Beautiful, just what does that word mean, as it took me many years to  finally realize what true beauty is.                                                                                              

However, I would face a road of sorrow until I come to see the light, as a little girl, I would love playing with my pretty dolls and they always had such sparkling faces.                                                                                                                                     

At that moment knew I want to be like them perfect.                                          

Although, I’d never feel pretty for a long time to come .                                         

Furthermore, face an endless road of competition with females that were born amazingly perfect and yes beautiful .                                                                                      

I had this bright red hair, that looked like a fire hydrant actually and freckles that covered my whole face.                                                                                              

Throughout the younger years I would sure discover that beautiful would never be me and all hope simply vanished.                                                                        

Especially, all through grade school , as I was asked numerous times, “Hey do you have chicken pox ?                                                                                           

Instantly, my head would drop as the kids all pointed at me laughing and it would not end there.                                                                                                     

Since, the pain would become worse, as high school became even more difficult to bear.                                                                                                   

Mainly since I wore braces now and this was not good actually.                      

Therefore, I’d literally walk down the school hallway with my books most times hiding my face and always hung my head as, I was known to be the ugly duckling,                                                                                                              

Horrible this was indeed.to be an outcast and no hope of ever fitting in with the popular kids or any in fact.                                                                                                                    

Until one day there became a bright ray of hope and actually from the perfect looking cheerleaders who of course I always admired.                                                                                                                    

When they all pretended to be my friend and had me even sit at the popular lunch table, as even the hunk jocks approached the table and my heart almost jumped out my chest.                                             

The girls even put makeup on me to look more like their beautiful faces as I was now about to become one of them finally.   

After the day come to an end of me for once fitting in with their popular crowd.                                                                                                                

A few of the cheerleaders smirked telling me, “APRIL FOOLS!”          “Today was a joke and so are you, do you honestly think someone like you would ever become one of us!                                                              

Now that was a blow and the biggest big hurt ever ,as I rushed off in flowing tears .                                                                                                            

Devastated ,I hurried into the girl’s bathroom and did not want to come out and actually did not until I heard the school janitor in the hall.

Therefore, I knew the coast was clear and walked out of the bathroom heartbroken , at the fact I would never be beautiful and just wanted to hide under a rock.                                               

Reaching out the front school doors ,I suddenly paused as I saw one of the popular cheerleaders with her head hung and tears flowing.                                                                                                                      

When I hesitated to ask what is wrong as this girl just crumbled my world earlier.                                                                                           

However, no matter how much I was hurting, someone else was more.                                                                                                                                 

So I did ask and the reply was just awful, as she had actually become a dirty joke among the football jocks.                                                    

I found myself actually sitting with her for a while as she even cracked a smile through tears.                                                                             

After some time we even walked home together and this was a shock to me. Even more of a surprise, as she gave me a hug before going up on the porch to her home.                                                                                          

Once I made it home, and still felt somewhat crushed, my mother (Grandma) asked, “How was school or do I dare want to know again?                                                                                                                 

When I asked her, “Ma how do you define pretty?                                                

Instantly, my mother gave a smile putting her hand against her heart and replied, “Right here dear!                                                         

Giggling, I respond, “Hey ma, no one can see your heart”, as she smiled brightly and said, “Oh yes dear they sure can with everything you do it shines right through".                          

Laughing now, I said, “No ma, lip gloss shines”.                                           

My mother said, “Oh my dear, you have all your facts wrong”, and she told me sit down its time we talk seriously.                                  

Soon it became many tears and even a few laughs, as she told me the first time my father (Grandpa) saw her without her makeup on he got startled and asked, “Millie is that you?                          

Therefore, I had finally seen the light at the end of the dark tunnel, as I discovered that all beauty lies deep within your heart.                                                                                                                                 

I hugged my mother saying, “Wow do I understand and true it is, makeup washes away but a heart remains!                                            

Nodding she replied, “Bingo dear heart!                                                     

From that moment on and with each passing day to come, I would hold my head high.   

Furthermore, since I had that new outlook about myself it was strange how everything changed ,as I felt better and not ugly no longer.                                                                                                                   

Soon all the dark clouds lifted and I literally became a cheerleader and even tutored some of the hunk football jocks.

Kids came up to me now for advice even, as one certain cheerleader winked at me.                                                                                  

Then said, “Hey don’t forget after school were all heading to the ice cream parlor”.                                                                                       

Quickly I replied, “You know I’ll be there friend!                                              

Later that day, I was jumping up and down, did a cartwheel even, as my father (Grandpa)  got startled again and yelled, “Millie earthquake”.                                                                                                                

My mother (Grandma) stood with her hands against her heart with tears of joy.                                                                                            

Happily, I said, “Wow I was accepted to be a model, no way!                                                                                                                    

Instantly many tears rolled down my mothers face, as she come closer and said, “Of course Laura, you are truly beautiful!

Suddenly I took hold of my mothers hand and placed it against my chest and replied, “No ma, right here lie’s the true beauty", as we hugged tightly.                                                                                                       

Until my father (Grandpa) remarked, “Beatiful huh, the only thing I see around here is that the earthquake rattled some brains today”