It was a sunny afternoon at the peaceful farmhouse where Lala, the curious little monkey, lived with her human friend, Thuy. The sun streamed through the windows, casting warm patches of light on the wooden floor. Birds chirped cheerfully outside, and the smell of flowers floated in through the open windows.
Lala had spent the entire morning playing outside. She’d climbed trees, chased butterflies, and even rolled around in the tall grass. But now, her tummy rumbled loudly, and she knew exactly what that meant—it was time to eat!
With a small squeak of hunger, Lala scampered into the house and headed straight for the kitchen. She loved the kitchen. It was full of colors, smells, and, most importantly, delicious food. As she opened the lower pantry door, her little eyes sparkled when she spotted something green and fresh-looking—asparagus! Her favorite!
Lala picked up a bundle of asparagus and held it proudly in her little hands. It was slightly longer than her arms, and she had to walk carefully so she wouldn’t trip. She made her way to the living room, where Thuy was relaxing with a book.
“Oooh oooh!” Lala chirped, holding up the asparagus like a prize.
Thuy looked up and laughed. “Are you hungry again, Lala?”
Lala nodded eagerly and waved the asparagus toward the kitchen.
“Okay, okay,” Thuy smiled, setting down her book. “Let’s go make something tasty.”
Together, they returned to the kitchen. Lala hopped onto her special stool by the counter and watched closely as Thuy washed the asparagus in the sink. Thuy loved involving Lala in cooking. Though the monkey couldn’t handle hot things or knives, she was a great helper with washing, mixing, and taste-testing.
“Should we roast it with a little olive oil and garlic?” Thuy asked.
Lala clapped her hands. She recognized the word “garlic” and knew it meant something very yummy was coming.
Thuy preheated the oven while Lala helped arrange the asparagus on a baking tray. Thuy drizzled a bit of olive oil, sprinkled salt and pepper, and then added minced garlic. The smell was already making Lala bounce with excitement.
Into the oven it went, and the two friends waited patiently. Well, Lala tried to be patient. She kept sniffing the air, licking her lips, and glancing at the oven every few seconds. Thuy giggled and handed her a small banana to munch on while she waited.
After fifteen minutes, the asparagus was ready. Thuy carefully took it out of the oven, and the aroma filled the entire kitchen. She let it cool just enough before placing a few pieces on a small plate for Lala.
The first bite made Lala close her eyes and hum with happiness. It was crispy on the edges, tender in the middle, and full of garlicky goodness. She quickly gobbled it up, smiling the whole time.
“Looks like we’ve got another asparagus lover in the house,” Thuy said.
Lala gave her a big monkey hug in thanks.
