Lala had always been a curious and playful little pup, full of energy and wonder. But one sunny afternoon in the garden, she had an encounter that left her both confused and frightened. While sniffing around the flower beds, something suddenly hopped in front of her nose—a strange, lumpy creature with bulging eyes and rough, warty skin. It was a toad!
Lala jumped back in shock, her eyes wide and ears perked. She let out a small, uncertain bark, unsure if this creature was friend or foe. The toad sat perfectly still, blinking slowly, as if just as confused by Lala as she was by it. Lala tiptoed forward again, tail lowered, and sniffed cautiously. Just as she got close, the toad made another sudden hop—right toward her!
That was enough for Lala. With a startled yelp, she spun around and darted a few steps away, then turned to look again. Her little heart was racing. She had never seen anything quite like this odd little creature before. It didn’t chase her, didn’t growl, and didn’t even seem interested in playing. It just…sat there.
Lala’s mom, Thuy, came over, amused by the scene. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said gently, picking Lala up and giving her a reassuring cuddle. “That’s just a toad. He won’t hurt you.”
From the safety of Thuy’s arms, Lala watched the toad hop away into the bushes. She still didn’t understand what it was or why it moved so strangely, but at least she knew she was safe.
Later that evening, Lala curled up in her bed, still thinking about the mysterious garden visitor. It had scared her at first, but now she was just curious. Maybe next time, she’d be a little braver. After all, the world was full of surprises—and Lala was ready to explore them all, even the warty, bumpy ones.
