It was a bright and sunny afternoon in the peaceful village of Greenleaf. The trees swayed gently in the warm breeze, and birds chirped happily in the distance. Inside a cozy little cottage at the end of the road, Thuy was busy in the kitchen preparing a beautiful fruit platter. Today was special—she was expecting guests.
Thuy was known in the village not only for her kindness but also for her culinary skills. Her fruit platters were a work of art, always colorful, neatly arranged, and filled with the freshest fruits of the season. Today’s platter was no different. She carefully sliced mangoes, arranged strawberries in the shape of flowers, and added juicy grapes, bananas, and a touch of mint to enhance the fragrance.
“Perfect,” Thuy whispered to herself as she placed the final blueberry on the top. She stood back and admired her creation. “The guests will love this.”
Little did she know, someone else had been watching her very closely from the corner of the room—Lala, her mischievous little monkey. Lala had been part of Thuy’s life since she rescued the tiny creature a year ago. Though she loved Lala dearly, the monkey was known for being incredibly curious and occasionally sneaky.
As Thuy stepped out to set the table in the garden, Lala tiptoed into the kitchen. Her big eyes sparkled at the sight of the vibrant fruit platter. The juicy mango slices looked especially tempting. She sniffed the air, her little stomach rumbling.
“Just a little taste,” Lala thought, glancing around to make sure the coast was clear.
Without a second thought, Lala climbed onto the counter and reached for the fruit. First, she took a strawberry—then a grape, then a mango slice. Before she knew it, she had taken more than half of the platter. She giggled with glee, holding a banana like a trophy.
Outside, Thuy had just finished arranging the garden table when she heard the faint clink of a plate from inside.
“That’s odd,” she murmured and walked back in.
Her eyes widened in shock. “LALA!”
The monkey froze, a piece of watermelon hanging from her mouth.
“Did you just eat the fruit platter I made for our guests?” Thuy asked, trying to keep calm.
Lala’s ears drooped. She slowly climbed down from the counter, clutching the half-eaten banana, her expression full of guilt.
Thuy sighed deeply. She wasn’t angry, but she was disappointed. “Lala, I made that for the guests. Now I don’t have anything prepared.”
Lala looked down, ashamed. Then, as if struck by an idea, she ran out of the kitchen.
Thuy watched curiously as Lala darted through the garden, then disappeared into the nearby grove. About ten minutes later, the little monkey returned, holding wild guavas, a bunch of fresh mulberries, and even a papaya that she must have found from the village farm. She laid them gently on the kitchen counter, her eyes pleading for forgiveness.
Thuy couldn’t help but smile. “You brought all this for me?”
Lala nodded eagerly.
“Well,” Thuy chuckled, “maybe we can still make something out of this.”
Together, Thuy and Lala worked side by side. Thuy cleaned and sliced the fruits while Lala carefully arranged them on a new platter. Though it didn’t look quite as polished as the original, there was something special about it. This platter had teamwork, effort, and a big dash of love.
Soon, the guests arrived—neighbors from down the road and a few friends from the village. Everyone gathered around the garden table, laughing and chatting. When Thuy brought out the new fruit platter, she shared the story of how Lala had eaten the first one and tried to make it right.
The guests burst into laughter. “That’s one smart monkey,” said Mr. Binh, one of the village elders.
“And a sneaky one too!” added Auntie Lan.
Lala blushed under all the attention but seemed to enjoy the praise. She sat proudly next to Thuy as everyone enjoyed the fruit she helped gather.
Later that evening, after the guests had left, Thuy sat quietly on the garden bench, watching the sunset. Lala curled up next to her, still holding the last slice of guava.
“You know,” Thuy said softly, “you made a mistake, but you also made it right. That means a lot.”
Lala leaned her head on Thuy’s shoulder.
From that day on, Thuy always made an extra mini fruit plate just for Lala—so she wouldn’t be tempted again. And Lala, though still playful, seemed to understand better the importance of respecting what wasn’t hers.
The story of Lala and the fruit platter quickly spread throughout the village. Children would giggle and ask, “Is Lala the monkey who stole the fruit?” and Thuy would smile and say, “Yes, but she also helped fix the mess she made.”
It became one of those funny, heartwarming tales told again and again. And as for Lala, she grew a little wiser each day—though she never quite lost her love for sweet mangoes.
