Maybe, she thought as she walked, Brian McBrian was onto something important. Maybe happiness didn't have to be a big, sweeping circumstances, about having everything in your life in place. Maybe it's about stringing together a bunch of small pleasures. Wearing slippers and watching the Miss Universe contest. Eating a brownie with vanilla ice cream. Getting to level seven in Dragon Master and knowing there were 20 levels to go. Maybe happiness was just a matter of little upticks- the traffic signal that said "Walk" the second you got there- and downticks- the itchy tag at the back of your collar- that happen to every person in the course of the day. Maybe everybody had the same alloted measure of happiness within each day. Maybe it didn't matter if you were a worldfamous heartthrob or a painful geek. Maybe it didnt matter if your friend was possibly dying. Maybe you just got through it. Maybe that was all you could ask for. The sisterhood of the traveling pants