It was a sunny morning on the peaceful farm, with golden rays of sunlight streaming through the banana leaves and casting a warm glow over everything. Lala, the clever and caring little monkey, was playing cheerfully near the porch. She had just finished peeling a ripe banana and was now swinging gently from a low tree branch, giggling as the breeze tickled her fur.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps—familiar ones. Her ears perked up, and her heart jumped with joy. “Mom! Mom is back!” Lala cried out excitedly. She hopped off the branch and dashed toward the small gate, where Mom Lan Anh was walking in with a small basket of herbs and vegetables.
But as Lala got closer, her bright smile quickly faded. Her eyes caught something that made her heart sink—a red patch on Mom’s leg. Lala gasped. There was a wound, fresh and clearly painful, just above Mom’s ankle. The skin was scratched, and a little blood had soaked into the hem of her pants.
“Mamaaa!” Lala cried, running straight to Mom and grabbing her leg gently. “What happened? Are you okay? Why are you hurt?”
Lan Anh tried to smile through the discomfort. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I just slipped a little near the stream when I was picking lemongrass. It’s just a scratch. Nothing serious.”
But Lala wouldn’t let it go. She looked up at Mom with teary, worried eyes. “No, Mom, it looks bad! You need to sit down and rest. I’ll help you. Please!”
Mom Lan Anh could see how distressed her little Lala was, and even though the wound didn’t seem too serious, she allowed herself to be gently guided to the porch. Lala quickly fetched a soft mat and helped Mom sit down, carefully lifting her leg onto a small stool. She ran into the kitchen and came back with a wet cloth and some warm water.
“I saw Auntie Thuy do this when Bon got a scratch,” Lala said seriously, dipping the cloth and gently cleaning the wound. “We need to stop the dirt from getting in.”
Lan Anh smiled softly, touched by how thoughtful and responsible her little monkey was. “You’re doing a great job, Lala. Thank you.
But Lala was too focused to reply. She took great care, her little hands gentle and precise. After cleaning the wound, she ran to the herb basket, sniffed around, and pulled out some fresh turmeric and betel leaves. She didn’t know exactly how to make medicine, but she had watched the villagers prepare herbal compresses many times.
“I’m going to mash this turmeric and make a paste. Auntie Thuy said turmeric helps stop infection,” Lala explained. “You rest, Mom.”
Lan Anh couldn’t help but chuckle, even with the ache in her leg. Lala was serious and focused—more like a little nurse than a monkey. While Lala pounded the turmeric using a small stone and wrapped it with clean cloth, she hummed a little tune to calm herself. She was worried, but doing something to help made her feel braver.
After applying the turmeric paste and gently placing the leaf over the wound, Lala tied it with a soft piece of fabric. “All done!” she said, finally relaxing a bit. “Now you have to rest. Don’t walk around, okay?”
“Okay, nurse Lala,” Mom said playfully. “I promise to rest.”
But Lala wasn’t done yet. She brought a glass of warm water and helped Mom sip it slowly. Then she sat close by, leaning against her. “Does it hurt a lot?” she asked softly.
“A little, but having you take care of me makes it feel much better,” Lan Anh replied, stroking Lala’s head lovingly.
That afternoon, Lala refused to go play. She stayed by Mom’s side, watching her closely and making sure she didn’t try to get up. When Bon came by with his toy car and asked Lala to join him, she shook her head.
“I can’t. Mom’s leg is hurt. I have to take care of her,” she said firmly.
Bon looked confused. “But she’s big. She can take care of herself.”
Lala frowned. “Even big people need help sometimes. When someone you love is hurt, you have to be there for them.”
Touched by her words, Bon left and returned a few minutes later with a flower he picked from the garden. “Here, for your mom,” he said shyly. Lala smiled and took it inside, placing it near Mom’s pillow.
As the sun began to set, the house was filled with the smell of soup. Auntie Thuy had stopped by and, after hearing what happened, insisted on cooking for them. Lala helped serve the meal, carefully bringing bowls to Mom and feeding her spoon by spoon.
“You’ve been my hero today,” Lan Anh said, placing a gentle kiss on Lala’s forehead. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
Lala beamed with pride, her earlier worry slowly melting away. “I just want you to get better fast. I was so scared when I saw your leg like that.”
Lan Anh nodded. ““That’s because you have a big heart, Lala. You care so deeply. And that’s a beautiful thing.”
That night, Lala curled up right next to Mom on the big mat. She didn’t want to sleep in her usual spot across the room. She wanted to be close, just in case Mom needed anything during the night.
As the stars twinkled outside and the crickets sang their lullaby, Mom whispered, “Goodnight, my little guardian angel.”
Lala, her eyes half-closed, whispered back, “Goodnight, Mom. I love you.”
And in that quiet moment, with the gentle breeze flowing through the open window and the scent of herbs still lingering in the air, love and care wrapped around them like a warm blanket—proof that no wound, no matter how small or big, can stand a chance against the healing power of a child’s love.
