It was a warm and sunny morning in the countryside, and little Bibi was already awake and full of energy. The birds chirped joyfully outside her window as the golden rays of the sun painted the sky. Bibi stretched and jumped out of bed, excited for another day of adventure on her uncle’s farm.
Uncle Phong, a gentle and hardworking farmer, had a beautiful vegetable garden just behind the house. The garden was full of fresh green leaves, bright red tomatoes, long green beans, and most exciting of all—plump, golden squash.
Bibi loved visiting her uncle’s farm every summer. She loved the fresh air, the smell of earth and leaves, and especially the chance to get her hands dirty helping Uncle Phong with his plants. This morning, she had a special task: harvest the squash and water the garden. It was hard work, but Bibi was determined to help Uncle Phong as much as she could.
She quickly put on her little straw hat, grabbed her small gardening gloves, and ran outside with a bright smile.
“Uncle Phong! I’m ready to work in the garden!” she called out.
Uncle Phong chuckled warmly. He was already out there, kneeling beside a row of green lettuce. “Good morning, Bibi! I knew you’d be up early. The squash are ready for harvest today. Think you can handle that?”
“Yes, I can!” Bibi replied confidently.
Uncle Phong handed her a small basket. “Start with the squash at the back row. Look for the ones that are deep orange and slightly firm. Those are the ripest. Be gentle when you cut them from the vine.”
Bibi nodded. She had helped before, and she was careful not to damage the vines. She walked down the garden rows, stepping softly between the plants. The squash leaves were huge and floppy, like little green umbrellas. She knelt beside the first plant and gently parted the leaves.
“There you are!” she whispered happily as she spotted the round squash hiding underneath. It was the perfect size—golden, smooth, and firm. With a small garden knife, she carefully cut the stem and placed the squash in her basket. One after another, she found more hiding among the leaves—some small, some big, some shaped a little funny—but all healthy and beautiful.
With the sun slowly rising, the garden glowed with life. Butterflies fluttered by, bees buzzed gently among the flowers, and the scent of fresh herbs filled the air.
“Uncle Phong, look! I’ve already collected ten squash!” Bibi said proudly, carrying the basket over.
Uncle Phong looked up from where he was trimming mint. “Wonderful work, Bibi! That’s a great harvest. Why don’t you take a short break and have some water? Then you can help me water the rest of the garden.”
Bibi took a sip of cool water from her bottle and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Ready when you are!”
Uncle Phong led her to the old water tank connected to a hand pump. Bibi picked up a small watering can and filled it, then began walking row by row through the garden, carefully watering each plant at its base.
“Make sure the water goes to the roots,” Uncle Phong reminded her. “Not too much, and not too little.”
Bibi took her time, moving from the squash plants to the beans, tomatoes, and herbs. As she watered, she talked to the plants in a cheerful tone.
“You did a great job growing those squash. Thank you, plants! Here’s some water so you can stay strong.”
Uncle Phong smiled to himself as he listened. He believed that plants grew better when treated with love—and Bibi had a heart full of it.
After almost an hour, they had finished watering the entire garden. The soil looked dark and rich again, soaking up the water. Bibi’s arms were tired, and her shirt was a little muddy, but her smile was bright as ever.
“Uncle Phong, the garden looks so happy now!” she said, looking around at the glistening leaves.
“It sure does,” he agreed. “You’ve done a fantastic job today. Harvesting and watering all in one morning. You’re becoming a real farmer!”
Bibi beamed. “Maybe someday I’ll have a garden just like this one.”
“You can, and you will,” said Uncle Phong kindly. “You’ve already got the most important part—a caring heart and hardworking hands.”
After cleaning up and putting the tools away, Uncle Phong and Bibi brought the squash inside. Auntie Lan had already started preparing lunch, and when she saw the basket full of fresh squash, her face lit up.
“Oh my! These look beautiful!” she said. “We’ll cook some for lunch today.”
Bibi sat on the porch, her legs dangling off the edge, feeling proud and content. She watched the bees buzz lazily in the flowerbed while Uncle Phong rocked gently in his chair beside her.
“Tomorrow,” she said, “can I help plant the new bean seeds?”
“Of course,” Uncle Phong replied. “You’re always welcome in the garden.”
As the afternoon sun bathed the fields in a golden glow, Bibi rested happily, already dreaming of more adventures among the vegetables, flowers, and buzzing bees. Helping Uncle Phong in the garden wasn’t just work—it was a joyful way to learn, grow, and connect with the earth.
And deep down, Bibi knew that every little thing she did—every squash she picked, every plant she watered—was helping something beautiful grow, not just in the soil, but in her heart too.
