It was still dark outside when the sound of soft footsteps echoed through the quiet house. The clock on the wall showed 5:30 a.m., a time when most people were still dreaming comfortably under their warm blankets. But little Lala, full of energy and determination, had already been awake for quite a while. Her stomach rumbled loudly, and she couldn’t stop thinking about pancakes, eggs, and the smell of fresh bread from her favorite restaurant.
She tiptoed into her mother’s room, clutching her favorite stuffed bear for courage. Mom was still fast asleep, curled up on the bed. The curtains were drawn, and the soft morning light peeked through. Lala climbed onto the bed carefully, not wanting to scare her mother, and gently shook her shoulder.
“Mom… Mom… wake up!” she whispered first.
Mom groaned and turned onto her side. “Hmm? Lala, it’s still early… go back to sleep,” she mumbled with her eyes half-closed.
But Lala wasn’t giving up. She tugged at the blanket and leaned closer to Mom’s ear. “Mom, I’m really, really hungry. Can we go eat breakfast at the restaurant? Please, please, pleeease!”
Mom opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the clock on the wall. “Lala, do you know what time it is? It’s not even six yet.”
“I know,” Lala admitted with an innocent smile. “But if we go early, we can be the first ones there! The food will be fresh, and maybe I can order pancakes with extra syrup!” Her little hands made wide gestures to show just how tall she imagined her stack of pancakes would be.
Mom couldn’t help but chuckle at her daughter’s excitement. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, sat up slowly, and stretched. “You really don’t want to wait until later, do you?”
“Nooo!” Lala shook her head vigorously. “My tummy says it can’t wait. It says, ‘Feed me now!’” She even pressed her ear against her belly and pretended to listen. “See, Mom? It’s talking!”
Mom laughed, shaking her head at Lala’s playful imagination. “Alright, alright. You win. But if we’re going this early, you have to help me get ready quickly. Deal?”
“Deal!” Lala cheered, bouncing on the bed like it was the happiest day of her life.
The Early Morning Rush
The next thirty minutes were a whirlwind. Lala brushed her teeth extra fast—though she got toothpaste all over her shirt and had to change again. She carefully picked out her favorite yellow dress because, as she explained, “Yellow makes me look like sunshine, and sunshine matches breakfast!”
Meanwhile, Mom slowly prepared herself, tying her hair back and making sure she didn’t forget her purse or phone. She couldn’t help smiling at Lala’s endless chatter about all the foods she wanted to try that morning: eggs, toast, pancakes, waffles, orange juice, maybe even a little hot chocolate.
By 6:15, they were out the door. The streets were still quiet, with only a few people jogging or opening shops. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of morning dew.
“Look, Mom!” Lala pointed at the sky. “The sun is waking up, just like us!”
Mom squeezed her daughter’s hand affectionately. “Yes, but I think you woke up even earlier than the sun.”
At the Restaurant
When they arrived at their favorite breakfast spot, the restaurant was just opening. A friendly waitress greeted them at the door with a surprised smile. “Well, good morning! You two are our first customers today.”
Lala grinned proudly. “See, Mom? I told you we’d be the first!”
They chose a cozy table by the window, where Lala could watch the world outside. She bounced in her seat, eagerly scanning the menu even though she already knew what she wanted.
“I’ll have the pancake stack with extra syrup, scrambled eggs, and orange juice,” Lala declared confidently when the waitress came over.
Mom raised an eyebrow. “That’s a big order for a little tummy. Are you sure you can finish all of that?”
“Yes!” Lala said without hesitation. “I’ll eat it all. And if I can’t, you can help me.”
Mom smiled and ordered a simple omelet with coffee for herself.
The Delicious Breakfast
When the food finally arrived, Lala’s eyes grew wide with wonder. The pancakes were stacked high, golden and fluffy, with butter melting on top and syrup dripping down the sides. The scrambled eggs looked perfectly soft, and the orange juice sparkled in the morning light.
“Wow…” she whispered, almost in awe. “It’s even better than I imagined.”
She dug in immediately, cutting a piece of pancake and dipping it into the syrup. “Mmm! Mom, you have to try this. It’s like happiness on a plate!”
Mom chuckled and took a small bite from her omelet. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
As they ate, Lala kept talking between bites. She told Mom about a dream she had where she opened her own restaurant for kids, where every dish came with extra syrup and sprinkles. She explained how she would call it “Lala’s Breakfast Kingdom” and decorate it with rainbow chairs and star-shaped plates.
Mom listened patiently, sipping her coffee and nodding along. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. Maybe one day you can really open your own restaurant.”
Lala’s face lit up with excitement. “Really? You think so?”
“Of course,” Mom said warmly. “If you work hard and follow your dreams, anything is possible.”
A Morning to Remember
By the time they finished breakfast, Lala’s little tummy was full, and she leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh. “That was the best breakfast ever. Thank you, Mom!”
Mom smiled and wiped a bit of syrup from the corner of Lala’s mouth. “Thank you for waking me up, even if it was a little too early. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this morning with you.”
As they walked home, the streets were now busy with people heading to work or school. The sun was shining brightly, and Lala skipped happily beside her mother, humming a cheerful tune.
When they finally got home, Mom looked at the clock—it wasn’t even 8 a.m. yet. She laughed softly to herself. Most families were just starting their day, but she and Lala had already shared a whole adventure together.
Lala, still full of energy despite the big meal, announced, “Next time, we should wake up even earlier so we can watch the sunrise while we eat!”
Mom shook her head with a smile. “Let’s not make a habit of this, okay? But… maybe sometimes, when we need a special morning, we can do it again.”
Lala beamed and hugged her mother tightly. “You’re the best, Mom.”
And with that, their day began—not just with breakfast, but with a memory they would treasure forever.
