One sunny afternoon, Monkey Lyly skipped happily along the garden path while her mother chatted with their neighbor. Lyly loved visiting there—she always found something fun to explore! But today, something felt different. The air was unusually quiet… almost too quiet.
As Lyly peeked into the neighbor’s living room, she noticed a furry shape curled up on the sofa. Her eyes widened. It wasn’t a cushion. It wasn’t a toy. It was… a cat! A cat she had never seen before—white with a black mask-like pattern across its face and long whiskers that twitched softly as it napped.
Lyly froze. She loved animals, but she had never been so close to a real cat without Mom around to guide her. What if it was grumpy? What if it jumped out and hissed? Her heart beat fast as she tiptoed closer, curiosity winning over caution. She leaned in so close she could feel the gentle purr rumbling through the air.
Suddenly, the cat opened its eyes!
Lyly squeaked and scrambled backward, tripping over her own feet and landing on her tail with a soft thud. The cat blinked calmly, stretching as if to reassure her: I’m not dangerous.
The neighbor came over with a laugh, lifting Lyly up. “His name is Masky,” she said. “He’s new here. He’s very friendly.”
Lyly stared at the cat again—this time with amazement instead of fear. Masky hopped down from the sofa and padded quietly toward her. He sniffed her fingers, then rubbed his head against her arm. Lyly gasped with delight. “Mom! He likes me!” she said, tail swishing in excitement.
Before long, Lyly and Masky were playing a silly chase game around the coffee table. She giggled every time he batted at her ribbon or rolled onto his back with his paws in the air.
When it was finally time to leave, Lyly waved sadly but promised she would visit Masky again. What started as a scary surprise turned into a brand-new friendship—one she couldn’t wait to explore more.
Because sometimes, the best friends appear when you least expect them.
