Lala, the clever little pup with big round eyes and a wagging tail, had been watching Thuy in the kitchen for weeks. She loved the sounds of sizzling pans, the smells of garlic and herbs, and most of all—she loved when Thuy cooked her favorite dish: caramelized pork belly with eggs.
One sunny morning, Thuy tied on her apron and said cheerfully, “Lala, today I’m making my favorite dish! Want to help?”
Lala barked once and trotted into the kitchen, determined to be the best assistant chef ever.
She started by dragging a bag of eggs from the counter—gently, of course. One rolled away and cracked on the floor. Oops! Lala looked up, wide-eyed.
“It’s okay,” Thuy laughed, cleaning it up. “A for effort!”
Next, Lala nosed open the lower cabinet where the garlic was kept. With careful paws, she rolled out a bulb of garlic and waited proudly. Thuy peeled it and said, “Good job, Lala! We’re getting there.”
Then came the pork belly. Lala sat beside the fridge and barked twice. She couldn’t open it, but she knew where it was! Thuy smiled and pulled out the marinated meat. “You really do know your stuff,” she said.
Lala watched closely as Thuy chopped, stirred, and let the sweet, savory smell of fish sauce, sugar, and black pepper fill the air. When the pot started bubbling, Lala sat like a statue, nose twitching and tail wagging.
Finally, the dish was done. Thuy scooped a bit into a bowl and let it cool. “You’ve earned a little taste,” she said, giving Lala a tiny bite of soft-boiled egg and a sliver of pork.
Lala’s eyes sparkled with joy. Delicious!
That evening, as they sat together, Thuy said, “I think I’ve found the best kitchen helper in the world.”
Lala wagged her tail, curled up at Thuy’s feet, and decided that helping cook her favorite dish was almost as good as eating it.
Almost.
