T in the Alphabet Soup

T is for Tomorrow

Tessa stood at the window, her chin resting on the windowsill, watching the raindrops chase each other down the glass.

Her science project looked like a soggy sandwich. Her best friend had sat with someone else at lunch. And to top it off, she hadn't been chosen for the part she'd wanted in the school drama class.

It wasn't the worst day ever. But it wasn't a good one either. She'd tried her best, really tried, yet she failed.

"Nana, what happens when your best isn't good enough?"

"Not good enough? That's silly, my child." Nana set a plate of baked cookies on the table. "If you tried to do your best, that's all anyone can expect. You just need to try again."

"But sometimes it feels like trying again won't fix anything," Tessa stammered.

"Come sit down and have a cookie. I baked your favorite."

Tessa did as her grandmother asked and joined her at the table, immediately reaching for a cookie. Her nose crinkled as she bit into it, expecting the rich taste of gooey chocolate. "Grandma, what happened? The bottoms of the cookies are burnt."

Nana held one of the cookies in her hand, turning it over to see the dark, crusty side. She sighed, carried the plate of cookies to the trash, and brushed her hands together. "Well, I guess I'm just not good at baking anymore. Might as well give up."

Tessa's eyes popped open wide. "Nana, you can't stop making cookies. Why would you say that?"

"Well, honey, I made cookies, and they burned, so I guess they aren't good enough, so why bother?"

"But it was only one time. You just have to try again. What would I do without your cookies?" Tessa sighed and then looked at her Nana with a smile. "I understand now. I shouldn't give up because things didn't go exactly as planned. I need to try again."

Nana nodded. "Tomorrow is another day, a fresh start." She opened a kitchen cabinet and removed a piece of construction paper taped to the door. She placed it on the table in front of Tessa.

It had a big letter T drawn in sparkly marker, and a poem was written in loopy handwriting. Your mother wrote this after we talked about one of her bad days.

Tessa began to read —

T is for Tomorrow

A brand-new day is near,

It waits beyond the sunrise,

With wonder, not with fear.

It's where your dreams keep growing,

Even ones you hide inside.

So if today feels tangled,

Like your shoelaces — or your pride —

Remember: T is for Tomorrow,

A fresh new start… if you try.

*****

Tessa smiled. Just a little.

"So," Grandma said, tucking the poem into her hand, "maybe today felt like a crumpled drawing, but tomorrow? Tomorrow might surprise you. You just need to try again. Giving up isn't the answer."

Tessa looked back at the window. The rain had stopped, and the sun was peeking between the clouds. She whispered, "T is for Tomorrow."

Then, with a tiny smile, she added, "There are tryouts for a different part tomorrow. Maybe — maybe I'll try again."

Nana set a new plate of warm cookies on the table and chuckled. "Just like I baked another batch this afternoon. You only fail when you don't try."