It was a bright afternoon, and little Monkey Lyly was humming happily in the kitchen. Today, she had decided to surprise her mother by baking a cake all by herself. She mixed the flour, cracked the eggs, and added sugar — maybe a little too much — but she didn’t mind. With a big smile, she stirred the batter with all her strength and poured it into the pan, imagining how proud her mom would be when she tasted it.
After what felt like forever, the cake was finally ready. The sweet smell filled the house, and Lyly’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She decorated it with colorful candy and chocolate syrup, carefully writing “LOVE YOU MOM” on top in shaky letters. Her little hands were messy, her face dusted with flour, but her heart was full of love.
When her mother came into the kitchen, Lyly proudly presented the cake. “Mommy, look! I made this for you!” she said, beaming. But as her mom leaned closer, her smile faded. The cake smelled… strange. A quick glance at the counter revealed the problem — Lyly had used the salt instead of sugar!
“Oh, Lyly…” her mother sighed softly. She gently took a bite, trying to hide her reaction, but the taste was impossible to ignore. “Sweetheart, this isn’t safe to eat,” she said kindly, but Lyly’s smile slowly disappeared. Her mother carefully threw the cake into the trash, and Lyly’s eyes filled with tears.
She turned away, feeling heartbroken. “I just wanted to make you happy,” she whispered. Her mother knelt down, hugging her tightly. “Oh, my sweet girl, I am happy — because you tried your best. That means more to me than any cake.”
A few minutes later, Mom suggested they bake another one together — this time, with real sugar. Lyly’s frown turned into a shy smile. As they mixed the new batter side by side, laughter replaced the sadness.
The second cake came out perfect — but more than that, Lyly learned that love and effort always matter more than perfection. ❤️
