The sky darkened suddenly that afternoon, turning the bright, cheerful house into a shadowy space filled with the sound of wind whistling through the trees. Lala, the little baby monkey, sat by the window with her tiny hands pressed against the glass. She had been playing with her soft yellow ball when she noticed the clouds rolling in like giant gray waves.
“Mom?” she called softly, peeking toward the door. But her mom had gone out to get some fruit at the nearby market, leaving Lala at home with a warm blanket and her favorite stuffed bear, Toto. “I’ll be back soon, sweetheart,” Mom had said before leaving. “Don’t be scared if it rains, okay?”
At that time, Lala had nodded bravely. Rain never bothered her before—at least, not until the thunder started.
Now, BOOM! A loud crash echoed from the sky, shaking the walls slightly. Lala jumped so high that Toto tumbled off the chair. Her little heart pounded fast. “W-what was that?” she squeaked, hugging herself tightly.
Another flash of lightning lit up the sky, bright and white, followed by another CRAAACK! The sound was so powerful that Lala’s ears twitched and she covered her eyes. The world outside looked wild—the wind swayed the trees, leaves danced crazily, and the rain poured down in heavy sheets.
Lala ran to grab Toto and held him close. “It’s okay, Toto. Don’t be scared. I’ll protect you,” she whispered, though her tiny voice trembled.
But when the next thunderclap rolled across the sky, Lala couldn’t help it—she screamed and dived under the table, wrapping herself in the blanket her mom had left behind. Her tail curled around her body, and she closed her eyes tightly. “Please make it stop… please…” she whimpered.
Minutes passed, though it felt like hours. The sound of raindrops hitting the roof was constant, like thousands of tiny drums. Every few moments, lightning flashed again, and the thunder growled. Lala’s imagination began to run wild.
“What if the thunder is a big monster?” she thought fearfully. “Maybe it’s stomping around in the sky, looking for monkeys who are all alone!”
She grabbed Toto and squeezed him tighter. “Don’t worry, Toto,” she said again, trying to sound brave. “Mommy will come back soon. She always comes back.”
To distract herself, Lala tried to hum a song her mom used to sing during nap time. Her soft little voice wavered with every rumble from above. “♪ Sleep, little baby, close your eyes… the storm will pass and the sun will rise… ♪”
It helped a little. The rhythm of the rain became less scary as she sang. She peeked out from under the table and noticed her ball had rolled across the floor, stopping near the window. “Oh no,” she whispered. “My ball will get wet if the window leaks!”
Gathering her courage, she crawled out slowly, still holding Toto. She took a deep breath and tiptoed to the window. The rain was splashing against the glass, but no water was coming in. Still, she pressed her hand gently on the frame, just to make sure.
CRACK! Another thunderclap! Lala shrieked and fell backward, bumping into the chair. “Ouch!” she cried, rubbing her arm. Tears began to form in her big brown eyes. “I want Mommy…”
Outside, the wind howled louder. A small branch hit the roof with a thud, making Lala jump again. She quickly ran into her mother’s bedroom and hid under the big blanket. It smelled like her mom—warm, gentle, and comforting. That made her feel a little safer.
She whispered softly, “Mommy, please come home soon. I’m scared of the thunder.”
Time passed slowly. Lala watched the clock tick and tick. The storm seemed endless. She could hear water gurgling in the gutters and the rattling of the old wooden shutters. Every sound felt bigger and scarier in the quiet house.
Then something even louder happened—the power went out. The lights flickered once, then the house went completely dark. Lala gasped. “Toto! The lights are gone!” she cried. “I can’t see anything!”
She clutched her stuffed bear tightly and tried to breathe. Her mom had taught her what to do if the lights went out. “Don’t panic. Just wait for them to come back.”
So she whispered to herself, “Don’t panic. Don’t panic…”
She remembered the flashlight in the drawer. With trembling hands, she climbed off the bed and padded across the floor, guided by faint flashes of lightning outside. She found the drawer, pulled it open, and grabbed the small yellow flashlight. When she clicked it on, the room glowed softly.
Lala sighed in relief. “There. See, Toto? We have light now.”
She held the flashlight under her chin, giggling a little at how spooky her face looked. It made her forget the thunder for a moment. “Boo!” she said playfully. “I’m not scared anymore.”
But the next big BOOM! reminded her that she still was. She hugged Toto again and whispered, “Okay… maybe just a little scared.”
Finally, after what felt like forever, she heard something—the sound of footsteps splashing through puddles outside. Then the familiar jingle of keys. Lala’s ears perked up instantly. “Mommy?” she cried.
The door opened, and her mom rushed in, shaking the rain off her coat. “Lala! Oh my little one, are you okay?”
Lala ran straight into her mother’s arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Mommy! I was so scared! There was thunder and lightning and the lights went out!”
Her mother hugged her tightly, rubbing her back gently. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry I took so long. The rain got really bad.” She looked around the dark room and smiled softly. “You did such a good job being brave all by yourself.”
Lala sniffled. “I tried, Mommy. I sang songs and used the flashlight. But the thunder was so loud.”
Her mother kissed her forehead. “I know, my brave girl. But see? The storm is already calming down.”
Lala peeked outside. The rain was slowing, and the thunder was far away now, rumbling softly like a sleepy lion. She smiled weakly. “It’s not scary anymore.”
Mommy nodded. “That’s right. Storms can be loud, but they always pass.”
She carried Lala to the couch, wrapped both of them in a warm blanket, and lit a small candle. The golden glow made the room feel cozy. Lala snuggled close, listening to her mother’s heartbeat. “Mommy,” she whispered sleepily, “next time can you stay home when it rains?”
Her mom laughed softly. “Of course, my love. But even if I can’t, remember—you are never truly alone. I’m always with you here.” She placed her hand gently on Lala’s chest, right over her heart.
Lala smiled and closed her eyes, feeling safe again. The rain outside turned into a soft drizzle, tapping gently on the window like a lullaby. The thunder had faded completely, leaving only peace.
Toto was tucked in her arms, her mom’s warmth wrapped around her, and soon little Lala drifted off to sleep, dreaming of sunshine and playtime.
When the morning came, the sky was bright and clear again. The puddles sparkled in the sunlight, and the air smelled fresh. Lala ran to the window and grinned. “The storm is gone!” she shouted happily.
She carried Lala to the couch, wrapped both of them in a warm blanket, and lit a small candle. The golden glow made the room feel cozy. Lala snuggled close, listening to her mother’s heartbeat. “Mommy,” she whispered sleepily, “next time can you stay home when it rains?”
Her mom laughed softly. “Of course, my love. But even if I can’t, remember—you are never truly alone. I’m always with you here.” She placed her hand gently on Lala’s chest, right over her heart.
Lala smiled and closed her eyes, feeling safe again. The rain outside turned into a soft drizzle, tapping gently on the window like a lullaby. The thunder had faded completely, leaving only peace.
Toto was tucked in her arms, her mom’s warmth wrapped around her, and soon little Lala drifted off to sleep, dreaming of sunshine and playtime.
When the morning came, the sky was bright and clear again. The puddles sparkled in the sunlight, and the air smelled fresh. Lala ran to the window and grinned. “The storm is gone!” she shouted happily.
Her mother smiled from the kitchen. “Yes, sweetheart. You see? The storm never lasts forever.”
Lala giggled and hugged Toto tight. “And I was brave… even when I was scared.”
Her mother nodded proudly. “That’s my little monkey.”
And from that day on, whenever thunder rolled across the sky, Lala would hold Toto, remember her song, and whisper, “I’m brave… the storm will pass.”
