One warm and sunny afternoon, the house was unusually quiet. Thuy, who was busy folding laundry in the backyard, noticed something strange—there was no sign of Lala. Normally, the adorable little monkey was always nearby, either clinging to Thuy’s side, jumping around with the children, or pulling silly antics to get attention. But today, Lala had disappeared.
“Lala?” Thuy called out softly. There was no answer, only the distant chirping of birds and the soft rustling of the trees. She put down the basket of freshly folded towels and began looking around the yard. “Lala! Where are you?”
Meanwhile, Lala was having a moment of discomfort. She had been feeling itchy all morning. Her little hands kept scratching at her back, belly, and arms. No matter how she twisted or turned, the itching wouldn’t go away. It wasn’t painful, just irritating. She had seen Thuy bathe her many times before, rubbing her fur with sweet-smelling soap and rinsing her off gently with warm water. Maybe—just maybe—she could do it herself?
With a curious but determined sparkle in her eye, Lala made her way toward the bathroom. The door had been left slightly ajar. She pushed it open, peeking around cautiously to make sure no one was watching. The coast was clear.
Lala climbed onto the stool near the sink and grabbed the plastic bucket that Thuy often used for her baths. She then clumsily turned on the faucet, letting the water fill up the bucket. It splashed a little, wetting her fur, which made her giggle. She didn’t realize she was already getting started!
She dipped her tiny hand into the water and splashed some onto her chest. The coolness made her squeal with delight. Next, she reached for the bottle of baby shampoo—her favorite one with the smiling duck on the label. The bottle was a bit slippery, and she struggled to squeeze just the right amount onto her fur. A giant glob splashed onto her head, but Lala didn’t mind. She loved the bubbles.
Soon, the entire bathroom was filled with squeaky sounds, playful giggles, and a wet, happy monkey trying her best to scrub herself. She mimicked Thuy’s movements, rubbing her arms, belly, legs, and even behind her ears. The shampoo made a huge foam crown on her head, which she proudly admired in the bathroom mirror. Then, she carefully rinsed herself off with water from the bucket, doing her best to wash away all the bubbles.
Outside, Thuy was getting worried. She looked under the porch, behind the plants, and even inside the kitchen. But there was still no sign of Lala. Her heart started to beat faster. “Oh no… did she sneak outside the gate again?” Thuy rushed toward the front entrance, calling out Lala’s name louder this time.
But just as she reached for the gate, she heard an odd noise from the bathroom—a splash, followed by a high-pitched squeak and more giggles. Thuy froze. Could it be?
She turned back, opened the bathroom door, and gasped.
There, standing triumphantly in a puddle of water and foam, was Lala. She was dripping wet, her fur slicked back and shining. Bubbles floated in the air. The floor was a complete mess—shampoo trails, water splashes, and a soaked towel lying in a heap. But in the middle of the chaos was Lala, smiling proudly, as if she had just won a medal.
“Lala!” Thuy cried, shocked and amused at the same time. “What are you doing?”
Lala blinked and let out a happy little squeal, then pointed to her clean arms and shiny legs. She gave a little twirl, clearly pleased with herself.
“You gave yourself a bath? All by yourself?” Thuy stepped closer, still trying to comprehend what she was seeing.
Lala nodded confidently, then reached for the towel, trying to wrap it around her tiny body. Of course, she tangled herself up and nearly fell over, which made Thuy burst out laughing.
“Oh, my silly girl! You really surprised me!”
Thuy couldn’t stop smiling as she knelt down and helped Lala wrap the towel properly. “I was so worried! And here you were, being independent and… very messy!”
Lala leaned into Thuy, enjoying the warmth of the towel and the gentle drying strokes. Her itchiness was completely gone now, and she felt fresh, proud, and very grown-up.
Thuy scooped her up and sat on the bed with her, still chuckling. “You’re growing up so fast, Lala. But next time, please tell me before you try something like this, okay? What if you slipped or got shampoo in your eyes?”
Lala nodded obediently, then patted Thuy’s cheek lovingly. She didn’t mean to worry anyone—she just wanted to stop the itching and feel nice and clean like she always did after Thuy bathed her.
Later that afternoon, Thuy couldn’t wait to tell the others. She recorded a short video of Lala sitting proudly with a towel on her head and a big, cheeky grin on her face. “Guess who decided to bathe herself today?” Thuy laughed in the video. “And gave me a heart attack in the process!”
The video went viral among their friends and family, with comments like “So smart!” and “Little Lala is growing up!” pouring in. People couldn’t believe how clever and brave the little monkey was.
That evening, Thuy prepared a special treat for Lala—fresh banana slices and a warm bottle of milk. “For my brave, independent girl,” she said with a wink. Lala happily munched on her snack, clearly enjoying the attention and praise.
Before bedtime, Thuy made sure to clean up the bathroom properly and lay out fresh towels for the next day. But she also installed a small lock a little higher on the bathroom door—just in case Lala got another bright idea.
As Lala drifted off to sleep in Thuy’s arms, her soft fur smelling faintly of baby shampoo, Thuy kissed her forehead and whispered, “You really are full of surprises, my sweet girl.”
And with that, the house returned to peace, at least for the night—because with Lala around, there was always another adventure waiting just around the corner.
