It was a warm afternoon, and Monkey Lyly was full of energy after playing outside in the garden. She had been hopping from tree to tree, chasing butterflies and snacking on bananas. But after all that fun, she was ready to come inside for a nap, a cuddle, and maybe a sweet treat from her mom.
As she skipped over to the front gate, she suddenly stopped—click! The gate was locked. Her little hands gripped the bars as she peered through, eyes wide and confused. She tugged, pulled, and even tried to climb it, but it wouldn’t budge. Her mom had locked it, not knowing Lyly was still outside.
And just like that, Lyly’s mood changed. Her tail drooped, her eyes turned big and watery, and she plopped down right in front of the gate. She crossed her arms, stuck out her bottom lip, and began sulking like only a grumpy little monkey could.
From inside, her mother peeked through the window and gasped. “Oh no! Lyly’s outside!” she said, rushing over. But Lyly wasn’t ready to forgive so easily. She turned her head, refusing to look at her mom, clearly upset.
Even when the gate creaked open, Lyly stayed put, pouting dramatically. Her mom knelt down and called softly, “Lyly, come inside, sweet girl. I didn’t know you were still playing outside.”
Slowly, Lyly stood up, dragging her feet toward the open gate, her little face still full of attitude. But when her mom scooped her up and gave her a warm hug and a juicy mango slice, her mood began to lift.
Within minutes, Lyly was back to her playful self, riding on Mom’s shoulder and chattering happily. Her sulking had melted away, replaced by giggles and cuddles.
Even though she was mad for a moment, Lyly knew her mom would never forget about her on purpose. And next time, she’d be sure to sneak in before the gate closed!
