It was one of those sweltering afternoons when the sun refused to give anyone a break. The sky shimmered, the cicadas buzzed nonstop, and the leaves on the trees looked too tired to rustle. Even the chickens in the yard hid under the shade of the banana trees, panting in silence.
Lala, a curious and lovable little monkey, was sprawled out on the cool kitchen floor, her belly pressed flat against the tiles. Her usually playful energy had disappeared, melted by the heat like an ice cube left in the sun.
Thuy, her best friend and caretaker, bustled around in the kitchen. She wore a sun hat pushed back on her head and a damp towel around her neck. Despite the heat, Thuy had a mission: to make something delicious.
From her spot on the floor, Lala’s nose twitched. Something sizzled in the frying pan—crispy, salty, and mouthwatering.
“Sniff sniff…” Lala lifted her head and slowly scooted closer to the stove, her big round eyes peeking up at the counter. Thuy was making French fries—Lala’s absolute favorite snack in the whole world.
The oil popped and danced as golden slices of potato turned crisp and crunchy. Thuy hummed a cheerful tune as she sprinkled sea salt over the hot fries and laid them on a plate lined with paper towels. Then, for an extra treat, she added a tiny side of ketchup.
Lala’s stomach gave a loud gurgle.
Thuy turned around and laughed when she saw Lala’s face. The little monkey’s eyes sparkled with longing, and her lips puckered in a hopeful pout.
“Oh, you smelled that, huh?” Thuy teased, holding a fry just out of reach.
Lala jumped up and did her cutest trick—standing on one leg while patting her belly with both hands. Thuy laughed even harder.
“All right, you little rascal. But only if you sit down and wait like a polite lady.”
Lala plopped onto her cushion and folded her hands neatly in her lap, tail twitching with excitement.
Thuy brought over a small bowl filled with a few French fries, cooled just enough for a monkey’s mouth. Lala picked one up delicately and took a bite. Her eyes closed in bliss.
Crunch. Salty, crispy perfection.
The two friends sat together in the shade, sharing fries and sipping on cool coconut water. Lala, now full of energy, chattered happily and playfully tried to steal an extra fry from Thuy’s plate when she wasn’t looking.
“Hey! No sneaky monkey business!” Thuy said, laughing as she gently pushed Lala’s paw away.
As the sun dipped lower and the breeze began to stir again, the heat no longer felt unbearable. With her belly full and her heart happy, Lala leaned against Thuy and sighed.
Sometimes, all it takes to turn a hot, tiring day into a perfect one is a plate of French fries shared with your best friend.
