Something was clearly wrong with Monkey Lyly this morning. Her usual playful spirit was gone. She sat quietly under the banana tree, arms crossed, lips pouting, and eyes filled with disbelief. Everyone in the garden noticed her sulking, but no one dared ask—until we finally heard her whisper in frustration: “I can’t believe Mom did this to me…”
Just hours earlier, Lyly had been so excited. She thought she was going on a fun field trip with her mother to visit the neighboring farm. She even packed her favorite leaf snacks and picked a flower to give her mom as a thank-you gift. But when her mother saw her by the gate, ready and eager, she shook her head and said firmly, “Not today, Lyly. You need to stay home.”
The words hit Lyly like thunder. Stay home? Why? What did she do wrong? Lyly watched in disbelief as her mother walked away with the other grown monkeys, leaving her behind like she was just a baby.
“I’m not a baby,” she muttered to herself, heart aching. “I can help. I can be useful too.”
She couldn’t understand why her mother wouldn’t trust her to come along. All Lyly wanted was to be included, to feel grown-up, to be by her mother’s side. Her thoughts raced with confusion and a touch of sadness. Was this punishment? Did she disappoint her somehow?
As she sat alone, the family dog Cubis came over and gently nudged her. She hugged him tightly, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. Maybe her mother didn’t mean to hurt her. Maybe she just wanted to keep Lyly safe.
Still, the pain lingered. It was the first time Lyly felt truly left out by someone she loved most. And though she couldn’t quite understand it yet, this moment was a part of growing up—learning that sometimes, love looks like saying no.
But for now, Lyly just needed a hug… and maybe a few extra bananas.
