Bibi was a smart little boy, full of ideas and always looking for a new adventure. He lived with his family in a quiet neighborhood, where weekends were usually spent playing in the backyard or visiting the local park. But Bibi had bigger plans this time. He had just watched a movie about kids camping in the forest, cooking over a fire, telling stories under the stars, and exploring nature. It looked like so much fun! That’s when he had the perfect idea.
“I want to go camping!” Bibi announced one sunny Saturday morning.
His mom raised an eyebrow. “Camping? You’ve never even slept without your nightlight.”
“But I’m ready now,” Bibi insisted. “Besides, I have a plan.”
He grinned mischievously and looked at his mom.
“What kind of plan?” she asked, suspicious.
“I want to ask Uncle Phong to take me!” Bibi said.
At that, his mom burst out laughing.
“Uncle Phong? The same Uncle Phong who refuses to go anywhere without his fancy coffee machine and silk pajamas?”
“Yes,” Bibi said proudly. “Exactly him.”
Uncle Phong was well known in the family for being a little… particular. He loved soft things, hated bugs, and once refused to stay at a five-star hotel because the bathrobes weren’t fluffy enough. But Bibi had noticed something else. Whenever Bibi asked him to do something — like play pretend dragon slayer, or come to his school recital — Uncle Phong would say yes, even if it meant stepping out of his comfort zone.
So Bibi was confident.
Later that day, Bibi video-called his uncle.
“Uncle Phong!” Bibi said cheerfully, his face filling the screen.
“Bibi! How’s my favorite nephew?” Uncle Phong said, sipping his green smoothie and adjusting the silk scarf around his neck.
“I want to go camping. Will you take me?”
Uncle Phong blinked. “Camping? Like… outside?”
“Yes! With tents, a campfire, maybe even wild animals!” Bibi said, eyes sparkling.
Uncle Phong made a strange noise, almost like a sneeze and a gasp combined. “Wild animals?”
“You said you’d do anything for me,” Bibi added, tilting his head.
Uncle Phong sighed dramatically. “You drive a hard bargain, little man. Alright. One night. But I’m bringing my air mattress.”
Bibi whooped with joy.
The next weekend, they packed up and headed to a local campground just an hour away. Bibi brought a simple sleeping bag, snacks, a flashlight, and marshmallows. Uncle Phong, on the other hand, packed like he was going on a month-long expedition — with a wheeled suitcase, battery-powered espresso maker, bug zapper, three types of hand lotion, and enough scented candles to light a cathedral.
When they arrived at the campsite, Bibi ran around excitedly.
“Let’s set up the tent!” he shouted.
Uncle Phong stared at the folded fabric in confusion. “Where are the buttons?”
“There are no buttons. We have to build it!” Bibi said proudly.
With some effort (and a lot of groaning from Uncle Phong), they set up the tent. It leaned a little to the left, but it was standing.
“That was harder than Pilates,” Uncle Phong muttered, wiping his brow with a silk handkerchief.
As the sun began to set, Bibi gathered sticks and twigs for a campfire. Uncle Phong tried to help but kept jumping every time he saw a bug.
“Is that a beetle?!” he shouted, dancing away from a perfectly harmless ant.
Bibi giggled. “Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ll protect you.”
They finally got the fire going — mostly thanks to Bibi’s patience and a little help from a fire starter kit Uncle Phong brought “just in case.” They sat around the fire, roasting marshmallows.
“This is nice,” Uncle Phong admitted. “But I miss my hot tub.”
“Nature is the hot tub of the soul,” Bibi said wisely.
Uncle Phong blinked at him. “Did you just make that up?”
“Yep,” Bibi grinned.
That night, Bibi snuggled into his sleeping bag while Uncle Phong struggled to inflate his queen-sized air mattress with an electric pump.
“The generator’s too loud!” Bibi complained.
“Comfort requires sacrifice,” Uncle Phong declared.
Eventually, they both settled in. The tent was filled with soft snoring — Uncle Phong snored like a gentle lawnmower, while Bibi curled up like a little kitten.
But in the middle of the night, something happened.
A strange noise — crunch, crunch — came from outside the tent.
Bibi sat up, heart racing. “Uncle… did you hear that?”
Uncle Phong’s eyes snapped open. “Is it a bear? Oh no, I knew this would happen!”
They peeked out carefully with their flashlight.
There, right outside the tent, was a raccoon digging through their snack bag.
“Hey!” Bibi shouted.
The raccoon looked up, completely unfazed, then grabbed a marshmallow bag and waddled off into the woods.
“My marshmallows!” Bibi groaned.
“My lavender wipes!” Uncle Phong cried.
They burst into laughter.
The next morning, they were tired but happy. Uncle Phong made espresso using his portable machine while Bibi munched on leftover granola.
“Well, I survived,” Uncle Phong said, stretching.
“You did more than survive,” Bibi smiled. “You camped!”
Uncle Phong gave a mock bow. “Anything for you, kid.”
As they packed up, a family nearby waved at them.
“Your son is adorable!” the mother said.
Uncle Phong opened his mouth to correct her, but Bibi quickly said, “Thank you!”
As they drove home, Bibi looked out the window and said, “That was the best camping trip ever.”
“I don’t know if I’ll do it again soon,” Uncle Phong replied, yawning. “But I have to admit — it wasn’t terrible.”
Bibi leaned back in his seat, grinning.
He had known all along that Uncle Phong was a little spoiled, but also that he had a big heart. And sometimes, a big heart was all you needed to say yes to something wild, uncomfortable — and unforgettable.
