Lyly had been feeling extra clingy that day. She followed her mother around the house, hoping for cuddles, snacks, or at least a warm spot on her lap. Usually, Mom was more than happy to scoop her up and give her all the attention in the world. But today, something unexpected happened.
As Lyly peeked around the corner, she froze. There was Mom—smiling sweetly, her arms wrapped not around Lyly, but around Tommy the cat! Tommy purred contently, his eyes half closed in bliss as Mom gently scratched behind his ears. Lyly’s little monkey jaw dropped. Her eyes widened, and then narrowed with a flash of pure disappointment.
She couldn’t believe it. That was supposed to be me! Lyly’s tiny hands went to her hips as if she were about to protest. She stomped over and gave Tommy a long, dramatic glare, as though the cat had stolen her rightful place in the world. Tommy, of course, didn’t care. He simply purred louder, smug in his cozy spot.
Lyly tried everything to get her mother’s attention. She tugged on Mom’s sleeve, squeaked loudly, and even attempted to climb onto her lap. But instead of picking her up, Mom gently said, “Just a minute, Lyly. Tommy needs a little love too.” Those words only made Lyly’s pout grow deeper.
Finally, realizing her competition wasn’t going anywhere, Lyly crossed her arms and turned her back dramatically, making sure Mom could see just how upset she was. For a moment, she sulked in silence. But Mom, being a mother, knew exactly what to do. She set Tommy down gently and reached for Lyly, pulling her into a warm embrace.
That was all it took. Lyly’s frown melted into a happy grin as she snuggled against her mother. She still shot Tommy a cheeky side-eye, as if to say, I won this round.
In the end, Mom’s heart had enough room for both her mischievous monkey and her gentle cat. But Lyly made sure everyone knew—she always wanted to be number one in her mother’s arms.
