Lala the little bunny woke up early, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She hopped out of her soft bed, brushed her teeth, and quickly ran to the window.
Today was supposed to be a special day.
She had made plans with her best friend, Thuy the turtle, to go on a picnic in the flower meadow. They had packed tiny sandwiches, fresh strawberries, and carrot juice the night before. Lala even made a soft blanket with her mother just for this day.
But when she looked outside, her heart sank.
Gray clouds had taken over the sky. Big drops of rain splashed against the window, and the trees swayed in the wind. The soft sound of the rain, which sometimes made her feel calm and cozy, now only made her feel disappointed.
“Oh no,” Lala whispered. Her ears drooped. “It’s raining.”
She sighed and pressed her paw against the cold glass. Outside, the world looked blurry and sad. The flower meadow was soaked. There was no way they could have a picnic now. Even if they tried, the ground would be muddy, and everything would get wet.
Her little heart filled with sadness.
Lala dragged her feet to the living room. Her mom was in the kitchen, humming a soft tune while making breakfast.
“Good morning, Lala!” her mom greeted her warmly. “Are you ready for your picnic?”
Lala shook her head slowly. “We can’t go. It’s raining…”
Her voice cracked a little. She blinked back a tear.
Mama Bunny looked out the window and gave a gentle nod. “Ah, yes. It is a rainy day. But maybe we can think of something fun to do indoors?”
Lala didn’t answer. She just curled up on the couch, looking out at the raindrops that raced each other down the windowpane.
Just then, her little sister Lulu came bouncing into the room. “Lala! Want to play tea party with me?”
But Lala didn’t feel like playing anything.
“No, thank you,” she said softly. “I just wanted to go outside.”
Lulu tilted her head. “But the rain is dancing! Look!” She pointed at the drops making little splashes on the porch.
“I don’t want to dance in the rain,” Lala mumbled. “I want to have our picnic.”
Her mom walked over and wrapped a warm blanket around her shoulders. “It’s okay to feel sad, sweetheart. You were really looking forward to today.”
Lala sniffed. “We worked so hard to plan it. We even made a checklist!”
“I know,” her mom said gently. “Sometimes plans change, and it feels really disappointing. But sometimes… those changes bring surprises too.”
Lala wasn’t sure what kind of surprise a rainy day could bring. All she wanted was sunshine and flowers and fun with Thuy.
Later that morning, there was a knock at the door.
It was Thuy!
She wore a bright yellow raincoat and tiny boots. “Hi, Lala!” she said cheerfully.
Lala managed a small smile. “Hi, Thuy.”
“I know we can’t go to the meadow, but I brought something!” Thuy pulled out a jar filled with tiny paper umbrellas. “We can have a picnic indoors!”
Lala’s eyes widened. “You mean… right here?”
“Why not?” Thuy said with a grin. “We can spread the blanket in the living room, set out our snacks, and pretend we’re in a sunny field!”
Lala’s ears perked up. “That sounds… kind of fun.”
Her mom helped them set up the living room like a magical picnic spot. They turned on a small lamp to make it warm and cozy, played gentle music, and opened the jar of paper umbrellas.
Lala and Thuy laid out the blanket and placed their food in the middle. Lulu joined them too, bringing her stuffed bear named Button.
Soon, the room was filled with laughter and the smell of strawberries.
Lala picked up her sandwich and giggled. “This is not what I expected… but I kind of love it.”
Thuy nodded. “Sometimes rainy days are even better than sunny ones.”
They played games, told stories, and made up a funny song about dancing ducks in the rain. They even made up a new game called “Raindrop Riddles,” where each person had to think of something the rain could remind them of. Lala said, “Raindrops are like little kisses from the clouds.” Everyone agreed that was the best one.
As the afternoon passed, the rain outside continued to fall, but Lala no longer felt gloomy. Instead, she felt warm, happy, and full of giggles.
Later, as the sky began to clear a little, Lala sat by the window again. The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, and everything outside looked shiny and clean.
She whispered to herself, “Maybe rainy days aren’t so bad.”
Her mom came and sat beside her. “Did you have a good day, sweetie?”
Lala nodded. “It was different… but really nice.”
Her mom smiled. “Sometimes when it rains, it’s just the world asking us to slow down and look at things in a new way.”
Lala leaned her head on her mom’s shoulder. “Do you think we can try the picnic again another day?”
“Of course,” Mama Bunny said. “And when we do, it will be even more special.”
Lala smiled. She felt calm and thankful. Even though her plans had changed, the day had turned into something wonderful.
As the last drops of rain fell, Lala looked at the sky and whispered, “Thank you, rain, for reminding me that happiness can still shine, even when the sun doesn’t.”
