One sunny afternoon, Monkey Lyly came back from a walk holding a bunch of “gifts” she had collected outside—bright leaves, shiny stones, and even a small flower she picked from the garden. Her little face beamed with pride as she thought about surprising Mom and Dad with her treasures. But just as she reached the door, Lyly suddenly froze.
She peeked inside the house and saw Dad sweeping the floor. The last time she brought her “special gifts” inside, she had accidentally filled the living room with dirt, leaves, and even a few ants! Dad had spent an hour cleaning, and Mom had laughed but told Lyly gently, “Next time, maybe bring something a little cleaner, okay?”
Remembering that, Lyly scratched her head, eyes darting between her beautiful collection and the spotless floor inside. “Oh no…” she mumbled, looking worried. She wanted to make Mom and Dad happy—but what if they thought she was making a mess again? Her little hands trembled as she tried to decide. Should she hide the gifts outside? Or maybe just one wouldn’t hurt?
After a long minute of thinking, Lyly tiptoed to the door and peeked inside again. Dad noticed her and smiled, “Lyly, what’s behind your back?” Startled, she hid the gifts and stuttered, “N-nothing!” Her guilty face made Dad laugh out loud. Finally, she confessed and showed him the pile of leaves and stones.
To her surprise, Dad didn’t scold her. Instead, he said warmly, “That’s so sweet of you, Lyly! Let’s put them in the garden instead. That way, your gifts will make the house pretty and clean!”
Lyly’s eyes lit up with joy. She proudly arranged her treasures in a tiny corner outside, calling it her “gift garden.” From then on, whenever she wanted to show love, she knew she didn’t need to sneak around—because even the simplest gifts, given with care, make the home a happier place. 🐒💖🌿
