It was a hot and sunny afternoon in the countryside, and little Lala the monkey was feeling playful and energetic. The sun was shining high in the sky, the birds were chirping, and the sound of the river nearby was calling her name. But there was one small problem—Thuy.
Thuy was Lala’s kind and caring guardian, a gentle young woman who always looked after her. She made sure Lala was clean, well-fed, and safe. But today, Lala didn’t feel like being watched. She had a special plan: she wanted to sneak away and go swimming in the river with her favorite red swimming ball.
Earlier in the morning, Thuy had told Lala not to go near the river by herself. “The water can be dangerous,” Thuy warned. “If you want to swim, wait for me and I’ll go with you.”
But Lala, being her cheeky and curious self, didn’t want to wait. She knew exactly where the swimming ball was—hidden behind the wooden bench near the big mango tree. And she had been watching Thuy closely all morning, waiting for the perfect moment to sneak away.
Thuy was busy sweeping the front yard when Lala made her move. She tiptoed quietly across the back garden, staying low and silent like a little ninja. She paused behind a bush to make sure Thuy wasn’t looking. Then, with a burst of excitement, she dashed toward the mango tree, grabbed her swimming ball, and ran straight toward the river.
As she got closer, the scent of water and fresh grass filled her nose. The river sparkled under the sunlight, and it looked even more beautiful than she remembered. Lala couldn’t help but laugh with joy. She had made it!
She rolled her swimming ball into the shallow part of the river and jumped in. Splash! The cool water felt amazing against her fur. She floated on her back, kicked her feet, and bounced around with the ball. Lala was having the time of her life.
Back at the house, Thuy finished sweeping and called out, “Lala? Where are you?” She checked under the porch, behind the trees, and even in the kitchen. But Lala was nowhere to be seen. That’s when she noticed something strange—Lala’s red swimming ball was gone.
“Oh no,” Thuy whispered. “She went to the river!”
Worried, Thuy dropped everything and rushed down the path to the riverbank. Her heart was pounding as she searched for her little monkey. “Lala! Lala!” she called out. But there was no answer—just the sound of splashing water in the distance.
Meanwhile, Lala was still having fun. She climbed onto the swimming ball and tried to balance like a circus performer. She giggled and squealed each time she slipped and fell into the water. She didn’t notice Thuy approaching until she heard her name echo across the river.
“LALA!”
Lala turned around with wide eyes. There was Thuy, standing at the edge of the water with her hands on her hips. She didn’t look angry, but she definitely didn’t look happy either.
Lala froze for a second, unsure of what to do. Then, she did the only thing she could think of—she ducked under the water and tried to hide behind the ball.
But Thuy saw her little ears sticking out. “Lala, I see you,” she said with a sigh.
Slowly, Lala floated back to shore, dragging the swimming ball behind her. She climbed out of the water and looked up at Thuy with guilty eyes.
Thuy knelt down and gently wiped the water from Lala’s face with her scarf. “You know you’re not supposed to swim alone, sweetie,” she said softly. “What if something happened to you?”
Lala looked down at her feet and fidgeted with a leaf. She didn’t mean to worry Thuy—she just wanted to have fun.
Thuy saw the sadness on Lala’s face and smiled. “I’m not mad, Lala. But next time, you have to wait for me. Promise?”
Lala nodded slowly, then reached out and gave Thuy a tight hug. Her wet arms wrapped around Thuy’s neck, and the two of them sat by the water, watching the swimming ball drift slowly in the current.
After a few moments, Thuy said, “Well, since we’re already here… do you want to swim together for a little while?”
Lala’s eyes lit up. She clapped her hands and jumped with excitement. “Yes! Yes!”
With Thuy by her side, Lala splashed back into the river. The two of them played together with the swimming ball, floating, laughing, and enjoying the sunshine. Thuy even taught Lala how to paddle in circles and make little whirlpools.
They stayed in the water for nearly an hour, and Lala felt happier than ever. Not only did she get to swim with her ball, but now she also knew that things were even more fun when shared with someone who loved her.
As the sun began to dip low on the horizon, painting the sky with orange and pink, Thuy said it was time to go home. Lala held onto her swimming ball and walked beside her, tired but full of joy.
When they reached the house, Thuy wrapped Lala in a warm towel and dried her off. She gave her a mango treat and a big hug before tucking her into her cozy bed.
That night, Lala fell asleep dreaming of swimming and sunshine. And in her dream, she wasn’t hiding from Thuy anymore. Instead, they were swimming together, side by side, with the red ball bouncing on the waves between them.
