The afternoon sun was slowly dipping behind the trees, casting golden light across the small countryside home. The day had been long and filled with laughter, but now it was time to wind down. Uncle Phong was finishing up his chores around the house while little Bibi, his curious and energetic niece, was supposed to be napping in her cozy room.
But as usual, Bibi had other plans.
Despite Uncle Phong’s gentle reminder to lie down and rest, Bibi sat wide-eyed on her bed, full of excitement. She had overheard Uncle Phong saying earlier that he planned to harvest some ripe fruit from the orchard before evening. Her imagination immediately kicked into high gear — what if there were mangoes, bananas, or even the big juicy jackfruit hanging low from the trees? The idea of missing out on this adventure was simply unacceptable to her.
So, she made a decision. She tiptoed across the room, carefully opened the window, and climbed out quietly — just like a little ninja. Her tiny feet touched the soft grass as she looked around to make sure no one saw her. Then off she went, giggling under her breath, making her way toward the orchard behind the house.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Uncle Phong finished cleaning the kitchen and looked toward Bibi’s room.
“Bibi?” he called out gently.
Silence.
He stepped closer and peeked inside. Her bed was empty, her pillow fluffed up with a small blanket carefully folded over it — too carefully for a child. That’s when he noticed the open window and sighed, a mix of concern and amusement crossing his face.
“Oh no… Bibi,” he muttered with a small chuckle. “That little rascal.”
Out in the orchard, Bibi was already on a mission. She had found a woven basket and was now standing under a tall guava tree, trying to reach a fruit that was just a little too high. She jumped once, twice, and then spotted a small wooden stool nearby. With effort, she dragged it under the tree and climbed up. Her hands reached toward the guava and finally plucked it from the branch. She beamed with pride and placed it in her basket.
Not far behind, Uncle Phong was walking through the orchard quietly, following the faint giggles and rustling leaves. He didn’t want to scare her, but he wanted to make sure she didn’t get hurt.
“Bibi…” he called softly. “Are you out here?”
Bibi froze. She glanced around quickly and did what she thought was clever: she ducked behind a large banana plant and crouched low, holding her breath like a game of hide-and-seek. Uncle Phong appeared a moment later, looking in all directions.
“Hmm,” he said, pretending not to see her. “Maybe I imagined it. Maybe a monkey came to pick fruit!”
Bibi giggled, but quickly covered her mouth. Her hiding spot shook with excitement, the big banana leaves rustling. Uncle Phong turned, now smiling.
“I guess I’ll just pick fruit all by myself,” he said, walking toward the jackfruit tree. “Too bad Bibi’s not here to help me.”
That was enough. Bibi sprang from her hiding place.
“I’m here! I’m here! I can help!” she cried, running to his side with her basket half full of guavas and tiny oranges.
Uncle Phong knelt down to her level.
“I knew you’d sneak out,” he said, tapping her nose gently. “Why didn’t you take your nap like I asked?”
“I didn’t want to miss the fruit harvest,” Bibi said earnestly. “And I wasn’t sleepy.”
“You need rest to grow big and strong,” he replied, but he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. “But since you’re already out here, let’s make the most of it.”
So the two of them began working together. Uncle Phong picked the higher fruits, handing them down to Bibi, who gently placed them in her basket. She worked with such focus and joy that even the birds seemed to sing a little louder in admiration.
As they made their way through the orchard, they found a hidden bunch of ripe bananas, some starfruit, and even a couple of papayas that had fallen safely to the ground. Bibi was ecstatic. Her little basket couldn’t hold much more.
When the sun began to fade into dusk, Uncle Phong looked up and said, “Time to go back now. We did a great job.”
“But I’m not tired!” Bibi protested, even as her eyes drooped and her yawns betrayed her.
“Oh really?” Uncle Phong teased. “Then let’s see if you can make it through dinner without falling asleep in your rice bowl.”
They walked back to the house slowly, Bibi holding her precious basket full of fruit like it was treasure. Once inside, she helped Uncle Phong wash the fruit and arrange them in bowls. He even let her choose one to eat right away — she picked a juicy mango and giggled as the juice ran down her chin.
Later, after dinner, Bibi’s eyes were heavy, her earlier energy finally spent. She curled up on the couch beside Uncle Phong.
“You know,” she said sleepily, “I think fruit tastes better when you pick it yourself.”
“I agree,” he said, brushing her hair back. “But tomorrow, no sneaking out, okay?”
Bibi nodded slowly, already drifting into dreamland. “Okay, Uncle Phong…”
As the stars twinkled outside, Uncle Phong carried her to bed, tucking her in gently. He smiled down at her peaceful face and whispered, “Sweet dreams, my little fruit harvester.”
And from that day on, Bibi always made sure to take her naps — as long as she got to help in the orchard afterward. It became their special routine: rest first, adventure later.
Because in the end, even the most curious and energetic little girl needs her sleep — especially if she wants to chase after fruit-filled dreams.
