It was an ordinary sunny afternoon when Monkey Lyly strutted into the living room looking unusually proud of herself. Perched on her little head was a floppy straw hat with a bright red ribbon—only one problem: it wasn’t hers.
The hat belonged to Mom, and it was part of her favorite summer outfit. But Lyly clearly had other plans. She stood in the middle of the floor like a tiny fashion model, chin up, eyes sparkling, and tail swishing as if daring anyone to tell her otherwise.
“Lyly… what’s wrong? Where did you get that?” I asked, trying to hold back a laugh. She just tilted her head, tightening her grip on the brim with both little hands as if to say, Mine now.
When Mom spotted her, she froze in the doorway. “Is that my hat?!” she gasped. Lyly immediately turned around and started waddling away—slow enough to show off, but fast enough to avoid capture.
We tried bribery first. A banana slice? She ignored it. Her favorite stuffed toy? Not even a glance. It was clear: Lyly had fallen in love with that hat.
Then came the chase. Around the coffee table, over the couch, even under the dining chairs—Lyly darted like a mischievous little thief. Every time we got close, she’d pull the hat down tighter over her ears and give us a defiant squeak.
Finally, she hopped onto her play perch, high enough to make retrieval nearly impossible. There she sat, patting the hat like it was a crown. Mom sighed, shaking her head. “Fine, Lyly. You can borrow it… but only for today.”
Lyly beamed, clapping her hands and adjusting the brim like a seasoned diva. She wore that hat proudly for the rest of the afternoon, occasionally checking her reflection in the mirror and giving herself approving nods.
By the end of the day, the hat was slightly bent and covered in tiny fingerprints, but Mom couldn’t stay mad. After all, not everyone can rock a summer hat with the confidence of a stubborn little monkey.
Sometimes, fashion is less about ownership—and more about attitude.
