Lala, a curious little monkey with big brown eyes and a fluffy tail, loved yogurt more than anything else in the world. She loved how cool and creamy it was, especially on hot afternoons when the sun turned the jungle paths into warm ribbons of gold. Every day after her nap, Lala would skip over to the feeding hut where Farmer Cutis often left treats for the animals. Bananas, coconuts, papayas—and if she was lucky, a small cup of sweet yogurt.
But one sunny Tuesday, something strange happened.
Lala woke up from her nap, stretched her arms wide, and gave a cheerful squeak. She scampered down from her favorite mango tree, licking her lips in anticipation. She could already imagine the cool swirl of strawberry yogurt on her tongue. As she neared the feeding hut, her steps slowed.
The yogurt was missing.
There were bananas. There were seeds. Even a little slice of jackfruit. But no yogurt.
Lala looked around. Maybe Farmer Cutis was late today. Or maybe he forgot. She waited for a while, then peeked into the window of the farmhouse. No sign of him. A few ducks waddled by, quacking noisily, and Lala’s friend Thuy the parrot landed nearby.
“Looking for something?” Thuy chirped.
Lala nodded. “There’s no yogurt today!”
Thuy tilted her head. “I saw Cutis leave early this morning with a basket. Maybe he forgot to refill the fridge.”
Lala’s heart sank. She sat down on the porch with a little sigh. She had been looking forward to her yogurt all day. But then, an idea sparked in her clever little mind.
“If he forgot, maybe I can help remind him!” Lala said, her eyes lighting up.
But how?
Lala trotted back to the jungle and sat under the shade of a banyan tree to think. She watched a group of ants carrying bits of fruit. They worked together, each one carrying a small piece, until they had a whole feast.
“That’s it!” she said. “If I can’t find yogurt, maybe I can make it—or at least make a plan so Cutis won’t forget next time.”
First, she needed to learn what yogurt was made of. Lala scampered to the old goat pen, where Mama Lily, the wise old goat, chewed grass calmly.
“Mama Lily,” Lala asked politely, “do you know what yogurt is made from?”
“Milk,” Mama Lily replied with a gentle bleat. “Sweet milk that’s been kept warm with special little creatures inside.”
“Special creatures?” Lala’s eyes grew wide.
“Bacteria,” said Mama Lily. “Good ones! They help change milk into yogurt.”
Lala thanked her and ran off to the chicken coop, where she found a small cup someone had left behind. She washed it in the stream, then ran to ask Daisy the cow for a little bit of milk.
Daisy laughed kindly. “You want to try making yogurt, little one?”
“Yes! Just a tiny bit,” Lala said.
Daisy gently filled Lala’s cup with warm milk. Lala placed it under a sunny rock where it would stay warm, just like Mama Lily had said. But she still needed the special bacteria. That part, she realized, had to come from yogurt itself. She didn’t have any left.
“Oh no,” she said aloud. “I guess I can’t make yogurt after all.”
Just then, a small shadow passed over her. It was Lu, the baby monkey who had recently joined the farm. Lu waddled up, holding something in his tiny hand. A half-finished cup of yogurt!
“Lu! Where did you get that?” Lala cried, excited.
“Found it by the fence,” Lu mumbled, licking his fingers.
“May I have a little? Just one spoon?” Lala asked.
Lu nodded and handed her the cup. There was just enough left to use. Carefully, Lala stirred the leftover yogurt into her cup of milk, placed it back under the rock, and waited.
She waited all afternoon, checking every hour. The sun began to set, and Lala was about to give up when she lifted the rock and peeked into the cup.
The milk was no longer liquid—it was soft and creamy, with a slight jiggle.
She had done it!
Lala jumped for joy, then tasted it. It was tangy, fresh, and still a little warm. Not perfect—but yogurt nonetheless!
The next morning, when Farmer Cutis returned, Lala greeted him with the cup in her hands. She squeaked happily and offered it to him.
“For me?” Cutis laughed. “Did you make this?”
Lala nodded excitedly and mimed stirring and waiting in the sun.
“Well, I’ll be!” he said, squatting down. “You clever little thing. You made yogurt all by yourself?”
Lala clapped her hands.
Farmer Cutis scratched his head. “I did forget to buy more, didn’t I? I’m sorry, Lala. But I’m impressed!”
He brought out a clean jar and gave her a proper cup of yogurt from the fridge. “I’ll make sure we never run out again,” he promised.
From that day forward, Cutis always left a small note on the fridge with the yogurt stock. If it was low, Lala would squeak and point it out. Together, they became a team—Farmer Cutis the provider, and Lala the yogurt monitor.
And sometimes, just for fun, Lala would still try to make her own in the sun, proudly sharing her experiments with the other animals. She became known as the “Jungle Yogurt Queen,” and everyone admired her clever thinking.
Even when life didn’t go as expected, Lala had shown that with curiosity, kindness, and a bit of patience, she could turn a disappointment into a delicious victory.
