It was a bright, sunny afternoon, and the sweet smell of fresh corn filled the air as Lyly’s mother prepared to fire up the grill. Today was supposed to be a fun day — a little backyard barbecue with just the two of them. Monkey Lyly, always curious and eager to help, was excited at first. She danced around the yard as her mother cleaned the corn and got the coals burning.
But as the heat from the grill began to rise and the sun beat down without mercy, Lyly’s enthusiasm quickly faded. The moment she got close to the grill, she felt the intense wave of warmth hit her face. She squinted, stuck out her tongue in protest, and took a big step back.
Her mother chuckled. “Come on, Lyly, just fan the fire a little!” she encouraged.
But Lyly had other plans.
She slumped down under the shade of a tree, dramatically fanning herself with a big leaf she found nearby. She looked at the corn grilling in the sun with absolute despair, her expression saying, “How can anyone stand this torture?”
Despite her mother’s cheerful calls, Lyly refused to budge. She stretched out her legs, lay on her back, and sighed like she’d been working all day. Occasionally, she would peek over at the grill, then immediately look away as if just the sight of it made her sweat.
Her mom couldn’t help but laugh. “Lazy monkey!” she teased. “All right, I’ll grill, and you just eat!”
That made Lyly perk up. When the corn was finally golden and steaming, her mother handed her a juicy ear. Instantly, Lyly’s energy returned. She held it with both hands, eyes sparkling, and took a huge bite, corn bits flying everywhere.
Though she had been too lazy to help, the reward was just as sweet. And as they sat under the tree munching corn, both mother and daughter laughed, knowing some things — like beating the heat — are just better left to mom.
