It was a bright, sunny afternoon, perfect for a dip in the backyard pool. The air was warm, the sky was blue, and everything seemed peaceful — until Mom stepped outside and gasped.
The inflatable swimming pool was shredded, flaps of plastic fluttering in the breeze. Water had spilled everywhere, turning the backyard into a soggy mess. The once-happy pool now looked like a popped balloon.
“Who did this?” Mom asked aloud, hands on her hips.
That’s when little Mia ran out, her favorite stuffed monkey, Pupu, dangling from her arm.
“Did Pupu monkey do it?” she asked with a worried look.
Mom raised an eyebrow. Pupu monkey was soft, fuzzy, and innocent-looking — but also Mia’s constant sidekick. He went everywhere with her, and sometimes he got blamed when things went wrong.
“Pupu? He doesn’t have claws… or teeth,” Mom said slowly, looking around the yard. “But he was near the pool yesterday, wasn’t he?”
Mia nodded solemnly. “He was having a jungle adventure.”
“Hmm,” Mom mused. “Then maybe he met someone wild.”
Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes near the fence. Out popped their neighbor’s dog, Max — tongue out, tail wagging, and… bits of blue plastic stuck to his collar.
“Aha!” Mom pointed. “It wasn’t Pupu at all! It was Max!”
Mia gasped, holding Pupu protectively. “Pupu was trying to warn us!”
Mom laughed and shook her head. “Looks like we owe Pupu an apology.”
Mia hugged Pupu tightly. “You’re a hero, not a villain.”
Mom sighed as she looked at the ruined pool. “Well, no swimming today, but maybe we can build a mini jungle for Pupu instead?”
Mia’s eyes lit up. “Yes! With vines and a waterfall!”
As they started crafting the jungle scene, Pupu monkey sat proudly in the center — the innocent hero of the day.
