The house was quiet. The kind of quiet that only exists deep in the middle of the night when even the insects outside have slowed their singing. The moonlight spilled gently through the curtains, covering the floor with a soft silver glow. Everyone in the family was asleep—except for one small girl named Lala.
Lala stirred in her bed, her tummy rumbling louder than she expected. She pulled her blanket over her ears, trying to muffle the sound, but it didn’t help. The hunger grew stronger, almost like a little drum beating inside her belly. She opened her eyes and whispered to herself, “Oh no… I’m so hungry.”
At first, she thought maybe she could just fall back asleep. She tossed and turned, hugging her pillow, closing her eyes tightly. But the thought of food kept popping into her head: warm rice, crispy chicken, fresh fruit, and even the cookies her mom had baked earlier that day. The more she tried not to think about it, the louder her stomach grumbled.
Finally, with a sigh of defeat, Lala sat up. She looked around the room carefully to make sure her mom wasn’t there. The last thing she wanted was to wake her up and get scolded for being out of bed so late. She tiptoed off her mattress, her tiny feet making the faintest sound on the floorboards.
“Shhh, tummy,” she whispered, patting her stomach. “Let’s go find something to eat, but we have to be very quiet.”
The Secret Mission
Lala slowly opened her bedroom door, wincing when it creaked. She froze in place, holding her breath, waiting to hear if anyone had stirred. Nothing. Only silence. Encouraged, she carefully slipped out and padded down the hallway like a little cat on a mission.
The house looked different at night. The shadows seemed bigger, the furniture taller, and even the family pictures on the walls looked a little mysterious. But Lala wasn’t afraid—her hunger was stronger than her fear.
As she reached the kitchen door, she pushed it open slowly. The faint glow of the moon lit up the counter, the table, and the refrigerator like a spotlight. Her eyes immediately landed on the fridge. That was her treasure chest, her goal, the place where all good food lived.
The Fridge Adventure
She crept toward the fridge and grabbed the handle. With a soft tug, the door opened, and the bright yellow light spilled out, making her squint. The fridge hummed quietly, almost like it was greeting her: “Hello, little midnight visitor. What are you looking for?”
Inside, everything looked delicious. There were containers stacked neatly, fruits sitting in a bowl, and a plate of leftover fried rice her mom had saved. Lala’s mouth watered. She licked her lips and thought carefully.
“Rice might be too noisy to warm up,” she whispered to herself. “Hmm… fruit? Or maybe cookies?”
Her eyes sparkled when she spotted a small jar of peanut butter. She loved peanut butter. Next to it was a half loaf of bread. Perfect! She decided to make herself a sandwich.
The Sandwich Struggle
Lala climbed onto a chair to reach the bread and carefully placed two slices on the table. She pulled the peanut butter jar out of the fridge with both hands—it was heavier than she thought! After almost dropping it, she set it down with a relieved sigh.
But then came the tricky part: opening the lid. She twisted and twisted, her little hands turning red, but the jar refused to open. She pouted, puffed her cheeks, and whispered, “Why are you being so stubborn?”
Finally, after one last determined twist, the lid popped open with a “crack!” The sound echoed louder than she expected. Lala froze again, heart pounding, listening carefully for footsteps. Nothing. She smiled proudly.
With a butter knife, she scooped out the creamy peanut butter and spread it on the bread. It wasn’t the neatest job—chunks of peanut butter stuck out unevenly, and crumbs scattered across the table—but to her, it looked perfect. She placed the two slices together and admired her creation.
“Midnight sandwich,” she whispered happily. “You are all mine.”
An Unexpected Guest
Just as she was about to take her first big bite, a small sound came from the corner of the kitchen. Scratch, scratch.
Lala froze, eyes wide. Slowly, she turned her head. To her surprise, it wasn’t a monster or ghost. It was her furry friend—Mimi the cat. Mimi had followed her into the kitchen, curious about what her little human was up to.
“Mimi!” Lala whispered in relief. “You scared me!”
The cat meowed softly, rubbing against her leg. Lala giggled and tore off a tiny piece of bread to share. Mimi purred happily, munching on her midnight snack. Now it wasn’t just her on a mission—it was a team effort.
Almost Caught!
Lala and Mimi enjoyed their sandwich together until suddenly—creak! The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Lala’s eyes widened in panic. Someone was coming!
Quickly, she shoved the last piece of bread into her mouth and pushed the jar back onto the counter. Mimi, sensing the urgency, leapt down and scampered under the table.
The footsteps grew closer. The kitchen door slowly opened, and there stood… Mom. Her hair was a little messy, and she squinted at the bright fridge light.
“Lala?” Mom asked softly, rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing up so late?”
Lala froze like a statue, crumbs still on her cheeks. She wanted to make up a story, but the evidence was everywhere—the open jar, the crumbs, the chair out of place. Finally, she lowered her head and whispered, “I was hungry…”
The Gentle Solution
Instead of scolding her, Mom walked over and knelt down. She brushed the crumbs from Lala’s cheek and smiled gently.
“My little girl,” Mom said, “next time, you should wake me up if you’re hungry. You don’t have to sneak around. It’s okay.”
Lala blinked up at her, surprised. “Really? You’re not mad?”
Mom shook her head. “No, sweetie. But it’s very late. Eating at night isn’t always the best for your tummy. How about we make something light together?”
Lala’s face brightened. “Can we?”
Mom smiled and guided her back to the fridge. Together, they cut up some fruit—banana slices and a little apple. Lala happily ate while sitting at the table, and Mimi purred nearby, waiting for another treat.
When her hunger was finally satisfied, Lala yawned. Mom picked her up in her arms, carrying her gently back to bed.
Back to Dreams
As she snuggled under her blanket again, Lala whispered sleepily, “Thanks, Mom… and Mimi.”
Mom kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, little one. No more secret missions tonight.”
Lala giggled softly, her tummy full and her heart warm. Soon, she drifted off into dreams of peanut butter sandwiches and midnight adventures.
And in the corner of the room, Mimi curled up, purring contently, as if promising to join her on the next secret kitchen mission.
