Picture Day

I was at the Swedish embassy the other day to renew my passport where the lady behind the glass tells me, "Now stand on the yellow feet and look into the camera. No smiling. You have to look serious."
I look serious.
The camera clicks. I imagine the megabits of picture zooming through fibres to appear on the lady's computer screen.
A pause.
She finally ventures, "Maybe you should smile just a little."

Oh, really?