Early one sunny morning, Monkey Lyly’s mother called her over with an important task. “Lyly, sweetie,” she said gently, “please collect the ripe bananas from the small tree near the stream. We need them for lunch.” Lyly eagerly nodded, ready to prove she was responsible. She grabbed her tiny woven basket and skipped toward the garden.
But on the way, something shiny caught her eye—a small hand mirror lying beside a rock. Someone must have dropped it earlier that day. Lyly picked it up curiously and gasped when she saw her reflection. Her big round eyes, fluffy cheeks, and soft fur looked extra cute in the morning light.
“Oh! I look so adorable today!” she exclaimed, turning her head left and right. She smiled, pouted, puffed her cheeks, and even tried posing like she’d seen humans do. The more she looked, the more fascinated she became. She twirled around, checked her profile, then made funny expressions and giggled at herself.
Minutes slipped into many more. Lyly sat cross-legged, leaning closer to the mirror, completely forgetting why she was outside in the first place. Birds chirped above her, leaves rustled softly, and the sun climbed higher, but Lyly remained lost in her own adorable reflection.
Back at home, her mother wondered why Lyly hadn’t returned. She followed the path toward the stream and soon spotted her daughter sitting in the grass, the mirror practically glued to her face.
“Lyly!” her mother called with a mix of confusion and amusement. Startled, Lyly nearly dropped the mirror. “Mama! I… I was just… um… checking something!”
Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Did you collect the bananas like I asked?”
Lyly’s eyes widened. “Oh no! I forgot!” She jumped up instantly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Mama!”
Her mother chuckled softly and hugged her. “It’s okay, little one. Just remember—tasks first, mirror later.”
Lyly nodded, determined not to let her vanity distract her again. She hurried off to collect the bananas, the mirror tucked carefully in her basket—this time as a reminder, not a distraction.
