It was a bright, breezy morning when Lala, the curious little monkey with sparkling eyes and an adventurous spirit, found herself bored with her usual routine. The garden had been explored, the toys had all been played with, and the snacks were eaten long ago. Today, she wanted something different. Something exciting.
While swinging on the fence near the back of the property, Lala’s eyes caught something unusual beyond the tall grass—an old wooden gate, half-covered in vines and moss. She tilted her head. That gate hadn’t caught her attention before. Her heart beat faster with curiosity.
“Hmmm… what’s over there?” Lala murmured to herself.
She leaped off the fence and scampered through the tall grass. Her little feet rustled leaves and crunched twigs as she approached the gate. It creaked loudly as she pushed it open, revealing a narrow dirt path leading to a mysterious, abandoned farm.
The place looked like it hadn’t been touched in years. The barn stood tall but weather-worn, its red paint faded and flaking. The farmhouse windows were dusty and cracked, and old farming tools lay scattered on the ground. But to Lala, it was magical. It was like stepping into another world.
Excited, she tiptoed inside, her eyes wide with wonder. She climbed onto old tractors, peeked inside rusted metal barrels, and even found a broken wheelbarrow she tried to push around. Birds flew overhead, and a family of squirrels darted from a broken window. It felt like a secret playground built just for her.
But as Lala turned a corner behind the barn, something unexpected happened. She looked up—and realized she didn’t know which way she had come from.
The trees all looked the same now. The path she thought she had followed was gone, covered by overgrown weeds. Her ears twitched, and her breathing became faster.
“Uhh… where’s the gate?” she whispered, spinning in circles.
She ran back the way she thought she had come—but there was no gate. Just more thorns, vines, and trees. Her little heart pounded. “Oh no, oh no, oh no!” she cried, hugging herself tightly
The once-exciting farm now seemed scary. The shadows from the broken roof looked like monster arms. The breeze that once felt cool and friendly now made eerie noises as it blew through the barn.
“HELP!” Lala shouted, her voice echoing through the empty farmyard. “CEO KIEN! THUY! CUTIS! ANYONE!”
But no answer came. Only the sound of distant birds and creaking boards.
Lala tried climbing to the top of a haystack to see farther. But all she could see was a sea of trees and tall grass. Tears welled in her eyes.
“I shouldn’t have come here alone,” she whispered through sniffles. “This was a bad idea…”
Just then, she heard a rustling noise behind her. Her ears perked up. “H-Hello?” she called.
Out popped a small hedgehog with a sleepy face. Lala sighed with relief but then frowned again. “You can’t help me,” she said sadly.
The hedgehog blinked at her, then waddled off toward a pile of fallen logs. Lala was about to ignore it when she saw something—faint footprints in the dirt.
Her eyes lit up. Footprints! Maybe someone else had been here recently!
She followed them carefully, trying not to lose sight of them. They twisted around trees and under branches, leading her to a wooden sign, mostly hidden under vines. Lala brushed it off with her tiny fingers.
“Old Greenhill Farm – No Trespassing”
She had heard Thuy mention this place once—how it was abandoned years ago and shouldn’t be explored without an adult. That only made Lala feel worse. “They’ll all be so worried,” she said. “I have to get back!”
Suddenly, a sharp snap! startled her. A tree branch had broken behind her. She froze. Her tail stood up straight.
Was it just the wind? Or an animal?
Panicked, Lala bolted in the direction of the sun, hoping it would lead her east—back to where she had come from. She dashed past broken fences, leapt over puddles, and dodged brambles. But the more she ran, the more lost she felt.
Finally, breathless, she sat under a tree and cried. “Please… someone find me…”
Back at home, CEO Kien had just finished a call when he noticed something odd.
“Where’s Lala?” he asked Thuy, who was watering the plants.
Thuy looked up. “She was playing outside earlier. I haven’t seen her for a bit…”
Instantly,CEO Kien’s instincts kicked in. “She never stays quiet this long. Let’s check the backyard.”
The two searched high and low—calling her name, checking trees, bushes, and all of her favorite hiding spots. CUTIS, hearing the commotion, ran over and sniffed the air.
His nose twitched. He darted toward the back fence and barked, then looked back.
“He’s found something!” Kien shouted. “Let’s go!”
The three followed CUTIS through the tall grass, past the gate, and onto the dirt path. “The abandoned farm,” Thuy whispered. “You don’t think…”
CUTIS barked again and ran ahead.
Meanwhile, Lala, now curled up near a pile of crates, heard a distant bark. Her ears perked up.
“CUTIS?” she called.
She stood up, brushing off leaves and dirt, and called louder. “CUTIS!! CEO KIEN!!”
“LALA!!!” Kien’s voice echoed through the trees.
Lala ran toward the sound, her tiny legs pumping hard. She burst through the weeds and straight into Kien’s arms.
“There you are!” Kien cried, hugging her tightly.
Thuy rushed up behind him. “We were so worried! What happened?”
Lala sniffled, wiping her tears. “I… I wanted an adventure. But I got lost. I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”
Kien gave her a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay now. But promise me—no exploring alone.”
“I promise,” she whispered.
As they walked back home, CUTIS happily wagging his tail beside them, Lala looked over her shoulder at the old farm. What once seemed magical now felt like a lesson she’d never forget.
From that day on, Lala never ventured out alone. But her curiosity remained—only now, she always made sure someone was with her. Because adventures are fun, but being safe and together is even better.
