It was supposed to be a special moment. Mama Monkey had spent the whole day preparing a surprise gift for her beloved daughter, Lyly. She had wrapped it with care, tying it with a bright ribbon, her heart full of excitement. After all, Lyly had been feeling a little down lately, and Mama just wanted to see that cheerful smile again.
When Lyly came home and saw the small, colorful package on the table, her eyes lit up for a moment. “What’s this?” she asked. Mama beamed, “A surprise! Just for you!”
Lyly tore the paper off with anticipation, but as soon as she saw what was inside — a handmade sweater with her name stitched into the front — her face fell. “Oh… it’s a sweater?” she said, her voice flat. “It’s kind of… itchy. And it looks weird.”
Mama’s smile slowly faded. She had spent hours carefully sewing every stitch, thinking of Lyly the entire time. She had even picked out Lyly’s favorite colors. “I thought you’d like it,” Mama said softly, trying to mask the hurt in her voice.
“Well,” Lyly shrugged, “I just thought it’d be something cool. Like a toy or… snacks.”
Mama gently nodded, trying to stay strong. But her eyes betrayed her disappointment. She had tried so hard to make Lyly feel special, only to be met with criticism.
Later that evening, as Lyly sat quietly watching TV, she looked over at the sweater sitting untouched on the couch. She thought about her mom’s face — the way it had dropped, how quiet she had become. Guilt bubbled up in her little heart.
Without a word, Lyly picked up the sweater and slipped it on. Then she walked to the kitchen and hugged her mom tightly from behind. “Thank you, Mama,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Mama turned around with a soft smile, brushing Lyly’s hair back. “It’s okay, sweet girl. I know you didn’t.”
And in that moment, the sweater didn’t feel itchy anymore. It felt warm — like love.
