polly was tall, with a straight back and a serious face. She rarely smiled. 'You must be Pollyanna,' she said, her voice stiff, like a starched shirt. Pollyanna beamed. 'Yes, Aunt Polly! And I'm so glad to meet you!' Aunt Polly, puzzled by such cheer, led Pollyanna to her attic room. It was small, with plain walls, a simple bed, and one window looking out at a big oak tree. No pretty pictures or colorful rug. Aunt Polly thought, 'She’ll surely be sad here.' But Pollyanna, being Pollyanna, bounced onto the bed. 'Oh, how perfectly wonderful!' she declared, eyes sparkling. 'A window, all for me! I can see the sky so clearly! And the tree! It’s like having a giant, leafy friend right outside!' She was even glad there was no mirror! Aunt Polly just shook her head and walked away, a little puzzled. Pollyanna, however, was already busy making up a new game with the oak tree.

New Friends and the Glad Game Spreads

Pollyanna loved her oak tree friend, but soon she wanted to explore more of her new home. She skipped down the grand staircase, her pigtails bouncing like happy springs. In the kitchen, she found Nancy, the housemaid, kneading dough. "Hello!" chirped Pollyanna. "Are you making a lovely biscuit mountain?" Nancy jumped a little, surprised. "Goodness me, child! You gave me a start! Yes, I am. And who might you be?" "I'm Pollyanna! And I'm so glad to meet you!" Nancy smiled. "Well, bless your heart. I'm Nancy. It's not often I get a 'glad to meet you' in this house!" "Oh, but everyone should be glad!" Pollyanna explained, her eyes wide. "It's all about the Glad Game!" Nancy looked puzzled. "The what now?" Pollyanna clapped her hands. "You have to find something to be glad about in everything, even things that seem a bit sad." She told Nancy how she was glad her broken doll didn't need dusting. Nancy chuckled. "Hmm, a game, eh? Sometimes it's hard to be glad when you're scrubbing floors all day." "But you get strong muscles!" Pollyanna pointed out, flexing her tiny arm. "And you get to make yummy biscuits!" Nancy laughed properly then. "You're a proper little ray of sunshine, you are! Alright, Pollyanna. Maybe I'll try this 'Glad Game' of yours." Soon, Pollyanna explored outside. She saw a young boy, Jimmy Bean, sitting on a stone, looking glum. He lived at the orphanage and needed a home. "Hello!" Pollyanna called. "Are you playing by yourself?" "Who are you?" he asked, a little gruffly. "I'm Jimmy Bean, and I don't have anyone to play with. They won't let me stay at the orphanage much longer." Pollyanna's face softened. "Oh, that sounds a bit sad. But," she brightened, "you're outside! And you have a lovely stone to sit on! And you will find a home! It's like a big treasure hunt!" Jimmy blinked. "A treasure hunt for a home?" he repeated, a whisper of hope. "Alright, Pollyanna. Maybe you're right. Want to help me look for treasure?" And so, Pollyanna and Jimmy Bean became the best of friends, always looking for something to be glad about. One afternoon, Pollyanna saw Mr. Pendergast, the grumpiest man in town, walking with a stern face. "Hello, sir!" she chirped. "What a lovely day for a walk!" Mr. Pendergast stopped dead. "Hmph!" he grunted, trying to walk past. "Oh, but you have such a splendid walking stick!" Pollyanna continued, admiring the polished wood. "And your coat is a beautiful shade of brown, like a strong oak tree!" Mr. Pendergast stopped again. Nobody had ever said anything nice to him. He usually only heard complaints. "Are you playing the Glad Game, sir?" Pollyanna asked. Mr. Pendergast just stared. But as Pollyanna skipped away, he felt a strange warmth. He looked at his walking stick, then at his coat. Perhaps... perhaps they weren't so bad after all. Then there was Dr. Chilton, the kind doctor who often looked a bit sad. One day, Pollyanna saw him walking, looking thoughtful. "Good morning, Dr. Chilton!" Pollyanna called. "Are you glad it's such a sunny day?" Dr. Chilton smiled, a rare and gentle smile. "Good morning, Pollyanna. Yes, I suppose I am glad for the sunshine." "And I'm glad you're a doctor!" Pollyanna added. "Because you make people feel better!" Dr. Chilton's smile widened. He did make people feel better. Sometimes, he forgot how wonderful that was. Slowly, like ripples spreading in a pond, Pollyanna's Glad Game began to touch everyone. Nancy hummed more often. Jimmy Bean searched for treasure with a lighter heart. Mr. Pendergast looked at his belongings with new eyes. And Dr. Chilton remembered the joy of his work. A little bit of her sunshine was making their days brighter. And Pollyanna? She was just glad to have so many new friends to play with.

The Town Changes

Pollyanna’s glad game wasn’t just for a few friends; it was like a tiny, magical ripple that started to spread all through the quiet little town. First, it had touched Mr. Pendergast, the grumpy old gentleman who loved prisms. After Pollyanna had helped him find something glad even in his lonely house, he started to look at things a little differently. One sunny morning, Mr. Pendergast was sitting by his window, holding the beautiful glass prism Pollyanna had given him. The sunshine caught it, and dozens of tiny rainbows danced across his dusty walls. He looked at the colours, then out at his garden, which used to seem so dull. He noticed a little robin hopping about, looking for worms. “Well, I’ll be glad for that little chap,” he mumbled to himself, a tiny smile playing on his lips. It was the first time he’d smiled in ages. He even started leaving out little biscuit crumbs for the robin each morning. And he found himself chatting to his squirrel, Squeaky, again, telling him about the colours the prism made. The prism wasn’t just pretty; it was like a secret key, showing him the gladness in everyday things. Then there was Mrs. Snow, who always complained and stayed in her dark, stuffy room. Pollyanna would visit her, bringing her little wildflowers and telling her about the sunny days outside. One afternoon, Pollyanna skipped in, holding a bright red poppy. “Isn’t this beautiful, Mrs. Snow?” she asked, holding it up. Mrs. Snow grumbled, as usual, but then she looked at the poppy’s vibrant colour against the gloom of her room. “It… it is rather bright,” she admitted. “Perhaps… perhaps I could have a little vase for it?” Pollyanna’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes! And maybe… maybe we could open the curtains just a tiny bit, so the sun can say hello to the poppy?” Mrs. Snow sighed, but a small spark of curiosity had been lit. Soon, just a crack of light turned into a window being opened a little, and then a few more colourful flowers appeared in her room. It wasn’t a huge change all at once, but like tiny steps up a long staircase, Mrs. Snow was slowly, slowly, finding her way to a brighter place. Even Dr. Chilton, the kind doctor who had been so sad, felt a lightness return to his step. He found himself whistling little tunes as he walked down the pavement to visit his patients. He’d stop to chat with people, not just about their aches and pains, but about the lovely weather, or a funny story he’d heard. He saw the world through Pollyanna’s eyes, finding the good, the glad, in every situation. His patients noticed it too. “The doctor seems ever so much jollier,” they’d say. “His medicine feels like it works even better now!” The town itself began to transform, almost without anyone noticing. People who used to hurry past each other with downcast eyes now offered a nod, a smile, or even a quick “Good morning!” The old, dusty library, which rarely saw visitors, suddenly found children flocking in, eager to hear Miss Gray, the librarian, read stories. Miss Gray, who used to be quite timid, now had a new spring in her step, delighted to share the magic of books. Mr. Jones, the baker, who was famous for his grumpy face and perfectly crusty loaves, started putting little smiley faces on some of his gingerbread biscuits. Imagine that! A grumpy baker making happy biscuits! When a little girl pointed it out, he just grunted, but then, Pollyanna walked in. “Oh, Mr. Jones!” she exclaimed. “These biscuits are so glad! You must be very glad to make them!” Mr. Jones actually chuckled, a rumbling sound like a warm loaf coming out of the oven. “Aye, lass,” he said. “Maybe I am.” The town square, which used to be just a place to cross, slowly became a place to gather. Mrs. Durgin, who had always complained about the weeds, started planting colourful petunias in the flowerbeds. “Someone ought to make this place look a bit nicer,” she’d huff, but her hands were busy, carefully tending to the new blooms. Soon, other neighbours joined in, bringing their own seeds and watering cans. The old, broken bench got a fresh coat of paint, and the children started playing games around the newly cheerful flowerbeds. It was as if a gentle magic had been sprinkled over everything. Aunt Polly, of course, noticed all these changes, but she pretended not to. She saw Mr. Pendergast chatting happily to his squirrel from her kitchen window. She heard Mrs. Snow’s window open a little wider each day, and sometimes, she even heard a faint, cheerful humming from her room. She saw Dr. Chilton’s bright smile when he came to visit. And she couldn’t help but notice the smiles on the faces of the tradespeople when Pollyanna visited the shops. “It’s all… rather peculiar,” Aunt Polly would sniff, polishing a silver spoon with extra vigour. But deep down, a tiny little flicker of something she hadn’t felt in a long, long time, began to stir in her own heart. She would never admit it, not yet, but even the air around her felt lighter, happier. Pollyanna, meanwhile, was just delighted. “Isn’t it wonderful, Aunt Polly?” she’d exclaim, skipping in after visiting someone. “Everyone is finding so many glad things! Today, Mrs. Snow was glad for her new red poppy, and Mr. Jones was glad for his happy biscuits! And the town square looks so beautiful!” Aunt Polly would just clear her throat and change the subject, perhaps asking Pollyanna if she’d remembered to dust her room. But Pollyanna knew. She knew that her glad game was like a little ray of sunshine, chasing away the clouds from people’s hearts. And the more gladness everyone found, the more the whole town glowed. It was like a game where everyone won, and the prize was happiness. But even in a town full of new-found gladness, life could still be full of surprises. And sometimes, those surprises weren’t always easy to be glad about. Pollyanna was about to face her biggest challenge yet.

A Difficult Challenge

Pollyanna was about to face her biggest challenge yet. One sunny afternoon, Pollyanna was skipping along the dusty lane, her bright red wellington boots making cheerful thumps on the ground. She was on her way to see Mrs. Snow, hoping to bring a little sunshine into her rather grey day. A beautiful, shimmering dragonfly, with wings like tiny stained-glass windows, zipped past her nose. "Oh, hello there, little friend!" she giggled, trying to follow its wobbly flight. She wasn't looking where she was going, her eyes fixed on the dragonfly as it danced over the wildflowers. Suddenly, there was a terrible jolt! Pollyanna tripped right over a loose stone hidden in the long grass. She tumbled forward, a small yelp escaping her lips as she landed awkwardly with a bump. Her little red boots flew up in the air for a moment before thudding back down. She tried to get up, just as she always did after a tumble, but this time... this time it was different. A strange, tingling feeling ran through her legs, and when she tried to push herself up, they just wouldn't obey. "Oh dear," she whispered, her brow furrowing. "My legs feel all wobbly, like jelly that won't stand still!" She tried again, wiggling her toes, but nothing happened. A tiny tear pricked the corner of her eye, not because of the bump, but because her legs felt so very, very far away. Soon, a kind farmer driving his old tractor spotted her. He carefully helped her onto his soft hay bale and drove her straight back to Aunt Polly's big house. Aunt Polly, usually so stern, rushed out with a worried look on her face. Her voice was gentle as she asked what had happened. "I tripped, Aunt Polly," Pollyanna explained, trying to sound brave. "And now my legs won't work properly." Aunt Polly called for the doctor right away. Dr. Chilton, a very clever man with kind eyes and a thoughtful frown, examined Pollyanna very carefully. He poked and he prodded, and he shone a tiny light in her eyes. He looked very serious. "Pollyanna has had a bit of a nasty fall," Dr. Chilton explained to Aunt Polly, his voice low. "It seems she's hurt her back, and because of that, her legs aren't getting the right messages from her brain right now. She won't be able to walk for a little while." Pollyanna heard every word. Not walk? Her amazing legs, that loved to skip and jump and climb trees, wouldn't work? It was like hearing that her favourite doll had decided to stay asleep forever. A big, fat tear rolled down her cheek. This was a truly difficult challenge. Days turned into weeks, and Pollyanna stayed in her bed. The room that used to feel so sunny now seemed a little dim. Her favourite window, where she'd watch the fluffy clouds float by, now just showed the same view every day. She missed her friends – Nancy, Old Tom, Jimmy Bean – and even the grumpy Mr. Pendleton. She missed chasing butterflies and playing hide-and-seek. Most of all, she missed the feeling of her feet on the ground. Aunt Polly was very kind. She brought her delicious little biscuits and read her stories. But even Aunt Polly couldn't make her legs work again. Pollyanna tried to play the glad game, but it was so, so hard. "What can I be glad about?" she'd ask Nancy, her voice small. "I can't play outside. I can't even stand up to see the flowers!" Nancy, who loved Pollyanna dearly, would try her best. "Well, you're glad you have such a comfy bed, aren't you? And all these lovely books?" Pollyanna would sigh. "Yes, but I'd be gladder if I could read them outside, sitting under the big oak tree!" It was a new feeling for Pollyanna, this feeling of not being able to find the gladness. Dr. Chilton visited often. He would tell her silly jokes and draw funny pictures, but he always looked a bit sad when he examined her legs. "We'll keep trying, Pollyanna," he'd say, "but these things take time. A lot of time." The whole town felt it. The glad game, which had made everyone smile, seemed to dim a little bit. Mrs. Snow, who had finally started to enjoy her colourful shawls, would look out her window and sigh, thinking of Pollyanna. Mr. Pendleton, who had learned to be glad about the sunshine, now found himself looking at the grey clouds more often. Even Nancy, who was usually so cheerful, would sometimes forget to hum her favourite tunes. Pollyanna, the girl who taught them all how to be glad, was now finding it hard to be glad herself. She would lie in bed, gazing at the ceiling, wondering if her legs would ever remember how to walk. She thought of the bright red wellington boots, sitting dusty in the corner, waiting. Would they ever go skipping again? It was a test, a really big test, for Pollyanna and her wonderful game. Could she find the gladness even when things felt truly, truly sad? Could she be glad about something, anything, when her whole world felt turned upside down? She closed her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, the glad game seemed to hide from her, like a shy little mouse under a cupboard. She missed its cheerful squeak. Aunt Polly would sit by her bed, smoothing her hair. "Pollyanna, my dear," she would say, "we must be patient. And we must hope." But Pollyanna found that patience was a bit like waiting for a slow-moving cloud to cross the sky – it took a very, very long time. And hoping, well, hoping felt like trying to catch a rainbow, beautiful but just out of reach. This was the biggest challenge of all, much bigger than a broken doll or a forgotten tea party. This was a challenge that made her heart feel heavy, and her bright, happy spirit feel a little bit like a fading flower. The town, too, felt the quietness from Pollyanna's room. Her laughter, which used to bubble through the air like a happy spring, was now just a whisper. Everyone waited, wondered, and worried. What would happen to the glad girl now?

The Town's Turn to Help

The quiet in the town was like a big, soft blanket pulled over everything. No giggles from Pollyanna's window, no happy 'hello's from the pavement. The colourful flowers still bloomed, but even they seemed to droop a little, missing her bright eyes. Everyone felt it. The air, which used to hum with Pollyanna's glad game, now felt a bit empty, a bit sad. People whispered in the shops, not about the weather or the price of biscuits, but about Pollyanna. What could they do for their little sunshine girl? Dr. Chilton, the kind doctor with a twinkle in his eye, felt it most of all. He visited Pollyanna every day, his brow furrowed with worry. He knew Pollyanna needed a very special kind of help, more than he could give on his own. So, he made it his mission. He looked through big, old books with dusty pages, sent telegrams flying like little paper birds, and talked on the telephone to other clever doctors far, far away. He wouldn't give up! He knew Pollyanna deserved every chance to feel glad again. And then, a wonderful thing began to happen. The town, which Pollyanna had taught the 'glad game' to, started to play it back for her! They didn't know how to make her legs better, but they knew how to make her heart feel loved. Mrs. Snow, who often grumbled like a sleepy badger, surprised everyone! She started knitting a soft, warm blanket for Pollyanna, choosing the brightest wool she could find. Every stitch was filled with a wish for Pollyanna to feel cosy and loved. Old Mr. Pendergast, who used to walk around with his shoulders hunched, suddenly stood a little taller. He had a lovely wooden bird he'd carved, and he polished it until it gleamed, deciding it would make Pollyanna happy when she saw it. He carefully wrapped it up, his old hands trembling just a little. Even the children, who missed playing with Pollyanna, gathered their favourite shiny pebbles and smooth shells, hoping they would bring her good luck. They pressed them into little drawings of smiling suns and rainbows. They wrote messages too, in wobbly letters, saying things like, 'Get well soon, Pollyanna!' and 'We miss your glad game!' Nancy, Aunt Polly's helper, organised all the gifts. Her eyes were often wet with tears as she saw the love pouring in. She helped the children write their messages and made sure every single gift found its way to Pollyanna’s room, even if Pollyanna couldn't open them just yet. Dr. Chilton soon found out that the special doctor Pollyanna needed, someone who knew all about legs and getting them strong again, lived very far away, in a big city. And bringing him to their small town, or taking Pollyanna to him, would cost a lot of pounds. More pounds than Dr. Chilton had, and certainly more than Aunt Polly was willing to spend at first. But the town wouldn't let that stop them! They had learned the glad game from Pollyanna, and now they were glad to help! The Ladies' Aid Society, who used to spend their meetings having little squabbles, suddenly worked together like a busy hive of bees. They organised a huge bake sale! People baked cakes, scones, and biscuits. The smell of fresh baking filled the air, like a warm, sweet hug. They sold everything, and every penny went into a special jar for Pollyanna. Old Mr. Pendergast even decided to sell some of his other beautiful wooden carvings – little squirrels, wise owls, and cheeky foxes – to add to the money. And the children? They set up little stalls on the pavement, selling lemonade they'd made, or small flowers from their gardens. They were so proud to hand over their few pennies, knowing it was all for Pollyanna. Soon, the jar was getting heavier and heavier! Aunt Polly saw all this. Her heart, which used to feel like a tightly closed fist, began to open, slowly, like a shy flower blooming in the morning sun. She saw how much her niece was loved, and how Pollyanna had made the whole town a kinder, gladder place. A tear might have even trickled down her cheek, a tear not of sadness, but of wonder and gratitude. She realised that the money wasn't just money; it was love, bundled up and offered to Pollyanna. So, she added some of her own money to the jar, a very generous amount, because she too wanted Pollyanna to be well again more than anything. With all the town's help, and Dr. Chilton's cleverness, enough pounds were gathered. Dr. Chilton was finally able to send a very important letter to the special doctor, asking him to come. The town held its breath, hoping for good news. And then, a telegram arrived back, saying, 'Yes! I will come!' The news spread through the town like a joyful whisper on the wind. Everyone was so relieved! They knew it would be a long road, but with the special doctor on his way, and with all their love wrapped around her, they felt a warm glow of hope. Pollyanna had taught them to be glad, and now, they were so very glad to be able to help her. They knew she was a very special girl, and they waited, wondered, and hoped for her to feel glad again.

Hope and Healing

The special doctor, whose name was Dr. Chilton, arrived a few days later. He was a very kind man with a gentle smile, and he had a calm way about him that made everyone feel a little bit better, even Aunt Polly. He spent a long time with Pollyanna, examining her very carefully, his brow sometimes furrowed in thought, sometimes softening with understanding. He spoke in quiet tones to Aunt Polly and Nancy, explaining what he had found. "Pollyanna has had a terrible bump," he explained, "and it will take a lot of time and a lot of patience for her legs to get strong again. It won't be easy, and there will be days when she feels very, very sad. But with careful exercises and lots of rest, there is hope. We will work together, all of us, to help her." Pollyanna, who had always been so full of sunshine, found it very hard to be glad now. She lay in her bed, looking out of the window, wishing she could skip and jump and run again. Her legs felt heavy and strange. She tried to play the Glad Game, oh how she tried! But it was difficult. "I can't think of anything to be glad about," she whispered one afternoon to Nancy, her voice small and wobbly. "I can't go outside. I can't visit my friends. I can't even stand up!" Nancy sat by her bed, holding her hand. "Oh, Pollyanna," she said, "I know it feels like that now. But you’ve taught us all so much. Think hard, pet. Is there truly nothing?" Just then, Dr. Chilton came in, carrying a basket of colourful balls. "Good afternoon, Pollyanna!" he said, "Ready for our exercises?" He showed her how to gently move her feet and wiggle her toes. It was hard work, and sometimes it hurt a little, but Dr. Chilton was always patient. "You're very brave," he told her one day, "and that's something to be glad about, isn't it? Many children would give up, but not you." Pollyanna thought about that. Brave. Yes, she was trying to be brave. That was a small glad thing. Soon, everyone in the town, who loved Pollyanna so much, started to visit. Old Mr. Pendleton, who hardly ever smiled before Pollyanna, came with a book of wonderful stories. He would sit by her bed and read, his deep voice making all the characters come alive. "I'm glad for Mr. Pendleton's stories," Pollyanna told Aunt Polly, "especially the one about the grumpy wizard who learned to laugh!" Mrs. Snow, who used to complain about everything, brought Pollyanna a little bunch of fresh wildflowers every day. "I know they're not much," she'd say, "but they remind me of your cheerfulness, dear." "I'm glad for the wildflowers," Pollyanna decided, "because they smell like outside, and they remind me of Mrs. Snow's kind face." Even Jimmy Bean, the boy from the orphanage, visited. He didn't have much, but he brought her a shiny, smooth pebble he’d found by the river. "It’s a lucky stone," he whispered. "It makes wishes come true." Pollyanna held the pebble tight. "I'm glad for lucky stones," she smiled, "and for friends like you, Jimmy." Aunt Polly, who had been so worried, watched all of this. She saw how Pollyanna’s friends were trying so hard to help her find glad things, just as Pollyanna had helped them. And slowly, slowly, a change began to happen in Pollyanna. One sunny morning, as she lay looking at the patterns the sun made on her ceiling, Dr. Chilton asked, "What are you glad about today, Pollyanna?" She thought for a long moment. "I'm glad," she said, "that I have arms that can hug people. And fingers that can hold a book. And a voice that can sing. And eyes that can see the sunshine." She paused, then added, "And I'm glad that I have a brain that can think of lots and lots of glad things, even when my legs aren't playing the game." Dr. Chilton beamed. "That's it, Pollyanna! That's the spirit! Your legs will catch up, I promise you. But your heart and your mind are already running marathons!" It was a long, slow journey. There were days when Pollyanna felt discouraged, and days when she cried. But every day, with the help of Dr. Chilton, Nancy, Aunt Polly, and all her wonderful friends, she kept trying. She did her exercises, she rested, and most importantly, she kept playing the Glad Game. She found glad things in the smallest of moments: the taste of a sweet biscuit, the warmth of the sun on her face, the sound of a robin singing outside her window. Slowly, very slowly, Pollyanna's legs began to get a little stronger. First, she could wiggle her toes with more ease. Then, she could lift her feet just a tiny bit. Then, with Dr. Chilton's careful help, she could sit up for longer. Each tiny step was a huge victory, celebrated by everyone around her. The whole town was watching, cheering her on with their love and their own newfound gladness. Aunt Polly watched her niece, her heart full. She realised that Pollyanna hadn't just taught *her* to be glad, but had taught an entire town to look for the good in every day. And now, that gladness was flowing back to Pollyanna, helping her to heal. It was like a warm, invisible blanket of love and hope, wrapped all around her, helping her mend. Pollyanna was truly loved, and that, perhaps, was the gladdest thing of all.

Outro

And so, our story of Pollyanna comes to an end. Thank you for listening with such lovely, bright ears! We hope her adventures have filled your day with sunshine and perhaps a little bit of gladness too. Why not tell us your favourite part? You can always let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback or ideas for new tales. Maybe you'll even make up your own happy story! Until next time, keep looking for the glad things, won't you? Cheerio!