It was a bright morning in the village, and the birds chirped sweet songs as the sun peeked gently over the hills. Lala, a little monkey with soft golden-brown fur and big round eyes, stretched her arms and let out a yawn. She was excited for the day. It was her favorite day of the week—picnic day with her best friends, Lu and Thuy!
Lala jumped down from her tree branch and scampered into her cozy hut. She looked around for her favorite outfit: a pink dress with little white flowers. It was the one she always wore on special days. She found it neatly folded and slipped it over her head. But something felt… strange.
“Why is it so tight?” Lala muttered, tugging at the sleeves. The dress clung to her arms and squeezed her tummy. She turned around to look in the mirror and gasped. Rrrrip! A loud tearing sound echoed through the room.
“No!” Lala cried out. Her beautiful pink dress had torn at the side. She looked down and saw that the fabric around her waist was stretched too tightly. She felt a rush of heat in her cheeks. Why didn’t it fit anymore?
Lala quickly tried on another outfit—a yellow shirt and green shorts. But the same thing happened. The shorts were too snug, and when she bent down to tie her shoes, rrrip!—the seams burst. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “These clothes used to fit just fine. What happened?”
Lala sat down on her little wooden stool, confused and sad. She thought about the last few weeks. She had been eating lots of sweet bananas, coconut cakes, and Thuy’s delicious honey pies. She’d also been napping more and swinging through the trees less. Could that be the reason?
Just then, Lu peeked his head into her hut. “Lala! Are you ready? Thuy made mango juice and carrot sandwiches!”
Lala quickly wiped her tears and tried to smile. “I… I don’t think I can come.”
“Why not?” Lu asked, stepping closer. “Are you sick?”
Lala hesitated. She didn’t want to tell him. She felt embarrassed. “My clothes don’t fit,” she finally whispered. “They’re all too tight… and some are even torn.”
Lu’s eyes widened. “Oh no! Did something happen to them?”
“I think I’ve grown… bigger,” Lala said, her voice trembling. “And now I don’t know what to do.”
Lu sat down beside her and gently placed a paw on her shoulder. “Lala, it’s okay. You’re still you. Clothes can be fixed or replaced. But your smile is the best part of you—and I miss it right now.”
Lala smiled a little at that.
Lu had an idea. “Come with me to Thuy’s. We’ll figure something out together. I promise.”
Lala nodded, though she was still nervous. She put on the least tight outfit she could find—an old, stretchy dress—and followed Lu through the trees to Thuy’s place.
Thuy was setting up a picnic under a big mango tree when she saw Lala approach.
“Lala! You came!” she cheered. But then she noticed Lala’s quiet face. “Is something wrong?”
Lala took a deep breath and told Thuy everything—the tight clothes, the tears, and how confused and sad she felt.
Thuy listened carefully and then hugged her. “Lala, bodies change sometimes. Maybe you’ve grown a little. Or maybe you’ve been enjoying too many tasty treats,” she said with a giggle. “But that’s not a bad thing.”
Lala blinked. “It’s not?”
“Not at all!” Thuy smiled. “We can make new clothes that fit you perfectly. And maybe add some playtime to our days to help you feel more comfortable again.”
Lala’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Of course!” Thuy pulled out a small sewing kit. “Let’s fix the dress that tore and even make some new outfits with extra stretchy fabric. We can make them colorful and fun!”
For the rest of the morning, Thuy sewed, Lu collected flowers and ribbons, and Lala helped design her new clothes. They made a bright blue dress with daisies, a pair of comfy red pants with a stretchy waistband, and even a fun party hat for future picnics.
As they worked, Lala felt her sadness melt away. She realized that it was okay to feel confused sometimes—and it was even better to talk to friends who cared.
After the clothes were ready, they all sat down to enjoy the picnic. Lala sipped mango juice and laughed as Lu tried to juggle three coconuts. She felt happy again—not just because of her new clothes, but because she understood her body a little better, and she knew her friends loved her no matter what.
From that day on, Lala started to play more, swing through the trees, and help Thuy in the garden. She still enjoyed sweet treats, but balanced them with play and laughter.
And every time she looked in the mirror, wearing her new clothes that fit just right, she smiled—not just at how she looked, but at how she felt: confident, joyful, and loved.
