It was a bright, gentle morning on the little farm where Lala, the clever and adorable baby monkey, lived with her beloved human friend, Thuy. The birds chirped sweet melodies in the trees, and the breeze danced playfully through the leaves. Everything seemed peaceful, but today was going to be different. Thuy, who always spent most of her time cuddling, playing, and feeding Lala, had an important task to do. She had to go into town to help her parents at their small market stall.
“Lala, my sweet girl,” Thuy said, gently stroking Lala’s soft fur, “I have to go away for a few hours. But I know you can be a good girl and take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
Lala blinked her big round eyes, sensing the seriousness in Thuy’s tone. She clung to Thuy’s arm for a moment, giving her a little monkey hug, then slowly nodded as if to say, “I understand.”
Thuy smiled and handed her a small basket filled with her favorite snacks—sliced bananas, sweet papaya, and even a little bottle of milk. She also gave her a soft pink blanket and her favorite stuffed toy, a little plush bear named Mimi.
“You have everything you need,” Thuy said. “Be good. I’ll be back soon.”
As Thuy walked away, Lala watched her go from the porch, her tiny hands holding the rail tightly. There was a moment of silence as the wind picked up, ruffling her fur gently. For a second, Lala’s heart sank. She already missed Thuy. But then, she remembered Thuy’s words. She had promised to be obedient.
So, Lala turned around and headed back inside the little house.
First, she went to her cozy corner where her blanket and toy lay waiting. She laid the blanket neatly, just the way Thuy always did it, then tucked Mimi under her little arm. But instead of lying down immediately, Lala decided to tidy up a little. She picked up some fallen banana peels from breakfast and put them in the small trash can in the corner. Then, carefully, she wiped the little table with a soft cloth Thuy had left near the sink.
Though it was small, Lala’s effort showed how much she wanted to do the right thing.
After cleaning, she climbed onto the window sill and peeked outside. The sun was getting higher, and the bees were buzzing from flower to flower. Lala decided it was time for a snack. She went over to the basket and took a piece of banana, eating slowly, savoring the flavor. She didn’t make a mess, and she even put the peel in the bin.
She then took her bottle of milk and went to sit under the shady mango tree in the yard. As she drank, she hummed softly, mimicking the lullabies Thuy often sang to her. After finishing, she placed the empty bottle beside her, careful not to spill.
Back in the house, Lala looked at the small clock on the wall. It had only been an hour, but she was already feeling a little sleepy. Still, she remembered Thuy always told her to wash her hands and face before resting. So, she tiptoed to the small wash basin, dipped her hands in the cool water, and gently wiped her face with a soft towel.
It felt refreshing. She smiled at her reflection in the shiny kettle and giggled softly at the sight of her own funny expression.
With everything done properly, she returned to her blanket, hugged Mimi tightly, and curled up for a nap. The sun filtered in through the curtains, creating a warm glow around her. Her breathing slowed, and soon she was fast asleep, dreaming of playing hide and seek with Thuy in the tall grass fields.
While she slept, a little bird flew down onto the windowsill and chirped curiously. Lala twitched in her sleep but didn’t wake up. The bird flew off, leaving behind a single small feather that landed on the floor near Lala’s foot.
About two hours later, Lala stirred awake. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and stretching her little arms. She looked around. The house was still quiet. Thuy wasn’t back yet.
But instead of getting upset or impatient, Lala decided to keep herself entertained. She remembered a little puzzle toy Thuy had taught her to play with. It was a wooden box with different shapes and holes. Lala grabbed it from the toy shelf and sat down, placing each shape into the correct slot. She clapped her hands each time she got one right.
“Good job, Lala!” she whispered to herself, just like Thuy always praised her.
Outside, the clouds were starting to gather. It looked like it might rain soon. Lala stood at the door, holding Mimi, watching the sky. She didn’t panic, but instead pulled her small blanket to the side and closed the little wooden shutters, just like Thuy had shown her.
Then she waited.
Minutes felt like hours, but Lala stayed calm. She sat quietly, drawing on a small notepad with her colorful crayons. She drew pictures of her and Thuy at the river, feeding ducks, and another one of them picking flowers in the garden. Though her drawing skills were simple, the feelings behind them were pure and sweet.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a motorbike in the distance.
Her ears perked up.
She ran to the door and stood on tiptoe to see better. Yes! It was Thuy! She was back!
Lala squealed with joy, dropping Mimi and rushing out the door. Thuy parked the bike and knelt just in time to catch Lala in her arms.
“Lala! Oh my sweet girl, did you miss me?” Thuy said, hugging her tightly.
Lala nodded and kissed Thuy’s cheek, chattering in excited little monkey sounds, trying to tell her everything she had done: the cleaning, the eating, the puzzle, the nap, the drawings.
Thuy looked around and smiled. Everything was in order. The trash was in the bin. The milk bottle was empty but upright. The house looked tidy. Lala had really taken care of herself.
“I’m so proud of you,” Thuy said softly, with happy tears in her eyes. “You were such a good girl.”
Lala beamed with pride.
That night, as the rain began to fall gently outside, Thuy and Lala sat together on the porch, wrapped in a blanket, watching the raindrops dance on the leaves. Thuy fed Lala her dinner and told her stories, and Lala listened closely, snuggled into her friend’s arms.
Though the day had started with a bit of sadness from being apart, it ended with love, trust, and pride.
Because Lala had shown that even when she was alone, she could be kind, responsible, and brave.
And from that day on, whenever Thuy had to leave for a while, she always knew that her sweet little monkey would be okay.
Because Lala obediently took care of herself—with a loving heart and a loyal spirit.
