It was a sunny morning with clear skies and the gentle sound of birds chirping in the distance. Lala, a cheerful little girl with bright eyes and a playful spirit, woke up with excitement bubbling inside her. Today was not just any ordinary day—it was the day she would go with her mom to the family farm to harvest jackfruit!
“Lala, wake up sweetie!” Mom called from the kitchen. “We’re going to the farm today!”
Lala jumped out of bed, quickly brushed her teeth, and got dressed in her favorite farm outfit—straw hat, pink overalls, and her little boots. She ran downstairs with a big grin.
“Are you ready, Mommy?” she asked, grabbing her small woven basket.
Mom laughed gently. “I see you’re more than ready! Let’s pack some lunch and water, then we’ll head out.”
After preparing some sticky rice, bananas, and water bottles, the two set off on their motorbike, riding through the countryside. The green rice fields waved in the wind, and the smell of fresh earth filled the air. Lala loved this part of the journey—it made her feel so free and happy.
When they arrived at the farm, Lala immediately recognized the giant jackfruit trees at the back of the garden. Some fruits were already ripening, their bumpy green skin turning yellowish-brown, a clear sign they were ready for picking.
“Mom, look! That one is HUGE!” Lala pointed excitedly at a jackfruit almost the size of her torso.
Mom chuckled. “That one’s been growing for weeks. Today, we’ll harvest it together.”
Before they began, Mom explained how to tell if a jackfruit was ripe.
“Listen carefully, Lala. When you tap on a ripe jackfruit, it sounds hollow. Also, it has a sweet smell, and the spikes soften a little. See?”
She tapped one jackfruit, and it gave a “thunk” sound. “This one is ready. Let’s cut it!”
Mom used a sharp knife to cut the thick stem, and the jackfruit fell into their arms with a satisfying thud. Lala helped hold the fruit and placed it gently on a bamboo mat.
They harvested a few more jackfruits, all while Lala asked a million questions: “Why is jackfruit sticky inside?”, “Can monkeys eat jackfruit too?”, and “What happens if we plant the seeds?”
Mom patiently answered each one, smiling. She loved how curious and excited her daughter was about nature.
Once they had a small pile of jackfruit, they took a break under the shade of a mango tree. Lala wiped sweat from her forehead and drank water. “That was hard work, Mommy! But so fun!”
Mom nodded. “Farming is tough, but when we work together, it becomes joyful. And guess what? Now comes the best part—eating the jackfruit!”
They picked the biggest one and started cutting it open. Lala watched closely as Mom sliced it in half. The sweet aroma filled the air, and golden-yellow bulbs peeked through the sticky white sap.
“Look at that!” Lala gasped. “It smells soooo good!”
Mom wore gloves and handed Lala one of the fruit pods. It was juicy, soft, and incredibly sweet. Lala took a bite and her eyes widened.
“Yummm! This is better than candy!”
Mom laughed. “It’s nature’s candy. And it’s full of vitamins.”
They kept eating, giggling when the sticky sap got on their hands. Lala ended up with jackfruit juice on her cheeks, nose, and even her hat. But she didn’t mind at all. It was the best snack she had ever had.
After enjoying the fruit, they collected the seeds to dry and plant later. Mom explained that jackfruit trees grow slowly but can live for decades and provide fruit year after year.
“I want to plant one too, Mommy!” Lala said eagerly.
“Then let’s pick a spot.”
They found a sunny corner of the farm. Lala dug a small hole, placed the seed inside, and covered it gently with soil. She whispered, “Grow strong, little tree.”
Mom smiled and said, “One day, we’ll come back and pick jackfruit from your very own tree.”
Before leaving the farm, Lala helped gather the remaining jackfruit into baskets. They loaded them onto the motorbike, ready to take them home to share with family and neighbors.
Back in the village, Lala proudly handed jackfruit to Grandma, Auntie Lin, and even the neighbor’s kids.
“This one I helped harvest!” she said proudly.
Everyone praised her hard work. That night, they made a special dessert with coconut milk, sticky rice, and jackfruit. Lala helped in the kitchen, carefully laying the yellow fruit slices on top of the rice.
At dinner, the whole family sat together enjoying the sweet dish, laughing, and listening to Lala’s story of her farm adventure.
“And guess what?” she said at the end. “I even planted my own jackfruit tree!”
Mom hugged her. “You did great today. I’m so proud of you.”
Lala beamed. She had not only learned about farming and nature but also the joy of helping, sharing, and being part of something bigger.
That night, as Lala curled up in bed, she whispered, “Thank you, jackfruit tree. See you soon.”
And with the scent of fruit still in the air and the feeling of soil on her hands, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of sunshine, trees, and the farm she loved so much.
