The afternoon sun streamed gently through the tall branches of the trees, filling the little clearing with a warm golden light. Kevin, the baby monkey, sat on a flat rock near the garden, his bright eyes fixed on the family dog who was lazily lying in the shade. The dog’s big brown ears twitched every so often as flies buzzed around, and his tail gave a slow wag now and then. Kevin tilted his head, fascinated by every little move.
The dog, named Lucky, was kind and patient. He had grown used to the baby monkeys climbing around and chattering all day. Sometimes he would roll on his back to let them pat his belly. Other times, he simply lay down like a guard, watching over them. Today, however, Lucky seemed tired. He stretched his legs and gave a huge yawn. Kevin giggled at the sight and clapped his little hands.
“Wooo… Lucky, you look funny when you yawn!” Kevin squealed with delight. His little tail flicked behind him as he leaned forward curiously.
But after a few minutes, Kevin grew restless. He wanted to play, not just sit and stare. He jumped off the rock, scampered closer to the dog, and then paused, scratching his head. Lucky wasn’t in the mood to run or chase. Kevin’s eyes twinkled with another idea.
He cupped his tiny hands around his mouth and shouted across the clearing, “Sumi! Sumi! Come here! Let’s play!”
Sumi, his little friend and sister, was not far away. She was busy picking up small sticks and pretending to build a tiny hut near the fence. Hearing Kevin’s voice, she looked up, her face lighting up with excitement. She loved playing with Kevin because he always came up with the silliest, funniest games. Without a second thought, she dropped her sticks and came running over, her little feet pattering on the ground.
“What are we playing?” Sumi asked, her voice full of curiosity.
Kevin pointed at Lucky, who now raised his head to see what all the noise was about. “We’re going to play dog-watchers! You sit here with me, and we pretend Lucky is the king dog, and we are his guards.”
Sumi giggled. “King dog? But he’s just lying down!”
Kevin puffed up his chest proudly. “That’s what makes it fun! We have to keep watch. If anyone tries to steal the king dog’s tail, we chase them away!”
The two monkeys sat side by side, staring at Lucky. For a moment, they were very serious, like tiny soldiers on duty. Lucky blinked at them, wagged his tail once, and then laid his head back on the ground, ignoring their chatter.
After a few quiet moments, Sumi began to fidget. “Kevin… this is boring. Nothing’s happening.”
Kevin thought quickly. He didn’t want Sumi to lose interest. “Okay, okay! New game! We’ll take turns sneaking close to Lucky and try to touch his tail without waking him up.”
Sumi’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Yes! That sounds fun!”
Kevin went first. He crouched low, his little body swaying from side to side as he tiptoed forward. Each step was exaggerated, and he made silly faces to make Sumi laugh. She covered her mouth with her hands, trying not to giggle too loudly. Lucky’s ears twitched, but he didn’t move. Kevin stretched out his hand slowly… and brushed the very tip of Lucky’s tail.
“I did it!” he whispered, dancing back triumphantly.
Now it was Sumi’s turn. She crawled forward on all fours, inching closer and closer. Her tiny hands reached out, but just as she touched the tail, Lucky suddenly flicked it. Startled, Sumi squeaked and tumbled backward, rolling onto the grass. Kevin laughed so hard that he almost fell off his rock.
“Lucky tricked you!” Kevin teased.
Sumi stuck out her tongue. “No fair! He moved!”
But soon she was laughing too. The sound of their giggles filled the garden, echoing under the trees. Lucky, amused by the noise, rolled over onto his back with his paws in the air. The monkeys immediately ran to his side and began patting his belly. Lucky gave a happy grunt, enjoying the attention.
“See? He is the king dog,” Kevin said, stroking the dog’s ear gently.
“Yes,” Sumi agreed. “And we are his royal helpers.”
The two monkeys spent the next little while creating more stories around Lucky. They imagined he was guarding a magical treasure buried in the garden. They took turns pretending to be intruders, sneaking close while the other one shouted, “Stop! Don’t steal the king’s treasure!” Every time, Lucky wagged his tail as though he truly understood the game.
Eventually, their laughter grew louder and louder. This attracted the attention of their father, who was nearby fixing something. He walked over and smiled at the sight of Kevin and Sumi running in circles around the dog.
“What are you two up to now?” Father asked warmly.
Kevin stood tall, pointing proudly at Lucky. “We are protecting the king dog, Father! He’s the most important dog in the world, and we are his guards.”
Father chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, as long as you don’t make the king too tired.”
“We won’t!” Sumi said quickly. “We’re taking care of him.”
Father nodded, pleased with their playful imagination. He gave Lucky a gentle pat and walked back to his work, leaving the little ones to their fun.
The sun dipped lower, casting longer shadows. Kevin and Sumi eventually grew tired of chasing each other. They flopped down beside Lucky, their small bodies leaning against his warm fur. Kevin sighed happily.
“Today was fun,” he said. “I’m glad you came to play, Sumi.”
Sumi smiled, snuggling closer. “I’m glad too. Lucky is the best king dog ever.”
Lucky gave a soft “woof,” almost as if he agreed. His tail thumped gently against the ground, brushing against the monkeys.
The garden grew quiet, except for the chirping of crickets. Kevin, Sumi, and Lucky sat together, a perfect little trio of friends. No matter what games they invented, one thing was certain: as long as they had each other, every day was an adventure.
And so, under the fading light of the evening sky, Kevin—who had started the afternoon simply watching the dog—ended up with his best friend by his side, laughter in the air, and a heart full of joy.
