It was a bright and breezy morning in the meadow where all the young animals loved to play. Lala, a cheerful little lamb with soft, snowy wool, skipped happily toward the big oak tree where her best friend Lu, a playful rabbit, usually waited for her.
“Hi Lu!” Lala called out with a big smile. “Want to play tag or hide-and-seek today?”
But Lu didn’t look up. He sat quietly, nibbling on a clover leaf, his ears drooping low.
Lala tilted her head. “Lu? Did you hear me?”
Without looking at her, Lu replied softly, “I don’t feel like playing today.”
Lala’s smile faded. “Oh… okay,” she whispered, trying not to sound hurt. She turned around slowly and walked away, her heart heavy and confused. Why doesn’t Lu want to play with me? Did I do something wrong?
All day, Lala felt a cloud of sadness following her. She tried playing with the butterflies, splashing in the stream, and even bouncing in the flower field—but it wasn’t the same without Lu.
That evening, she sat quietly near the same oak tree, hoping Lu might come back. And he did.
Lu hopped over slowly and sat beside her.
“I’m sorry, Lala,” he said, looking down. “I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings. I was just feeling a little sad today.”
Lala looked at him gently. “Why didn’t you tell me, Lu? I thought maybe I did something wrong.”
Lu shook his head. “No, not at all. I just… sometimes I feel sad and don’t know why. But I didn’t know how to say it.”
Lala smiled and nudged his shoulder with her nose. “That’s okay. You don’t always have to be happy. I’m your friend, Lu—I’ll sit with you even when you don’t want to play.”
Lu’s ears perked up just a little. “Thanks, Lala. You really are the best friend.”
And from then on, both Lala and Lu knew that real friendship meant being there for each other—even on the cloudy days.
