Lala the little monkey had been having an odd morning. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the backyard was peaceful, but something wasn’t quite right. She kept scratching her side with her tiny fingers. First one arm, then the other, then behind her ear. Something was definitely bothering her.
“Oh no… itchy again?” Lala thought with a frown.
Thuy, her kind and gentle caretaker, was nearby trimming flowers and humming a tune. Normally, Lala would be jumping around her, trying to get her attention, but today she stayed quiet. She didn’t want Thuy to notice her scratching too much. Last time she had an itchy problem, Thuy gave her a bath with special soap and rubbed on some medicine that smelled funny. Lala didn’t like the smell, even if it helped.
So instead of telling Thuy, Lala made a quiet decision. She tiptoed—yes, tiptoed—behind the mango tree, scratched her tummy again, and peeked around the corner.
“Maybe if I hide for a little while, Thuy won’t see me scratching,” she thought. “And maybe I can figure this out on my own.”
She darted across the yard and disappeared into the bushes.
Thuy looked up after a moment. “Lala?” she called, surprised not to see her usual shadow bouncing around. “Where did you go, little monkey?”
But Lala was already crawling through the garden path, her eyes set on the sparkling blue pool at the back of the house. She loved the pool—it was cool, fun, and made her feel light as a feather. Maybe, just maybe, a swim would help her feel less itchy.
She reached the edge of the pool and sat down, dipping her feet in with a splash.
“Aaahhh… that feels good,” Lala whispered with a smile.
Without wasting another second, she hopped in, making a tiny wave that danced across the water. She floated on her back, then spun in circles, giggling as the coolness hugged her furry body.
Meanwhile, Thuy was starting to worry.
“Lala? Where are you?” she called again, walking across the yard, searching behind trees and under the porch. When she found scratch marks in the dirt and little footprints heading toward the back garden, she followed them with care.
Back at the pool, Lala was doing her best dolphin impression, diving down and blowing bubbles underwater. She felt better already. The itchiness was calming down, and the water felt like a soft blanket. She splashed around joyfully, not realizing her little wet noises were attracting attention.
Thuy arrived at the pool’s edge just in time to see Lala doing a somersault under the water.
“Lala!” she called, half-relieved, half-concerned.
Lala froze mid-splash. Busted!
She slowly turned around in the water and gave her most innocent smile.
“Don’t be mad,” her eyes seemed to say.
Thuy knelt by the pool. “Are you itchy again, sweet girl?”
Lala nodded slowly, then scratched her ear shyly.
“Oh, Lala. You should’ve told me,” Thuy said kindly. “You don’t have to hide.”
She helped the little monkey out of the water and wrapped her in a soft towel. “Let’s dry you off and have a look.”
Lala clung to Thuy, still damp but comforted.
Back inside, Thuy gently examined her fur. “Just a little irritation,” she murmured. “No big bites, no rash. I think you just need a good rinse and some lotion. But the swimming was a clever idea, Lala! The water helped a lot.”
Lala sat still as Thuy applied a light herbal cream with soothing strokes. It smelled nice this time—like flowers and bananas.
“There,” Thuy smiled. “All better. You’re such a smart monkey to take a dip in the pool. But next time, tell me, okay? No more hiding.”
Lala gave her a hug, then pointed at the door.
“You want to go back outside?”
She nodded. But this time, she grabbed Thuy’s hand first.
Together they returned to the sunny yard. The pool sparkled invitingly, and Lala splashed her toes in it again. Thuy sat beside her, feet in the water, watching the sky.
“You know,” Thuy said, “maybe we can make swimming a regular thing. Especially on itchy days.”
Lala clapped happily.
From that day on, whenever Lala started to feel itchy or uncomfortable, she didn’t hide anymore. She’d tug on Thuy’s shirt, point to the pool, and together they’d enjoy the water and the laughter it brought.
The backyard became their special place—where problems floated away and fun always followed. And though Lala still scratched now and then, she knew she never had to face it alone.
Sometimes, all it takes is a swim, a hug, and someone who understands.
