It was a bright Saturday morning, and little Bibi was already up and bouncing on the sofa with excitement. Her curly hair flopped with every hop, and her favorite yellow dress with little ducklings on it swayed in the air. Today was special — Uncle Phong was coming to take her on an adventure!
Uncle Phong was Bibi’s favorite. He wasn’t just fun and kind, he always had new stories, funny jokes, and surprising ideas. He also had a big blue scooter that made Bibi feel like she was flying when she rode on it.
“Bibi, get ready! Uncle Phong is here!” her mother called from the kitchen.
Bibi grabbed her small purple backpack, stuffed with her pink water bottle, a pack of tissues, and a little notepad with crayons. She ran to the door, grinning from ear to ear.
Uncle Phong stood at the doorway, wearing his usual Hawaiian shirt and holding a reusable shopping bag in one hand. His sunglasses sat crookedly on his nose, which made Bibi giggle.
“Are you ready for the best day ever?” Uncle Phong asked, crouching to Bibi’s level.
“Yes!” Bibi chirped. “Where are we going first?”
“To the supermarket,” he said dramatically, as if announcing an adventure to a hidden temple. “Then to drink something very special — a relaxing juice!”
“Relaxing juice?” Bibi asked, curious. “Is that like sleepy juice?”
“Not exactly,” Uncle Phong winked. “You’ll see.”
The ride to the supermarket was fun, as always. Bibi sat behind Uncle Phong, holding tightly onto his waist. The city whizzed by — tall buildings, honking cars, and trees that danced in the wind. They parked in front of the biggest supermarket in the neighborhood.
The doors slid open with a whoosh, and cool air greeted them. Bibi’s eyes widened at the sight of fruits stacked like colorful pyramids and shelves filled with shiny packages.
“Alright, little helper,” Uncle Phong said, handing her a small shopping list. “We need bananas, yogurt, honey, mint, and something you can choose — a mystery fruit.”
“Oooh!” Bibi loved mystery challenges. She followed Uncle Phong down the aisles, holding the list in one hand and pushing a tiny shopping cart with the other.
They started in the fruit section. Bibi picked out five bright bananas and placed them carefully in a bag.
“Yogurt next!” she announced.
They moved on, gathering everything on the list. When it was time to choose the mystery fruit, Bibi looked around thoughtfully. Her eyes settled on a strange, spiky fruit.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“That’s a dragon fruit,” Uncle Phong said, “very sweet and good for making your tummy happy.”
“I choose dragon fruit!” Bibi declared proudly.
With their bag full of goodies, they headed to the checkout. Bibi helped place the items on the belt, and the cashier smiled at her.
“Helping your uncle today?” the cashier asked.
“I’m his shopping partner,” Bibi said, nodding seriously.
Outside the supermarket, Uncle Phong placed the groceries in the scooter’s basket.
“Now,” he said, putting on his helmet, “to the next part of our adventure — the juice café!”
They zipped through quieter streets lined with trees and birds singing in the sun. Soon, they arrived at a cozy little café with soft music playing and vines hanging down from the roof. A wooden sign outside read: The Juice Nest – Nature’s Refreshment.
Inside, the café smelled like oranges and mint. A soft breeze blew through the open windows, and gentle music drifted in the background. Bibi felt calm the moment she stepped in.
“Let’s sit by the window,” Uncle Phong said. “We can watch people walk by while we sip our juice.”
They took a seat, and a smiling waiter came over. “What can I get you today?”
“I’ll have the green calm,” Uncle Phong said.
Bibi looked at the menu. The names were funny: “Tropical Chill,” “Berry Zen,” “Minty Hug,” and “The Sunset Sip.”
“I want the… Minty Hug!” Bibi decided.
“Excellent choice,” said the waiter.
While they waited, Uncle Phong took out a small book of animal facts from his bag — one of Bibi’s favorite things. He read her facts about dolphins, owls, and sloths. Bibi giggled when she learned that sloths only poop once a week.
“Imagine waiting that long!” she said, eyes wide.
Just then, the juices arrived. Bibi’s Minty Hug was a soft green color with a sprig of mint and a curly straw. She took a sip — cool, sweet, and a little tingly.
“Wow!” she said. “This is relaxing!”
“Told you,” Uncle Phong smiled.
They sat in peace for a while, sipping juice and watching the world go by. A cat wandered past the window. A man on a bicycle waved at them. A little boy dropped his ice cream, and his mom gave him a hug. Everything felt calm and happy.
“Why is this juice so relaxing?” Bibi asked.
“Well,” said Uncle Phong, “the ingredients are chosen carefully — like mint, honey, and sometimes special herbs that help your brain feel calm. And when you’re sitting in a quiet place, with someone you like, and tasty juice in your hand, your heart feels happy. That’s relaxing, too.”
Bibi thought about that. “So relaxing is not just what you drink. It’s how you feel inside?”
“Exactly,” Uncle Phong nodded.
After finishing their juice, they walked slowly back to the scooter. The sun was starting to soften in the sky, and the breeze was cooler now. Bibi held Uncle Phong’s hand tightly.
“Today was really fun,” she said. “Can we do this again next week?”
“Of course,” said Uncle Phong. “Maybe next time, we’ll try the Sunset Sip!”
Bibi giggled. “And maybe I’ll choose a mystery vegetable!”
“Oh no!” Uncle Phong said, pretending to faint. “Mystery vegetables? You are a brave adventurer.”
They both laughed all the way home.
As the scooter hummed down the road, Bibi leaned her head against Uncle Phong’s back and sighed happily. Her tummy was full, her heart was light, and the world felt just right.
And that night, she dreamed of dragon fruits, hugging mint leaves, and the soft hum of the scooter taking her to another relaxing day with her favorite uncle.
