The afternoon sun was slowly dipping behind the trees when little Lala skipped around the garden, humming a cheerful tune. The air smelled of grass, earth, and faintly of the flowers that Mom had planted near the fence. It was a peaceful day, and Lala had no idea a big surprise was waiting just around the corner.
“Lala!” Dad called from the gate. “Come here! There’s someone very special I want you to meet.”
Curious, Lala brushed the dirt from her hands and ran to the gate, her pigtails bouncing. She expected maybe an uncle, or perhaps a neighbor bringing fruit. But when she reached Dad, she froze in surprise. Standing next to him was an elderly woman with kind eyes, a warm smile, and hair neatly tied in a bun. She wore a soft cotton scarf around her shoulders and held a basket filled with eggs.
“Lala,” Dad said gently, “this is my mom—your grandmother.”
Lala’s mouth opened wide. “Your… mom? My grandma?!”
The elderly woman chuckled, her laugh soft like the rustle of dry leaves. “Yes, child. I’ve been waiting to meet you for so long.” She bent down, opened her arms, and before Lala knew it, she was wrapped in a hug that smelled of fresh herbs and warm bread.
Lala felt a mix of shyness and excitement. She had never met Dad’s mom before. It felt like suddenly discovering a whole new part of her family. “I’m so happy to meet you, Grandma!” she exclaimed, hugging her tightly.
Dad beamed, watching his daughter and his mom meet for the first time. “Mom came to stay with us for a while. She’ll be teaching us a few things from the farm.”
Grandma smiled knowingly. “And we’ll start right away. It’s almost evening, and the chickens need to be put in the coop. Would you like to help, Lala?”
Lala’s eyes widened. She had seen chickens from afar, pecking around in fields, but she had never helped put them away. “Really? I can help?”
“Of course,” Grandma said, patting her cheek. “Chickens can be silly, but if we guide them gently, they’ll go right in.”
Hand in hand, Grandma and Lala walked toward the backyard where a small flock of chickens was scratching at the dirt, clucking happily. The wooden coop stood nearby, its door open, waiting for the birds to return inside.
The chickens seemed to sense it was nearing bedtime, but instead of going into the coop, they wandered in all directions. One was pecking at a tomato near the fence, another fluttered onto a low branch, and a few simply strutted about as if they had no intention of sleeping.
“Oh no, Grandma,” Lala whispered. “They don’t want to go in!”
Grandma laughed softly. “That’s where the fun begins. Watch and learn, little one.”
She picked up a stick and gently tapped it on the ground behind the chickens. “Shoo, shoo,” she said, moving slowly toward the coop. The chickens began to cluck louder, waddling toward the door.
Lala giggled. “They’re listening to you!”
“Want to try?” Grandma handed her the stick.
Nervous but excited, Lala held the stick and tapped the ground just as Grandma had done. “Shoo, chickens, shoo!” she called. The birds flapped their wings and clucked, some trotting toward the coop, others darting off in silly directions. One particularly bold chicken hopped right toward Lala, making her squeal and jump back.
Dad laughed from the fence. “Looks like that one wants to be your friend!”
But Lala wasn’t afraid anymore. She grinned and tried again, waving her arms and guiding the chickens. Slowly, with Grandma’s help, more and more of them went into the coop.
Finally, only one chicken was left—the biggest and fluffiest one, with shiny feathers that glowed golden in the fading light. It strutted proudly in the yard, refusing to be herded.
“That’s the stubborn one,” Grandma explained with a chuckle. “Every flock has one. We have to be patient.”
Lala thought hard. Then she crouched down and spoke gently, as if to a friend. “Hey, big chicken. It’s bedtime. Don’t you want to go in with your family? You’ll be safe and cozy there.”
To everyone’s surprise, the chicken tilted its head, clucked softly, and slowly walked toward the coop. Lala followed quietly, her little heart pounding with pride. The bird hopped inside, and Grandma closed the door with a satisfied smile.
“You did it!” Grandma exclaimed, clapping her hands.
Lala’s eyes sparkled. “I really helped! The chickens are all safe now!”
Grandma hugged her again. “You’re a natural. You’ll make a wonderful little farmer one day.”
Dad ruffled Lala’s hair proudly. “See? I knew you’d love helping.”
As they walked back to the house, Lala felt a new warmth in her heart. She had not only met her grandmother that day but also learned something special from her. The smell of supper drifted from the kitchen, where Mom was preparing dinner, and Lala knew this would be a day she would always remember.
That night, around the dinner table, the family shared laughter, stories, and delicious food. Grandma told tales of when Dad was a little boy, chasing chickens and climbing trees, making Lala laugh so hard she nearly spilled her soup.
Later, as she got ready for bed, Lala whispered to Dad, “I didn’t know meeting your mom would be so amazing. I love her already.”
Dad kissed her forehead. “Family is full of surprises, Lala. And I’m glad you discovered this one today.”
Snuggled under her blanket, Lala closed her eyes with a smile, dreaming of clucking chickens, warm hugs, and the gentle voice of her new grandmother guiding her under the evening sky.
It had been a day of love, laughter, and learning—a day when Lala not only met Dad’s mom but also discovered the joy of helping, the bond of family, and the magic of simple farm life.
And from that evening on, whenever the chickens needed to be put in the coop, Lala would be the first to grab the stick, ready to help, her heart full of pride and happiness.
