It was a bright and breezy afternoon at the peaceful countryside farm. Birds chirped from the treetops, a gentle wind rustled the tall grass, and the sweet scent of fresh-baked cake filled the air. Thuy had spent the morning in the kitchen, humming cheerfully as she baked a special vanilla cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream.
The cake wasn’t just any ordinary cake—it was for a special occasion. Today marked one year since baby monkey Lu had come to live on the farm. Thuy had planned a little celebration with balloons, music, and treats for all the animals. She especially wanted her two mischievous monkeys, Lala and Lu, to enjoy the party together.
Lala, however, was feeling a little strange. For weeks now, she had noticed that Thuy gave more attention to Lu. It wasn’t anything mean—Thuy loved all her animals—but Lala missed being the center of attention. She missed the days when she would sit on Thuy’s shoulder, cuddle in her lap, and get the biggest banana slices. Now, it seemed like Lu got the softest blankets and the warmest hugs.
And today, when Lala saw the beautiful cake resting on the table, she was sure Thuy had made it just for Lu.
“Humph!” Lala huffed, sitting on the porch railing with her tiny arms crossed.
She peeked through the open kitchen window. Thuy was inside, laughing as she arranged party plates. Lu sat beside her in his little basket, clapping his hands excitedly.
Lala’s stomach rumbled. The cake looked so good. She could see the layers of fluffy sponge, the glossy strawberries, and the thick swirls of whipped cream. Her eyes sparkled with desire.
Then, an idea popped into her clever little head.
“If Thuy wants to give everything to Lu… then maybe I’ll just help myself to a little piece of cake before anyone else gets to it,” she whispered.
Making sure no one was watching, Lala tiptoed along the porch railing. She hopped quietly down onto the soft grass and scurried toward the side of the house. She paused behind a flower pot, then darted behind a watering can. Closer and closer she crept, until she reached the back door, which Thuy had left slightly open.
Lala slipped inside.
The kitchen smelled heavenly. She almost floated across the floor, guided by her nose. There, on the table, was the cake—big, beautiful, and untouched.
“Just a tiny taste,” Lala told herself.
She climbed up a chair and carefully reached the table. She dipped her finger into the whipped cream and licked it.
“MMMM!”
It was better than she had imagined. Creamy, sweet, and fluffy like a cloud. Lala couldn’t stop herself. She grabbed a strawberry and popped it into her mouth. Then she used both hands to scoop up more whipped cream. Soon, she was digging into the cake itself, stuffing her cheeks full of moist vanilla sponge.
Outside, Thuy suddenly noticed the kitchen had gone quiet. Too quiet.
“Where’s Lala?” she asked.
Lu blinked at her with wide eyes. He didn’t know.
Thuy looked around the porch and the yard but saw no sign of her. A sinking feeling hit her. She turned toward the kitchen—and gasped.
There, on the table, sat Lala, her face buried in the middle of the cake. Cream covered her nose. Strawberries stuck to her fur. The beautiful cake was half-eaten and completely ruined.
“LALA!” Thuy cried.
Lala jumped in surprise, a large chunk of cake falling from her mouth. She froze, mid-bite.
Thuy marched over, trying not to laugh at how silly Lala looked, even though she was upset. “That cake was for everyone, Lala! And you sneaked away without telling me!”
Lala looked down, ashamed. Her tail drooped. She hadn’t meant to ruin the celebration. She just felt left out.
Seeing Lala’s sad eyes, Thuy took a deep breath and softened. “Come here, you silly monkey.”
Lala slowly reached out, and Thuy picked her up, brushing cake crumbs from her fur. “You don’t have to sneak around, Lala. I still love you just as much. But it’s important to share.”
Lu peeked into the kitchen, saw Lala in Thuy’s arms, and let out a curious little squeak. Thuy put Lala down, and the two monkeys stared at each other.
Lala shuffled over to Lu, still feeling guilty. Then, she did something surprising—she picked up an untouched strawberry and offered it to Lu.
Lu grinned and accepted the treat happily. Then he patted Lala’s head.
Just like that, the tension melted.
“Looks like we’ll need a new cake,” Thuy said with a laugh.
She put the monkeys in their playpen and got back to work, this time making a smaller cake with banana slices—both Lala’s and Lu’s favorite.
Later that evening, the party resumed. Balloons floated above the porch, music played from a little radio, and all the animals gathered for a wonderful time. There were apples for the goats, carrots for the bunnies, and fresh corn for the chickens. And for the stars of the day—Lala and Lu—there was a brand-new banana cake.
This time, Lala didn’t sneak. She waited patiently with Lu by her side, and when Thuy gave them each a slice, she grinned happily.
“See?” Thuy said, stroking Lala’s back. “It’s more fun when we share.”
Lala nodded, licking whipped cream from her fingers. Maybe she had learned her lesson. Or maybe she was just too full to sneak away again.
Either way, that night, as the sun set and the sky turned pink, Lala curled up next to Lu in their little nest, their bellies full and their hearts even fuller.
And from the kitchen, Thuy smiled as she cleaned up, already planning her next baking adventure—this time, maybe something chocolate.
