Lyly the little monkey was sitting on a low branch, swinging her feet back and forth when she noticed a bright, ripe fruit hanging just within reach. Its skin glowed with warm colors, and a sweet smell drifted through the air. Lyly’s eyes widened instantly. She leaned forward, sniffed the fruit, and felt her mouth water. Without thinking twice, she turned to her mother and said softly, “Mom… I want to eat it!”
Her mother followed Lyly’s gaze and immediately shook her head. The fruit might look delicious, but she knew it wasn’t safe. Some fruits in the forest could be too ripe, spoiled, or even harmful if eaten carelessly. Lyly’s mother gently pulled her closer, her expression calm but firm, and told her no.
Lyly didn’t understand. She tilted her head in confusion, staring at the fruit again as if it might explain everything. “But it smells so good,” her eyes seemed to say. She reached out one more time, her fingers stretching toward it, but her mother stopped her with a gentle touch. There was no anger in her voice—only care.
Seeing her daughter’s disappointed face, Lyly’s mother knelt down and patiently explained. She pointed to other fruits nearby, showing which ones were safe and which ones were not. She reminded Lyly that just because something looks tasty doesn’t mean it’s good to eat. The forest, she said, is full of surprises, and not all of them are kind.
Lyly listened quietly. Her shoulders drooped a little, but she slowly began to understand. She looked back at her mother and saw concern in her eyes, not strictness. That made Lyly feel warmer inside. She nodded gently, accepting her mother’s decision even though her curiosity still lingered.
To cheer her up, Lyly’s mother reached into her basket and handed her a different fruit—one that was fresh, safe, and just as sweet. Lyly’s face lit up instantly. She took a bite and smiled, her earlier disappointment fading away.
As they sat together under the trees, Lyly leaned against her mother, happily munching. In that moment, she learned an important lesson: a mother’s “no” is often another way of saying “I love you.” And that love, more than any ripe fruit, was the sweetest thing of all. 🍎🐒
