diff --git a/emoticons.py b/emoticons.py
index 4035a1c..5922029 100644
--- a/emoticons.py
+++ b/emoticons.py
@@ -3,14 +3,15 @@ Convert smileys ( :) :( etc) to the Unicode character representation
 """
 
 import prof
+from builtins import chr
 
 
 def _emote(input_str):
     result = input_str
-    result = result.replace(":-)", u'\u263a'.encode("utf-8"))
-    result = result.replace(":)", u'\u263a'.encode("utf-8"))
-    result = result.replace(":-(", u'\u2639'.encode("utf-8"))
-    result = result.replace(":(", u'\u2639'.encode("utf-8"))
+    result = result.replace(":-)", chr(9786))
+    result = result.replace(":)", chr(9786))
+    result = result.replace(":-(", chr(9785))
+    result = result.replace(":(", chr(9785))
     return result