Hannah's Super-Sticky Lolly Surprise

Hannah woke up with a wiggle and a giggle. "It's December first!" she sang. In the kitchen, smelling of toast and jam, was her brand new advent calendar. It was shaped like a giant, colourful lolly shop, with twenty-four little doors, each hiding a sweet surprise. Hannah was famous in her family for making everyone laugh, even the grumpy cat, Mittens.

She bounced on her toes in front of the calendar and found the little door marked with a big, sparkly '1'. "Time for my first treat!" she declared. She put her little finger on the edge and pulled. It didn't move. She pulled a bit harder. Wiggle, jiggle, nothing! The little door was stuck shut like it was glued down with super-sticky toffee.

Hannah scrunched up her nose. A problem! Her first idea was always to be silly. She started making funny faces at the calendar door. "Pretty please with a cherry on top, open up, little door!" she chirped in a squeaky mouse voice. She even tried tickling the cardboard, whispering "Coochie-coochie-coo!" But the door stayed stubbornly shut. A little frown started to replace her smile.

Just as a tear pricked her eye, she had a better idea. Being funny wasn't for making doors open, it was for making *people* happy! She zoomed into the living room where Dad was reading the paper. She stood right in front of him, crossed her eyes, stuck out her tongue, and said in her deepest, wobbliest voice, "Daddy! My lolly is trapped in a cardboard jail! It needs a superhero to save it!" Dad looked up, his face breaking into a huge laugh. "A lolly jailbreak? I'm on the case!" he chuckled. He followed her to the kitchen and with a gentle tug, the little door popped right open.

Behind the door was a beautiful, swirly, strawberry lollipop! Hannah gave a happy cheer and threw her arms around her Dad's legs. "You're the best superhero, Daddy!" she said. As she unwrapped her lolly, she knew that making people laugh was the best magic of all. It couldn't open tricky doors, but it could bring a superhero to help, and that was even better. She couldn't wait to see what surprise tomorrow would bring.