It was a bright and cheerful morning in the peaceful village where Lala lived. The birds chirped from the trees, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves outside the small house she shared with her friends. Lala, the playful and curious little monkey, was already awake, swinging from the window frame and humming a tune. She had no idea that this day would become one of the most exciting days of her week.
Thuy, her gentle and caring friend, had been away for most of the morning. Lala had missed her, but she didn’t complain. Instead, she tried to keep herself busy, playing with her usual toys—her squeaky ball, the worn-out drum, and the half-chewed stuffed banana. But after a while, everything started to feel a little boring. She sighed and looked at the door, hoping Thuy would return soon.
Suddenly, the sound of a motorbike broke the quiet. Lala’s ears perked up. She raced to the window and peered outside with sparkling eyes. There she was—Thuy, coming home at last! But that wasn’t all. Behind her, strapped to the back of the bike, were two big bags. Lala’s tail twitched with excitement. What could be inside?
As soon as Thuy opened the gate, Lala leapt into her arms with joy. “You’re back! You’re back!” she seemed to say, wrapping her tiny arms around Thuy’s neck. Thuy chuckled and hugged her back warmly.
“I have a surprise for you, Lala,” she whispered.
“A surprise?” Lala’s eyes widened. She bounced on her feet, curious and thrilled.
Thuy walked to the porch and set the bags down. Lala sniffed at them eagerly. With a big grin, Thuy slowly opened the first bag and pulled out a soft, pink teddy bear with a ribbon around its neck.
Lala squealed in delight! She hugged the bear tightly, rubbing her cheek against its soft fur. “It’s so cuddly!” her face said it all.
But that was just the beginning.
Thuy reached into the bag again and brought out a colorful stacking toy, a little toy piano, a dancing duck that spun and lit up, and even a tiny cart with fruits that made sounds when you pressed the buttons. Lala’s mouth hung open in amazement. Each toy seemed more magical than the last.
Then, from the second bag, Thuy took out something even more special—a shiny pink backpack with a cartoon monkey printed on it. Inside were crayons, a coloring book, a toy phone, and a small puzzle. Lala clapped her hands in pure joy. Her little heart could barely contain the happiness bubbling inside her.
She immediately placed the backpack on her back and began to explore the new treasures one by one. She pressed the buttons on the toy phone, pretending to call CEO Kien. “Hello? Hello? It’s Lala!” she mimed excitedly, giggling at the funny ringtone it made.
Next, she banged on the mini piano, producing cheerful sounds that echoed through the house. Then, she watched the dancing duck spin in circles, its lights blinking and music playing. Lala danced along with it, twirling around until she got dizzy and fell on the soft mat, giggling uncontrollably.
Thuy sat nearby, smiling softly. Seeing Lala so happy made her day. She had noticed that Lala had been using the same old toys for weeks and wanted to do something special for her. And clearly, it had worked.
As the morning passed into afternoon, Lala’s energy never faded. She colored in her new book, drew hearts and bananas, and proudly showed each page to Thuy. She tried stacking the colorful rings in the right order and only knocked them over because she got too excited.
Thuy took out her phone and started recording. “Lala, tell everyone what you got today!” she said playfully.
Lala jumped into the frame, holding her teddy bear and dancing duck. She pointed at her backpack, made a few funny sounds into her toy phone, and then gave the camera a huge, toothy grin. It was clear: Lala was having the best day ever.
Later in the afternoon, CEO Kien came by to visit. As soon as Lala saw him, she dragged him inside and showed off every single toy she had received. She made him play the piano with her, chase the rolling fruit cart, and even wear the backpack for a second. Kien laughed and joined in the fun, happy to see her so cheerful.
“Thuy really spoiled you today, huh?” he said, patting her head.
Lala nodded proudly, hugging her teddy bear again.
That evening, after a long and joyful day, Lala sat on the porch beside Thuy, the sky glowing orange with the setting sun. Her new toys were spread around her like treasures, and her eyes, though sleepy, still sparkled with happiness.
She leaned her head on Thuy’s shoulder, gently wrapping her tail around her friend’s arm. Though she couldn’t speak in words, her gesture said everything: “Thank you. I love you.”
Thuy smiled and kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, Lala. You deserve every bit of happiness.”
As the stars began to twinkle above, Lala was carried inside and tucked into bed. She snuggled up with her teddy bear, still wearing the pink backpack, too sleepy to take it off. And just before she drifted off to dreamland, she whispered a happy sigh.
That night, she dreamed of a magical toy land, where teddy bears danced, ducks sang songs, and the sun was a giant banana. But the best part of the dream wasn’t the toys—it was the love and care she felt from Thuy.
For Lala, this wasn’t just a day filled with new toys. It was a day filled with surprise, joy, and the warmest kind of love. And that, more than anything, was the real gift.
