Summer had officially arrived, and with it came the sweltering heat that made everything feel just a little slower. The sun blazed high in the sky, making the air thick and sticky. Trees swayed lazily in the breeze, and even the birds chirped less, as if they too were trying to stay cool. But for Lala, a cheerful and curious little girl with bright eyes and endless energy, summer was her favorite season.
Lala loved running around the garden barefoot, feeling the warm earth beneath her feet. She played with her friends under the big mango tree and laughed as butterflies danced around her. But after an hour or two of play, even Lala needed to rest and cool down. Her cheeks would be flushed red, and she would fan herself with big banana leaves.
One particularly hot afternoon, Lala returned home from the garden, drenched in sweat and longing for something refreshing. As she walked into the kitchen, a sweet fruity smell filled the air. Her nose twitched with excitement. “Mmm… what is that smell?” she asked, peeking around the kitchen.
Her mom, who was standing at the counter with a big smile, turned around and said, “Surprise, Lala! I made your favorite summer treat—fruit jelly!”
Lala’s eyes lit up like stars. “Fruit jelly?! Really, Mom?”
“Yes,” her mom chuckled. “With mango, watermelon, lychee, and even little bits of kiwi. I used real fruit juice and added tiny fruit cubes to make it extra special.”
Lala clapped her hands with joy. “Yay! I love fruit jelly!”
Her mom handed her a colorful bowl filled with jiggly, shiny jelly pieces. Each bite-sized cube glistened like a precious gem—golden from the mango, pink from the watermelon, green from the kiwi, and white from the lychee. Lala picked up her spoon and took a bite. The jelly was cool and soft, melting instantly in her mouth and releasing a burst of fruity flavors. It was pure summer magic!
“Mmm… so cold and yummy!” Lala said, wiggling with delight.
Her mom sat down beside her with her own bowl and said, “When I was your age, my mom made jelly for me every summer. We didn’t have air conditioning, so this was one of the ways we cooled down.”
Lala listened intently, her mouth still full of jelly. “I want to learn how to make it too, Mommy!”
“Of course! We can make a big batch tomorrow and maybe even share some with your friends.”
The next morning, after breakfast, Lala and her mom got to work. They gathered fresh fruits from the garden and the market—plump strawberries, juicy pineapples, crisp apples, and even a few ripe passion fruits. Lala washed the fruit carefully while her mom boiled water and mixed the natural gelatin with juice.
They took turns cutting the fruit into tiny cubes. Lala’s fingers were a little clumsy, but her mom gently guided her hands.
“This is like making edible jewels,” Lala said, placing each colorful piece into the jelly molds.
When the mixture was ready, they poured it into the molds filled with fruit. Lala chose fun shapes—stars, hearts, and even animal molds. Then they placed the trays in the fridge and waited.
Waiting was the hardest part. Lala checked the fridge every 15 minutes, hoping the jelly would be ready. Finally, after a few hours, her mom said it was time.
Lala opened the fridge door and gasped. The jelly looked perfect—sparkling and cool, just waiting to be eaten. She and her mom gently popped the jelly out of the molds and placed them on a tray.
“They’re so beautiful!” Lala exclaimed. “Can we take them to the garden and have a picnic?”
“Great idea,” said her mom.
They packed the jellies into a basket with some cool lemonade and a picnic blanket. In the garden, Lala invited her friends Bon and Thuy, who came running with excitement.
“What’s that?” Bon asked.
“Homemade fruit jelly!” Lala said proudly. “I helped make it!”
The three friends sat under the shade of the big mango tree and began eating the jelly. Their laughter filled the air as they tried different flavors and compared their favorite shapes. The cool, juicy jelly was exactly what they needed to escape the summer heat.
“I love the strawberry one!” Thuy said.
“Pineapple is the best,” Bon argued.
“I like them all,” Lala said, happily munching.
Later, they played a jelly guessing game. Lala blindfolded Bon and fed him a piece. “Guess the fruit!
“Mmm… Kiwi?” he said.
“Correct!” Lala cheered.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky with soft orange and pink colors, the kids packed up their picnic. Lala felt full, happy, and cool—both in body and spirit. She hugged her mom and said, “Thank you for the best summer treat ever.”
Her mom smiled, wiping a bit of jelly from Lala’s cheek. “Next time, maybe you can teach your friends how to make it too.”
Lala nodded eagerly. “Yes! We’ll have a fruit jelly day every weekend!”
From that day on, fruit jelly became a summer tradition for Lala and her little circle of friends. Each week, they experimented with new fruits—dragon fruit, grapes, even bananas once (which didn’t go so well). They laughed, learned, and enjoyed the simple joy of a treat that was both delicious and refreshing.
Even when the summer heat seemed too much to bear, Lala knew she had her special jelly waiting in the fridge—cool, sweet, and filled with love.
And as long as the jelly jiggled and giggled on her plate, summer would always be a season of joy.
