It was a warm and sunny afternoon at the countryside home of little Bibi and his Uncle Phong. The birds chirped happily outside, and the soft breeze rustled the leaves of the mango tree near the porch. Inside the house, Bibi, a curious and energetic little boy of six years old, sat watching his uncle from the window. Uncle Phong, dressed in his old blue overalls, was crouched beside the family’s old pickup truck, tools in hand, trying to fix a rattling noise that had been bothering him all week.
Bibi admired his uncle. Uncle Phong was kind, strong, and could fix almost anything—from broken toys to the wobbly legs of the dining table. Today, however, Bibi had a different kind of plan. As he looked at the clock on the wall, his stomach gave a little grumble.
“I’m hungry,” Bibi mumbled to himself, rubbing his belly.
Then, like a lightbulb switching on, he got an idea. “Sweet potatoes!” he said aloud, clapping his hands. “I’ll go to the kitchen and cook sweet potatoes by myself!”
Bibi had watched Uncle Phong roast sweet potatoes many times before. They would wash the tubers, wrap them in foil, and place them in the small oven until the kitchen filled with a warm, sugary smell. Bibi knew how delicious they turned out—and he was determined to do it on his own this time.
Step One: Gathering the Potatoes
Bibi slipped off the couch and tiptoed to the kitchen. He knew he didn’t need to ask permission—Uncle Phong was busy with the car, and Bibi believed he was grown up enough to handle this small task.
He opened the wooden cupboard beneath the sink and pulled out the basket of sweet potatoes. They were covered in a bit of dirt, just like the ones he and Uncle Phong dug up in the garden last week. Bibi chose three of the plumpest ones, proud of his selection.
Step Two: Washing
He dragged a stool over to the sink, climbed up carefully, and turned on the tap. Cold water rushed out, splashing slightly on his shirt. Giggling, Bibi began to scrub the sweet potatoes, just like he had seen his uncle do.
“Scrub-a-dub-dub,” he sang softly, “make the dirt go down the drain!”
After a few minutes of careful washing, the sweet potatoes looked shiny and clean. Bibi dried them with a towel and placed them neatly on a plate.
Step Three: Wrapping
Next came the tricky part—wrapping them in foil. He opened the bottom drawer and pulled out the shiny silver roll. Tearing off pieces was a bit hard, but he managed with a few grunts and a lot of determination. One of the sheets was a little crumpled, but Bibi smoothed it out proudly.
“One for you,” he whispered to the first potato as he wrapped it, “and one for you… and you!”
Now they were ready for the oven.
Step Four: The Oven Dilemma
Bibi paused. He knew how to turn the oven on, but he also remembered Uncle Phong’s serious voice warning him, “Never touch the oven without me.”
Bibi frowned and looked out the window. Uncle Phong was still under the truck, busy with a wrench and some wires. Bibi sighed.
“I want it to be a surprise,” he whispered. “Just for once.”
With careful hands, he turned the oven knob to 375 degrees, just like he had seen before. The small oven hummed quietly as it started to warm up. Bibi placed the wrapped potatoes inside, closed the door, and clapped his hands in excitement.
“I did it!” he cheered, doing a little dance. “I’m cooking sweet potatoes!”
Back to the Backyard
With the potatoes roasting, Bibi tiptoed back outside to the porch. He didn’t want Uncle Phong to know what he was up to—at least not yet. He sat quietly, watching his uncle, who finally stood up and wiped his sweaty forehead with a rag.
“There!” Uncle Phong said proudly. “That should fix it.”
He turned and saw Bibi watching him.
“Hey there, buddy,” he said. “You hungry? I was going to make us something after I cleaned up.”
Bibi smiled mysteriously. “I already did something.”
Uncle Phong raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“It’s a surprise!” Bibi said with a giggle and ran back into the house.
The Sweet Aroma
As Uncle Phong walked into the kitchen, he sniffed the air and smiled. A delicious, sugary smell filled the room. He looked at the oven and then back at Bibi.
“Bibi…” he said slowly, “did you…?”
“I cooked sweet potatoes! All by myself!” Bibi beamed. “I washed them, wrapped them, and even turned on the oven!”
Uncle Phong’s eyes widened for a second. “You turned on the oven?”
Bibi’s smile faded a little. “Yes… I just wanted to surprise you. I’m sorry if I wasn’t supposed to.”
Uncle Phong knelt down and gently took Bibi’s hands. “You did a great job, Bibi. You really paid attention to all the steps. But remember, the oven is hot and can be dangerous. You have to promise me you won’t use it alone again, okay?”
Bibi nodded. “I promise.”
The Tasting Moment
A little while later, the oven timer dinged. Uncle Phong put on his mitts, carefully pulled out the sweet potatoes, and placed them on a plate. They unwrapped the foil together, and steam rose from the soft, golden insides.
Uncle Phong took a bite and closed his eyes. “Mmm. Bibi, this is perfect.”
“Really?” Bibi asked excitedly.
“Absolutely. You’re a natural little chef.”
Bibi giggled and took a bite too. The sweet potato was warm, soft, and had that comforting flavor he loved. He felt proud—not just because of how it tasted, but because he had done it all on his own.
A Day to Remember
That evening, as the sun set behind the hills, Bibi and Uncle Phong sat on the porch, munching on their sweet potatoes and watching the stars begin to twinkle.
“I fixed the truck,” Uncle Phong said, “and you made dinner. What a productive day, huh?”
Bibi leaned his head on Uncle Phong’s arm. “Next time, maybe we can cook together.”
Uncle Phong smiled. “I’d like that very much.”
And so, in their little house filled with laughter and the scent of roasted sweet potatoes, a new tradition began: one of cooking, learning, and growing together—side by side.
