The morning sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, painting golden stripes across the bedroom floor. Baby monkey Lala stirred under her blanket, her tail twitching slightly as she woke up. She stretched her little arms wide and gave a sleepy yawn, blinking at the bright day ahead. It was an ordinary morning—or so she thought.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Mom called from the kitchen, her voice warm and cheerful. “Come here, Lala! I have something special for you!”
Lala’s ears perked up instantly. Something special? Her sleepy eyes widened, and excitement began to bubble inside her. She jumped out of bed and scampered toward the kitchen, her little feet padding quickly on the wooden floor.
When she reached the kitchen, she saw Mom standing beside a big, colorful basket placed right on the table. The basket was wrapped in shiny paper and tied with a pink ribbon that sparkled in the sunlight. Lala gasped and clapped her tiny hands together.
“Mama! What’s that?” she asked, her eyes round as marbles.
Mom smiled and winked. “It’s for you, my little monkey. You’ve been such a good girl lately—helping me clean up, eating your fruits, and being kind to your friends. So, I wanted to surprise you.”
Lala’s mouth dropped open. Her tail curled around her leg, trembling with excitement. “For me? All that?”
“Yes,” Mom said gently, setting the basket on the floor so Lala could open it. “Go ahead, open it and see what’s inside.”
Lala hesitated for a moment, almost afraid it was too good to be true. Then she carefully untied the ribbon, her small fingers working quickly. When the bow came undone, the wrapping paper fluttered away—and what she saw made her jump up with pure joy.
Inside the basket were three amazing gifts—each one better than the last.
The first thing Lala pulled out was a tiny yellow dress with ruffles and a bow at the collar. The fabric was soft and light, covered in bright sunflower prints. She squealed in delight and hugged the dress tightly. “It’s so beautiful, Mama! I love it!”
Mom chuckled softly. “I thought you might. You always stop to look at the sunflowers by the garden, so I picked something that would remind you of them.”
Lala twirled around holding the dress up against herself, imagining how she would look wearing it. She couldn’t wait to show it to her friends—especially Baby Cutis and Cici, who loved playing dress-up.
Then, she reached into the basket again and pulled out the second gift—a fluffy white teddy bear with a pink ribbon tied around its neck. It was almost as big as Lala herself! She hugged it tightly and rubbed her face against its soft fur.
“Ohh, Mama, it’s so soft! What’s its name?” Lala asked eagerly.
Mom smiled. “You can name it whatever you like. It’s yours.”
Lala thought for a moment, her brow furrowed. Then her face brightened. “I’ll call her Mimi! She’ll be my best friend!”
She hugged Mimi again, giggling as if the bear could feel her joy. She even made Mimi wave at Mom. “Say thank you, Mama!” she said in a funny voice, pretending to speak for her new toy.
Mom laughed heartily. “You’re very welcome, Mimi and Lala!”
But there was still one more surprise. Mom gently nudged the basket closer. “There’s something else, dear. Look inside the little box at the bottom.”
Lala’s curiosity grew even more. She dug through the tissue paper and found a small box wrapped in shiny blue foil. Carefully, she opened it—and her eyes widened in wonder.
Inside was a tiny silver bracelet with a charm shaped like a heart. The heart had her name engraved on it—Lala.
“Mama…” Lala whispered, holding the bracelet carefully. “It has my name on it.”
Mom nodded, her eyes soft. “Yes, sweetie. I wanted you to have something special that reminds you of how loved you are. Whenever you wear it, remember that Mama is always with you.”
For a moment, Lala couldn’t speak. Her chest felt warm, and her little eyes sparkled with tears of happiness. Then she leapt into her mother’s arms and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Mama! I love you so, so much!”
Mom smiled and stroked her head. “I love you too, my precious girl.”
After the emotional moment, Lala couldn’t stop herself from running around the house, showing off her gifts. She wore her sunflower dress proudly, the skirt swishing as she twirled. On her wrist sparkled the bracelet, and in her arms, she carried Mimi everywhere she went.
When her friends Cutis, Bon, and Cici came over later that day, Lala greeted them excitedly.
“Look, everyone! Mama gave me gifts!” she said, spinning around to show off the dress.
Cici gasped. “Wow, you look like a little princess, Lala!”
Bon nodded in agreement. “That dress is so pretty! And that teddy bear looks super soft!”
Lala beamed with pride. “This is Mimi! She’s my new best friend. And look—Mama even gave me this bracelet with my name on it!” She lifted her tiny wrist for everyone to see.
Cutis smiled. “Your mom must love you a lot.”
Lala nodded happily. “She really does. I was so surprised when I saw everything this morning. I didn’t even know she was planning it!”
The friends decided to have a little picnic outside to celebrate Lala’s special gifts. They spread a blanket under the big mango tree, and Mom brought out some snacks—fresh fruit, little sandwiches, and juice.
As they ate, Lala proudly passed Mimi around for everyone to hug. Even Bon, who usually preferred running and playing rough, held the teddy bear gently.
Later, Lala danced in her sunflower dress while everyone clapped. Her laughter echoed through the yard, pure and joyful. The silver bracelet glimmered in the sunlight, catching everyone’s eye.
Mom watched from the porch, smiling at her daughter’s happiness. It wasn’t the gifts themselves that mattered—it was the love and surprise behind them. Seeing Lala’s excitement made every effort worth it.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, Lala snuggled up next to Mom with Mimi in her arms. “Mama,” she said softly, “this has been the best day ever.”
Mom smiled and kissed her forehead. “I’m glad you liked your surprises, sweetheart.”
“I loved them all,” Lala whispered. “But the best gift is you, Mama.”
Mom’s heart melted. She wrapped her arms around Lala, holding her close as the evening breeze gently rustled the trees. “And you, my little monkey, are the best gift I could ever have.”
Lala closed her eyes, smiling contentedly. The bracelet on her wrist caught the last ray of sunlight, shining like a promise—a promise of love, warmth, and memories she would never forget.
That night, as Lala drifted to sleep with Mimi beside her, she whispered one last “thank you” into the dark. Her dreams were filled with sunflowers, laughter, and the endless love between a mother and her child.
