Early one morning in the heart of the jungle, the sun had barely risen when the peaceful silence was broken by a series of clangs, clatters, and sizzling sounds. The air quickly filled with the mouthwatering aroma of ripe mangoes, roasted peanuts, and sizzling coconut oil.
Deep inside their cozy treehouse, little monkey Lyly stirred in her hammock. She scrunched her nose, twitched her ears, and pulled a banana leaf over her head.
“Mom, it’s so noisy…” she groaned, half-asleep. “Why are you cooking so early?”
Her mother, Mama Lala, was in the middle of preparing a jungle feast. Today was a special day—it was Lyly’s birthday! But Mama Lala was trying to keep it a surprise.
“Oh, just trying out a new recipe, dear,” Mama Lala replied with a smile, not revealing her true plan.
Lyly sat up, rubbing her eyes. The smell was too delicious to ignore. She peeked out of her hammock and saw bowls of chopped fruits, sizzling banana pancakes, and tiny coconut cakes shaped like flowers.
Still sleepy but curious, Lyly climbed down. “Is something happening today?”
Mama Lala tried to look casual. “Nope! Just an ordinary morning!”
But as Lyly walked outside, she saw something that made her eyes widen—colorful vines had been twisted into streamers, and jungle animals were quietly gathering under the trees. Her friends were all hiding behind the bushes, trying not to giggle.
“Surprise!” they all shouted.
Lyly’s jaw dropped in joy. “It’s for me?!”
Mama Lala hugged her tightly. “Happy birthday, my little monkey.”
The noisy morning suddenly made perfect sense. Lyly spent the rest of the day laughing, dancing, and enjoying all the food her mom had cooked. Even though the noise had woken her up early, she couldn’t have asked for a better start to her special day.
And from that day on, whenever Lyly heard the clatter of pots and the scent of cooking at dawn, she always smiled.
