The morning sun shone brightly through the kitchen windows, casting soft golden rays across the wooden table where Lala sat, swinging her little legs back and forth. In front of her sat a brand-new water bottle—shiny, colorful, and decorated with tiny pictures of flowers and smiling animals. She had gotten it just yesterday from her grandmother, and ever since then, she hadn’t let it out of her sight.
“Dad!” Lala called cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I want to use my new water bottle today. Can you make me some orange juice for it? Please, please, please!”
Her dad looked up from the sink, where he was rinsing a few cups. He couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Orange juice, huh? Not plain water today?”
“Nooo, not just water!” Lala shook her head firmly, hugging the bottle against her chest as though it were a precious treasure. “It’s too special for only water. My bottle needs something yummy and happy, like orange juice!”
Dad chuckled. “Alright, my princess. If you want orange juice, then orange juice you’ll get. But you’ll have to help me. Deal?”
“Deal!” Lala hopped down from her chair, her tiny feet pattering across the tiled floor. She marched toward the counter like a little helper ready for her important mission.
Step One: The Oranges
Dad opened the fridge and pulled out a basket filled with plump, bright oranges. “First,” he said, setting them on the counter, “we need the stars of the show—our fresh oranges.”
Lala clapped her hands. “Wow! They look like little suns!”
Dad laughed. “Exactly! They bring sunshine into our juice.”
He handed her one orange. It was big compared to her small hands, and she giggled as she tried to balance it without dropping it. “It’s heavy! Like a ball,” she said, rolling it back and forth on the counter.
“That’s because it’s full of juice,” Dad explained. “Now, let’s wash them.”
Together, they carried the oranges to the sink. Dad helped Lala hold them under the cool running water. She rubbed each one carefully, as though giving them a bath.
“There! Now they’re clean and ready!” she announced proudly.
Step Two: The Juicing
Dad sliced the oranges in half, the sweet, tangy smell instantly filling the kitchen. Lala sniffed the air and squealed, “Mmm, it smells like sunshine candy!”
“Ready to squeeze?” Dad asked, handing her half an orange and pointing to the juicer.
Lala nodded seriously. She pressed the orange half onto the juicer, twisting with all her might. A few drops dripped out, and she gasped. “Look! It’s working!”
Dad placed his big hands gently over hers and helped her press harder. Soon, golden liquid flowed freely into the container. “We’re making magic,” Dad said warmly.
Lala grinned from ear to ear. “Magic juice for my special bottle!”
They worked together, orange after orange, until the jug was nearly full. Lala wiped her forehead dramatically. “Phew! That was hard work. I’m sweating like a monkey!”
Dad chuckled, ruffling her hair. “That’s because you’re a hardworking little chef.”
Step Three: The Taste Test
“Before we pour it into your bottle,” Dad said, “we have to taste it. That’s the rule of all great chefs.”
Lala’s eyes sparkled. She grabbed a tiny glass, and Dad carefully poured a bit of the juice inside. The liquid gleamed golden in the sunlight.
She took a sip, and her face lit up instantly. “Yum! It’s sweet and sour and happy all at once!” She took another gulp, leaving a bright orange moustache above her lip.
Dad laughed. “Looks like you’ve got an orange moustache now.”
Lala wiped her mouth quickly with the back of her hand. “Don’t tell anyone!” she whispered playfully, and then they both laughed together.
Step Four: The Big Pour
Finally, the moment arrived. Lala placed her brand-new water bottle on the table, opening the lid carefully. She looked up at Dad with anticipation.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready!” she said, bouncing on her toes.
Dad poured slowly, the orange juice flowing like liquid gold into the bottle. Lala watched every drop with wide eyes. When the bottle was full, she clapped her hands.
“It’s perfect!” she cheered. “Now my bottle is happy and full of sunshine!”
Dad tightened the cap and handed it to her. “There you go, my little sunshine.”
Lala hugged the bottle tightly. “Thank you, Daddy. You’re the best juice-maker in the world!”
The Adventure Begins
But the story didn’t end there. As soon as the bottle was ready, Lala wanted to show it off.
“Daddy, can we go outside? I want to drink my juice in the garden with the flowers!”
“Of course,” Dad agreed.
They stepped outside into the warm morning air. Birds chirped happily in the trees, and butterflies fluttered among the blossoms. Lala found a cozy spot under the big mango tree and sat down.
She unscrewed her bottle and took a long sip of the orange juice. “Ahhh! So refreshing!” she exclaimed, wiping her mouth with satisfaction. “Even the butterflies are jealous.”
Dad laughed. “Maybe we should share with them.”
Lala shook her head. “Nope, this juice is just for me and my bottle. But maybe next time we can make some for Mom too!”
A Special Idea
After a while, as she finished her juice, Lala had an idea. She looked at her Dad with a mischievous smile.
“Daddy… what if we make different juices every day? My bottle can be happy with new colors! Like red juice, green juice, purple juice!”
Dad pretended to think hard. “Hmm, red juice could be strawberry… green juice maybe cucumber… purple juice from grapes. That’s a lot of fruit!”
“Yes!” Lala said, bouncing with excitement. “It will be like a rainbow inside my bottle!”
Dad nodded. “A rainbow of juices. That sounds like a fun project for us.”
The Sweet Ending
The day went on, and Lala carried her water bottle everywhere. She proudly showed it to Mom, to the neighbors, even to the family cat, who sniffed it curiously.
Every time she took a sip, she remembered how she and Dad had worked together—washing the oranges, squeezing them, laughing about her orange moustache.
That night, before going to bed, she placed the bottle carefully on her bedside table, as if it were a precious treasure.
“Goodnight, my sunshine bottle,” she whispered, snuggling into her blankets.
Dad peeked into her room, smiling softly. He saw her cuddling with her stuffed toy, the bottle safe by her side.
He thought about the little moments they shared—simple things like making juice—that built the happiest memories.
And as Lala drifted off to sleep, she dreamed of new juices, rainbows of colors, and more sunny mornings with her Dad by her side.
