





The morning sun lit up the green canopy of the small village, casting a golden glow over the peaceful farm where CUTIS, the gentle and ever-curious farmer, lived with his beloved baby monkey, Lu. The two had been inseparable since Lu was rescued as a tiny, frightened infant. Together, they had created a routine full of laughter, snacks, and small adventures around the farm.
But today would be very different.
It all started with a simple ideaâa plan that CUTIS thought would be fun and harmless. âLetâs surprise Yen Nhi,â he whispered to Lu, who blinked his bright eyes and tilted his head in excitement. Yen Nhi, CUTISâs kind-hearted neighbor and Luâs unofficial big sister, had been away for two days visiting family. She always brought Lu a new toy or a special treat. CUTIS thought a surprise welcome gift might make her smile.
So they began their project.
The surprise? A homemade herbal bath using flowers and plants from Yen Nhiâs own garden. CUTIS had seen her preparing herbal baths before and figured he could replicate it. After all, how hard could it be?
âPick only the red flowers,â CUTIS instructed Lu, handing him a small woven basket. Lu squeaked happily and rushed off to the garden, grabbing every red bloom he could find.
What neither of them realized was that Yen Nhiâs garden had a very special organization system. Some of the red flowers were medicinal. Some were just decorative. And one particular red flowerâthe deep crimson âFire Starââwas not meant for baths at all. In fact, it could cause irritation if used on the skin.






By late morning, CUTIS had mixed the herbs and flowers into a big basin of warm water. Lu, excited by the floral aroma, splashed playfully and tossed petals into the air. When CUTIS turned away for a moment to fetch a towel, Lu decided to dunk his head fully into the water.
Within minutes, something felt⊠off.
Lu started scratching behind his ears. Then his belly. Then his arms. His fur puffed up strangely, and little red bumps began to appear.
CUTIS turned around, and his heart dropped.
âOh no⊠LU! Whatâs wrong?â
Lu whimpered, his usual cheerful energy quickly fading. CUTIS panicked. He tried rinsing Lu with fresh water. He even whispered, âIâm sorry, Iâm sorry, Iâm sorry,â over and over like it was a magic spell.
Thatâs when Yen Nhi walked in.
She had returned early, hoping to catch her favorite little monkey before his nap. But what she saw stopped her in her tracks. Her eyes darted from the empty flowerbeds in her garden to the basin of half-used herbs⊠and finally, to Lu, scratching desperately while CUTIS tried to comfort him.







âWhat. Did. You. Do?â Yen Nhiâs voice was low. Dangerous.
CUTIS looked up, guilt flooding his face. âWe were trying to make a surprise bath. I thought it would be fun. I didnât meanââ
âYOU USED THE FIRE STAR FLOWERS?!â she shouted, storming forward and grabbing the basket that still held a few remaining petals. âCUTIS! Those are not meant for skin! Didnât you see the sign I put up?!â
âIâI didnât read itâŠâ
Lu sneezed dramatically, breaking the tension for just a second.
Yen Nhi immediately switched into protective mode. âWe need to clean his skin with aloe and lavender now.â She scooped Lu up carefully, cradling him like a baby. Her face was a storm of emotionsâanger, worry, and disbelief.
As she worked quickly to soothe Luâs irritation, she gave CUTIS the kind of look that could turn milk sour.
âYouâve made some silly mistakes before, but this⊠this could have really hurt him.â
CUTIS was silent. He couldnât even look her in the eyes. He had never felt so foolish.
After applying a cool gel and wrapping Lu in a soft towel, Yen Nhi finally sat down, exhaling hard. Lu seemed calmer now, leaning into her touch and closing his eyes.
âI just wanted to do something nice,â CUTIS said quietly.
âI know,â she replied, her tone softening slightly. âBut when you take care of someoneâor somethingâyou have to learn what youâre doing. Not guess. Especially not when it comes to nature. One mistake can be dangerous.â
CUTIS nodded slowly, his face red with shame.







But Yen Nhi wasnât done.
âI want you to go back to the garden and study every single flower. Learn their names. What they do. What they donât do. And how to use them properly.â
âI will,â he promised.
âAnd,â she added, âyouâre going to help me replant everything you picked. From scratch.â
âYes. Of course. Iâm so sorry, Yen Nhi.â
A tense silence followedâuntil Lu let out a tiny hiccup, followed by a loud toot. CUTIS and Yen Nhi both looked down, startledâthen burst out laughing. Even Lu gave a small monkey chuckle.
âWell,â Yen Nhi said, shaking her head, âat least his sense of humor is still working.â
Over the next few days, CUTIS kept his promise. Under Yen Nhiâs watchful eye, he studied herbs, replanted her garden, and even made flashcards to memorize the flowersâ uses. Lu, meanwhile, made a full recovery and wore a tiny sunhat while âsupervisingâ the garden restoration.
Yen Nhi eventually forgave CUTISâbut not before making him a little sign to wear around his neck that read: âAsk Yen Nhi Before Picking Flowers.â
He wore it proudly for a week.








Moral of the Story:
Even the kindest intentions can lead to mistakes if you act without understanding. Whether youâre caring for a monkey, a garden, or a friendâknowledge, care, and respect matter. Always double-check before you act. And when in doubt? Ask Yen Nhi.