It was a bright, peaceful afternoon in the little house near the banana grove, and Xuxu the baby monkey was up to her usual tricks. She had just finished eating a slice of watermelon, leaving pink juice smeared all over her tiny hands, face, and even her belly. Her fur was sticky, her tail matted, and her little feet left watermelon prints all over the kitchen floor. Mom, who had just finished hanging the laundry, took one look at her messy baby and sighed lovingly.
“Xuxu, look at you!” Mom said with a gentle laugh. “You’re such a sweet little monkey, but you’re as sticky as candy!”
Hearing the word bath, Xuxu’s eyes widened. She looked at Mom with an expression that said, Oh no, not again! Bath time was always a funny adventure in their home. Sometimes Xuxu loved splashing water everywhere; other times she tried to escape before the water even touched her fur.
Mom began to fill the baby tub with warm water. The sound of running water made Xuxu’s ears perk up. She peeked over the edge of the tub, curious but cautious. The water looked shiny and inviting, but Xuxu wasn’t ready to get in just yet.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Mom cooed, holding out her hands. “It’s just warm water. You’ll feel so fresh and clean after this.”
But Xuxu had other ideas. She darted behind the sofa, holding her little towel like a flag of rebellion. Her tail flicked nervously as she peeked out, watching Mom pretend to search.
“Oh, where’s my little monkey?” Mom said in a playful tone, pretending not to see her. “Did she disappear? Hmm, maybe I’ll have to bathe the teddy bear instead.”
Hearing that, Xuxu couldn’t help but giggle. She peeked her head out a little too far, and Mom caught her! With a gentle swoop, Mom lifted her up and kissed her forehead.
“There you are, my silly girl,” she said softly. “No escaping today.”
Xuxu squeaked a few protest sounds but soon relaxed in Mom’s arms. The warmth of her mother’s touch always made her feel safe. Slowly, Mom lowered Xuxu into the water. The little monkey tensed for a moment, then relaxed as the warm water surrounded her.
“Ooh, see? Not bad at all,” Mom said with a smile, gently splashing water over Xuxu’s shoulders.
The baby monkey blinked, then reached out to touch the bubbles forming in the tub. Her tiny fingers tried to grab them, but they popped instantly, making her giggle. Mom couldn’t help laughing too — that sound of pure joy always melted her heart.
“Okay, my bubble chaser,” Mom said, picking up a soft sponge. “Let’s clean that sticky fur.”
She gently lathered the sponge with baby shampoo and began to scrub Xuxu’s arms. Xuxu watched, curious about the foam appearing on her fur. She dipped her hands into the bubbles and tried to make more herself. When Mom rubbed shampoo on her head, Xuxu squinted her eyes tight and made a funny face.
“Hold still, baby, we don’t want soap in your eyes,” Mom said softly.
But Xuxu wriggled playfully, splashing water everywhere. The water hit Mom’s face, and she gasped dramatically. “Oh! Did you splash me, naughty girl?”
Xuxu clapped her wet hands and laughed again. She loved seeing Mom smile. Soon, Mom decided to turn bath time into a game. She filled a small cup with water and poured it slowly over Xuxu’s back, saying, “Rain is falling! The little monkey is in the jungle!”
Hearing that, Xuxu joined in the imagination. She raised her little arms and pretended to dance in the rain. The two of them laughed and played as the “rain” poured down again and again.
When the cleaning was done, Mom rinsed off the last of the soap and lifted Xuxu out of the tub. She wrapped her in a fluffy pink towel and cuddled her close. Xuxu snuggled into Mom’s chest, her eyes half-closed from warmth and comfort.
“You smell so good now, baby,” Mom whispered. “No more sticky monkey.”
Xuxu made a soft purring sound, like a kitten, and nuzzled closer. Her little tail flicked happily under the towel.
Mom sat down on the bed and began gently drying her. “Look at this fur, so shiny now,” she said, combing through it with her fingers. Xuxu relaxed completely, enjoying every second. Bath time always ended this way — calm, cozy, full of love.
When Xuxu was completely dry, Mom helped her put on her tiny yellow shirt, the one with the cartoon banana on it. Xuxu looked at her reflection in the mirror and touched the picture, chirping softly as if to say, That’s me!
After the bath, it was snack time. Mom brought a small bowl of fruit — banana slices, apple pieces, and a little bit of mango. Xuxu’s eyes sparkled, and she clapped her hands. She sat on Mom’s lap, eating each piece carefully, making tiny happy sounds with every bite.
Mom stroked her back and said, “See, bath time isn’t so bad when you behave. You smell clean, you’re soft, and now you get to eat your favorite fruit.”
Xuxu nodded as if she understood. Then, she reached up and gently touched Mom’s cheek with her damp little hand — a sweet thank you.
That tender moment made Mom’s eyes misty. “Oh, my little one,” she whispered. “You may be mischievous, but you have the kindest heart.”
As the afternoon sun began to fade, Mom took Xuxu outside to sit under the mango tree. The breeze was gentle, and Xuxu rested her head on Mom’s shoulder, still smelling faintly of baby shampoo.
Birds sang from the branches above, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the quiet air. Xuxu’s eyes slowly closed. Bath time had tired her out, and now she was drifting into a peaceful nap.
Mom rocked her gently, humming a soft tune. “Sleep well, my clean little monkey,” she whispered.
As Xuxu slept, a small smile stayed on her face — maybe she was dreaming of splashing bubbles or dancing in the make-believe jungle rain again.
Mom watched her baby with a heart full of love and pride. Life with Xuxu wasn’t always easy — there were messy meals, broken cups, and endless chases around the house. But moments like these, when love and laughter filled the air, made everything worth it.
Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the crickets began to sing, Mom tucked Xuxu into her little blanket. The baby monkey stirred briefly, reached for Mom’s hand, and then went back to sleep, comforted by her mother’s warmth.
Mom smiled softly. “Goodnight, Xuxu,” she said. “Tomorrow we’ll play again, but no more sticky watermelon before bath time, okay?”
Of course, Xuxu didn’t hear her — she was already deep in her dreams, her little chest rising and falling peacefully.
And so ended another lovely day in their small home — a day full of mischief, laughter, bubbles, and love. Because every bath, every cuddle, and every tiny giggle reminded Mom of just how precious her baby Xuxu was. ❤️🐒🛁
