On a bright morning when the sun seemed determined to make everyone smile, CUTIS woke up with a mission. Not just any mission—today he was inviting Dad on a picnic. CUTIS had been planning this for days, ever since he overheard Mom say, “We never do fun things together anymore.” To CUTIS, that sounded like a challenge, and challenges were his favorite kind of food for thought.
CUTIS jumped out of bed, nearly tripping over his own enthusiasm. He ran to the kitchen where Dad was sipping coffee and reading the news with the seriousness of someone solving the world’s problems one headline at a time. CUTIS cleared his throat loudly, the way adults do when they want attention.
“Dad,” he announced, hands on his hips, “today we go picnic.”
Dad looked over the top of his mug. “A picnic? On a weekday?”
“Yes,” CUTIS nodded firmly. “Because weekdays also have grass.”
Mom burst out laughing from the sink. Dad tried to look thoughtful, but the corner of his mouth betrayed him. “Alright,” Dad said. “But you’re in charge of planning.”
CUTIS’s eyes sparkled. This was it. He saluted like a commander and ran off to prepare.
His idea of picnic preparation was… creative. First, he packed snacks. By snacks, he meant anything that looked happy. Cookies shaped like animals, bananas because monkeys liked them (CUTIS logic), and a mysterious container labeled “SURPRISE.” No one knew what was inside, not even CUTIS, who had packed it the night before and forgotten.
Next came the picnic mat. CUTIS chose the biggest blanket in the house, which happened to be Dad’s old one with a giant cartoon dinosaur printed on it. “Dinosaur is good,” CUTIS reasoned. “He can protect us.”
Finally, CUTIS insisted Dad wear a hat. Not just any hat—Mom’s wide straw hat with a ribbon. “Sun is strong,” CUTIS said seriously. “Dad needs fashion protection.”
Dad sighed. “Do I really have to wear this?”
CUTIS nodded. “Yes. Picnic rules.”
They headed to the park, CUTIS marching in front like a tour guide who had memorized exactly one sentence. “This way,” he kept saying, even when the path clearly curved the other direction. Dad followed anyway, laughing quietly.
At the park, CUTIS chose a spot right under a tree. Unfortunately, it was also the favorite meeting place of birds. Dad looked up suspiciously. “Are you sure about this spot?”
CUTIS looked around, nodded confidently, and spread the dinosaur blanket. “Perfect.”
They sat down, and CUTIS began distributing snacks with the seriousness of a chef serving a five-star meal. “One cookie for Dad,” he said. “Two for me because I am host.”
Dad raised an eyebrow. “That’s not how hosting works.”
“Yes it is,” CUTIS replied. “Host must test food for safety.”
Just as Dad took a bite of his cookie, a squirrel appeared, staring at them like it had been invited but forgotten the time. CUTIS gasped. “Guest!”
Before Dad could stop him, CUTIS broke his cookie in half and offered it to the squirrel. The squirrel accepted, sat on its tiny bottom, and began munching happily.
“See?” CUTIS said proudly. “Picnic success.”
More animals seemed to agree. A pigeon waddled closer. Then another. Dad slowly realized they were becoming the center of a very small wildlife conference.
“CUTIS,” Dad whispered, “I think we’re attracting too much attention.”
CUTIS looked around, impressed. “Dad, we are famous.”
Mom, who had stayed home, was not there to witness what happened next—but the internet would.
CUTIS opened the container labeled “SURPRISE.” Inside was… cooked rice. Plain rice. No lid, no bag, just rice.
Dad blinked. “Why did you bring rice?”
CUTIS smiled. “Because rice is friendly.”
A sudden breeze carried the smell of rice through the park. The birds reacted instantly. Within seconds, the quiet picnic turned into chaos. Pigeons flapped. Sparrows chirped loudly. The squirrel called for reinforcements.
Dad stood up, waving his arms. “CUTIS! Close it! Close it!”
But CUTIS was laughing too hard. “Dad! They love us!”
That’s when it happened. A pigeon swooped down and landed—right on Dad’s straw hat. The ribbon fluttered. The pigeon looked proud.
CUTIS froze for one second, then laughed so hard he fell backward onto the dinosaur blanket. “Dad!” he shouted between giggles. “You are tree now!”
People nearby started filming. A dad in a straw hat, standing still with a pigeon on his head, while a child laughed uncontrollably on a dinosaur blanket—it was comedy gold.
Dad, completely defeated, slowly sat back down. “I am never trusting you with picnic planning again,” he said.
CUTIS wiped tears from his eyes. “But Dad,” he said sweetly, “you said weekdays have grass. And today… grass has memories.”
Eventually, the animals left, the rice was gone, and Dad removed the hat—carefully. They packed up, still laughing.
That evening, Mom showed Dad a video on her phone. The clip had already gone viral. Comments flooded in:
“Best picnic ever 😂”
“That kid is a genius.”
“Dad’s face made my day!”
Dad shook his head, smiling despite himself. CUTIS leaned against him. “Dad,” he asked softly, “did you like picnic?”
Dad put an arm around him. “Yes,” he said. “Very much.”
CUTIS grinned. “Next time,” he whispered, “we invite Mom.”
Dad laughed. “Only if you promise no rice.”
CUTIS thought for a moment. “Okay,” he said. “We bring noodles.”
And somewhere on the internet, netizens kept laughing—non stop.
