The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and not a single cloud dared to drift by. It was the hottest day of the summer so far, and the air shimmered with heat. Even the trees looked sleepy, their leaves drooping under the weight of the sun.
In a small village nestled near a wide, sparkling river, lived a cheerful golden dog named Bibi. Bibi had thick, fluffy fur that was usually perfect for cuddles and chilly winter days—but on a day like this, it felt like wearing a blanket made of fire.
Bibi sat in the shade of an old mango tree, panting. His pink tongue hung out the side of his mouth, and his ears drooped. He had tried everything to stay cool—he rolled in the shade, dug a shallow hole in the dirt to lie in, and even asked the cat next door if she had any ice cubes. (She didn’t, and she wasn’t impressed he asked.)
“Oh my fur!” Bibi groaned. “I’m going to melt like an ice cream cone!”
Just then, a butterfly fluttered past. It landed gently on Bibi’s nose, tickling him. “Maybe you need a breeze,” it seemed to say.
Bibi shook his head. “No breeze today. The air is too sleepy.”
Then he had an idea. He leapt up so quickly the butterfly tumbled off his nose in surprise.
“The river!” Bibi barked happily. “I’ll go swimming to cool off!”
The river wasn’t far, just beyond the field of tall grass behind Bibi’s house. He trotted toward it, his tail wagging with excitement. As he moved, the grass brushed against his legs and small grasshoppers leapt out of his way.
Along the way, Bibi saw his friend Lolo the turtle resting on a rock.
“Hey Lolo!” Bibi called out. “Want to go swimming?”
Lolo opened one eye slowly. “It’s too hot to move,” he murmured.
“That’s why I’m going to the river!” Bibi grinned. “Come on, it’ll feel amazing.”
Lolo blinked twice, then slowly slid off the rock. “Okay, okay. Wait for me!”
They continued together, Bibi bouncing ahead and Lolo crawling behind. When they got close to the riverbank, they heard splashing and giggling. It was Mimi the monkey and her younger brother Max.
“Bibi! Lolo!” Mimi waved. “Come join us!”
Bibi didn’t need to be asked twice. He galloped to the edge of the water, paused dramatically, then jumped in with a mighty splash! Water flew in all directions, and even Max who was standing on a rock got wet.
“Wooooo!” Bibi barked joyfully as he paddled around. The water was cool and refreshing. It wrapped around him like a hug from the wind on a breezy day.
Lolo slid into the water more gently, floating calmly on his back. “Ahhh,” he sighed. “Now this is better.”
Mimi and Max swung from the trees and dove into the water with joyful shrieks. Soon, the river was alive with laughter, splashes, and happy barks.
Even Timmy the dragonfly buzzed down to skim the surface, watching the fun. “Best idea all day,” he hummed as he zipped by.
After a while, Bibi floated on his back, looking up at the sky. The sun was still shining, but now it felt warm in a nice way, not too hot. He let the water carry him gently, his tail swishing behind him like a golden rudder.
“Swimming is the best thing ever,” he said dreamily. “I wish every day was a swim day.”
Max, who was paddling nearby with his monkey floaty, laughed. “Even in the winter?”
“Well, maybe not every day,” Bibi chuckled. “But definitely on hot days like today.”
After a good long splash, the group climbed out of the water and lay in the shade by the river. Bibi shook off, sending sparkles of water everywhere, and then flopped down on a cool patch of grass.
“I feel like a brand-new dog,” he sighed happily.
Lolo nodded. “I feel ten years younger.”
“Let’s make this our secret summer spot,” said Mimi.
“Agreed!” said everyone in unison.
Just then, Bibi’s stomach let out a loud grrrroooowl.
“Sounds like someone’s ready for snacks,” Max giggled.
Bibi rolled over with a grin. “Swimming makes me hungry!”
They all laughed and shared some mango slices Mimi had brought in her backpack. The fruit was cold and sweet—just the thing to end a river adventure.
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky and the air started to cool, Bibi stood up and shook out his fur again.
“I think I’m ready to go home now,” he said. “That swim was just what I needed.”
“Let’s come back tomorrow!” Max squeaked excitedly.
“We can bring more snacks,” added Mimi.
“And maybe a floaty for Lolo,” Bibi said with a wink.
Lolo grinned. “Only if it’s shaped like a turtle.”
They all laughed again and started making their way back through the tall grass. The shadows were longer now, and a soft breeze finally began to blow. Bibi wagged his tail, feeling cooler, happier, and a lot less melty than before.
When he got home, he gave one last happy shake, curled up under the mango tree, and sighed contentedly.
“Today was the perfect day,” he murmured as he closed his eyes.
And with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves above, Bibi drifted off into a cool, cozy nap, dreaming of rivers, mangoes, and sunshine.
