It was a bright and sunny morning at the little farm where Lala, the playful golden dog, lived. The birds were chirping cheerfully, the butterflies were dancing above the flowers, and the warm breeze carried the scent of mango blossoms. But Lala wasn’t feeling as cheerful as usual. She lay under the shade of a banana tree, scratching her side and frowning.
“Why am I so itchy today?” she groaned, rubbing her back against the trunk. “It feels like a thousand tiny bugs are tickling me!”
Her best friend, a mischievous little monkey named Cutis, watched her from a nearby fence. “Lala, you look like you’re trying to scratch a hole in that tree!” he laughed, jumping down beside her.
Lala sighed, flicking her tail. “I don’t know what’s wrong, Cutis. My skin feels itchy and dry. Maybe it’s the heat, or maybe the dust from running around the field yesterday.”
Cutis tilted his head thoughtfully. “Hmm, when I feel itchy, I take a bath. Maybe you need one too!”
Lala’s ears perked up. “A bath? But I don’t like baths with soap and buckets. They make my fur all flat!”
Cutis grinned mischievously. “I wasn’t talking about soap! I meant swimming in the pond. The cool water will make you feel better!”
Lala blinked. “Swimming?” The idea made her tail wag a little. She hadn’t gone swimming in a while. The pond was a peaceful, sparkly place surrounded by green bamboo and lotus flowers. Just the thought of splashing around sounded fun and refreshing.
So without another thought, Lala jumped up. “Let’s go!”
Cutis clapped his tiny hands in excitement. “Race you there!”
And just like that, the golden dog and the little monkey dashed through the garden, their laughter echoing in the air. Lala’s fur shimmered in the sunlight as she ran past the tall grass. Cutis swung from low branches, using shortcuts only a monkey could find. When they reached the pond, both of them were panting, but smiling from ear to ear.
The pond looked magical that morning. The water sparkled like blue glass, and dragonflies hovered above it like tiny helicopters. The air was cool and smelled faintly of wet earth and lotus blossoms.
Lala leaned forward and dipped her paw into the water. “Ahh! It’s cool!” she said with a happy sigh. “This feels perfect.”
Cutis nodded eagerly. “Told you! Come on, jump in!”
With a joyful bark, Lala leaped straight into the pond—splash! Water went flying everywhere, drenching the grass and even Cutis, who yelped and wiped his face.
“Hey! You got me all wet!” Cutis protested, but then he laughed and jumped in after her.
The two friends played and splashed together. Lala paddled around in circles, her golden fur glimmering under the water. She felt the itchiness slowly fade away as the cool water soothed her skin. She rolled and dived, sending ripples across the pond, while Cutis floated on a lotus leaf, pretending to be a sailor.
“This feels amazing!” Lala barked, shaking her fur and making tiny rainbows in the sunlight. “Why didn’t I think of this before?”
Cutis giggled. “See? I’m a genius! Swimming is the best cure for everything—itchiness, boredom, and even grumpiness!”
Lala laughed. “You’re right, Cutis! I feel so much better now. My fur feels fresh, and my skin isn’t itchy anymore!”
After a while, the two floated quietly, enjoying the gentle sound of the wind in the trees. A family of ducks swam by, quacking curiously at the unusual visitors. Lala smiled and waved her tail.
“Hello there, ducks! Don’t mind us—we’re just cooling off!”
The mother duck gave a polite quack and continued gliding with her ducklings following behind her in a neat little line.
Soon, Cutis spotted a group of tiny fish swimming near Lala’s paws. “Look, Lala! The fish are saying hello to you!”
Lala peered down into the water, her eyes wide. “Oh, they’re so small and shiny! Hello, little fishies!”
The fish darted around her paws, nibbling softly. It tickled, and Lala laughed so hard that she splashed again, sending waves across the pond.
Cutis tried to climb onto a floating log to dry off a little, but it flipped over, sending him tumbling into the water again. “Whoa! That wasn’t part of the plan!” he shouted, spluttering.
Lala couldn’t stop laughing. “You’re such a silly monkey!”
They played until the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The water reflected the colors like liquid fire, and the air was filled with the sounds of crickets and frogs beginning their evening songs.
Lala finally paddled to the edge of the pond and climbed out, shaking her body vigorously. Water droplets flew everywhere, making Cutis giggle again.
“Ahhh… that was so good,” Lala sighed contentedly, lying down on the soft grass. “No more itching, no more discomfort. Just peace and coolness.”
Cutis joined her, stretching out beside her with his hands behind his head. “Told you swimming was magic!”
Lala nodded. “You were right, Cutis. Maybe I should swim more often. It’s fun, and it keeps my fur shiny and clean.”
“Exactly!” Cutis said proudly. “Next time, we should invite the others—Bon, Sumi, and even the baby monkey. It’ll be like a pool party!”
Lala wagged her tail happily. “That sounds perfect. We can bring coconuts and bananas for snacks!”
As they rested, a soft breeze blew across the pond, carrying the scent of lotus and the distant laughter of children playing. Lala closed her eyes, feeling the calmness wash over her. The day had started with discomfort, but now it had ended in joy and relaxation.
She thought about how sometimes, the simplest things—like a cool swim or a laugh with a friend—could turn a bad day into a beautiful one.
When the stars began to twinkle above, Lala and Cutis made their way back home. The path glowed softly under the moonlight, and fireflies blinked like tiny lanterns around them. Lala felt light and happy, her fur gently rustling in the night breeze.
At home, their owner Yen Nhi smiled when she saw them returning. “Lala, Cutis! You both look so clean and fresh! Did you go swimming?”
Lala barked proudly, wagging her tail. Cutis nodded. “She felt itchy, so we went to the pond! Now she’s all better!”
Yen Nhi laughed. “Good job, you two. Swimming really helps. Now come here—you deserve some dinner.”
They ate together under the warm glow of the kitchen light, happy and full of stories about the day’s adventures.
That night, as Lala curled up in her bed, she felt completely relaxed. No more itching, no more fussing—just comfort and peace.
Before drifting to sleep, she whispered softly to herself, “Whenever I feel itchy again, I’ll remember today… and go for a nice swim.”
Outside, the pond shimmered under the moonlight, quietly waiting for the next day’s adventure.
And that’s how Lala discovered that sometimes, the best way to feel better is simply to splash, laugh, and let the water wash your worries away. 🌿🐾💦
