It was a sunny afternoon in the quiet countryside, and the golden rays of the sun shone brightly over the fields. The air was filled with the scent of ripening crops and the gentle hum of cicadas. Under a shady mango tree near the small kitchen hut, Thuy was trying to prepare boiled corn for her little animal friends. The kitchen was simple—just a clay stove, a few pots, and a stack of dried firewood.
Lala, the mischievous yet kind-hearted little monkey, sat nearby watching curiously. She loved being close to Thuy, who had always cared for her with patience and affection. Today, though, Lala sensed that something was not going quite right.
Thuy wiped sweat from her forehead as she struggled to keep the fire going. The flame kept dying out, and the corn was still hard after almost half an hour. “Why won’t it boil properly?” she muttered to herself, fanning the fire again and again.
Lala tilted her head, watching the pot of corn. She didn’t fully understand what was wrong, but she knew one thing: Thuy needed help.
Determined to be useful, Lala scampered off to find a solution.
The First Attempt: More Firewood
Lala’s first idea was simple: maybe Thuy just needed more wood. She remembered watching how Thuy gathered dry sticks to keep the fire strong. Eagerly, she dashed into the nearby grove, collecting every dry twig and stick she could find. Her tiny arms were full of wood when she returned to the kitchen, dropping them near the stove with a proud chirp.
Thuy turned around, surprised. “Oh! Thank you, Lala!” she said with a smile.
Encouraged, Lala clapped her hands and watched as Thuy added more sticks to the fire. The flame grew bigger, and the pot of corn began to bubble. For a moment, it seemed like everything was going well.
But soon, smoke began to rise too quickly. The fire grew too hot, and Thuy had to remove the pot to prevent it from burning.
“Too much fire,” Thuy sighed. “I need just the right heat.”
Lala frowned. Her first idea didn’t work perfectly—but she wasn’t giving up.
The Second Attempt: Cooling the Pot
Lala scratched her head and thought hard. Maybe the pot itself was getting too hot. So this time, she decided to cool it down. She ran to the nearby water jug, took a leaf, and dipped it in water. Then she carefully dripped the water around the base of the stove, thinking it would help control the fire.
Thuy chuckled softly as she watched Lala’s efforts. “You’re so clever, Lala. But if we cool the fire too much, it won’t cook at all.”
Lala looked disappointed, but Thuy gave her a gentle pat on the head. “I really appreciate your help.”
The little monkey sat down, thinking even harder. There had to be a better way.
The Third Attempt: Asking for Help
Lala remembered something else—whenever Thuy didn’t know how to do something, she asked someone for advice. Lala might not be able to speak like humans, but she could still ask in her own way.
So, Lala ran through the garden until she found their neighbor, Grandma Minh, who often visited Thuy to share recipes and garden tips. Lala tugged gently at her skirt and pointed back toward the house, making her usual chattering sounds.
“Lala? What is it, dear?” the old woman asked kindly.
The little monkey tugged again, and Grandma Minh followed her. When they arrived, Thuy was still struggling with the corn.
“Oh, boiling corn? Let me take a look,” Grandma Minh said. She examined the fire, the pot, and the corn itself.
“You see, Thuy,” she explained, “some corn takes longer to cook if it’s not soaked beforehand. And your firewood is a bit damp. Try using dry coconut husk—it burns steadily.”
Thuy smiled, grateful for the advice. “Thank you, Grandma Minh. And thank you, Lala, for bringing her here!”
Lala grinned and clapped her hands. Her plan had worked!
The Final Success
With the new advice, Thuy made some changes. She swapped out the damp firewood for the dry coconut husk, which burned cleaner and longer. She also added a bit more water to the pot and covered it tightly with a lid to trap the heat.
This time, the pot began to steam evenly. Lala watched with shining eyes as the corn slowly softened and released its sweet aroma into the air. After another 20 minutes, Thuy poked the corn with a stick and smiled. It was finally ready!
She placed the hot, golden cobs on a banana leaf to cool. Then, she broke one in half and offered the smaller piece to Lala, who eagerly accepted it with a joyful squeal.
“Thanks to you, we did it,” Thuy said warmly. “You didn’t give up, Lala. You kept trying and found the perfect way to help.”
Lala sat proudly next to her, munching on the corn, feeling more than just full—she felt proud and happy. Even if she couldn’t speak in words, she had shown her love in action.
A Lesson in Teamwork
That evening, the two of them sat under the stars, enjoying the sweet corn together. The other animals joined in too—Lu the little dog, Mimi the kitten, and even a curious duck. Everyone shared and laughed, unaware of the little trials Lala had gone through earlier.
But Thuy remembered.
She looked at Lala and said, “Sometimes, helping means thinking hard, trying again, and asking for help when needed. You did all that today. I’m so proud of you.”
Lala didn’t need to say anything. Her happy eyes and wagging tail said it all.
From that day on, anytime Thuy was cooking, Lala was by her side—not just as a helper, but as a true partner.
