“Stay close to me, Lyly,” her mother said gently as they walked along the dusty path. Lyly nodded, holding her small basket tightly, ready for the task ahead.
At first, everything felt fun. The tall corn plants rustled in the warm breeze, and Lyly happily picked bright yellow corn, placing each one carefully into her basket. “Look, Mom! I found a big one!” she said proudly.
Her mother smiled. “Great job, Lyly! You’re doing very well.”
But as time passed, the heat became stronger. The sun burned down on Lyly’s head, and the air felt heavy and still. Sweat began to drip down her face, and her energy slowly faded.
“Mom… it’s so hot…” Lyly said, wiping her forehead.
Her mother looked at her with concern. “Let’s take a short break,” she suggested, guiding Lyly to a small shady spot under a tree nearby.
Lyly sat down, breathing heavily. “I didn’t know picking corn could be this hard,” she said tiredly.
Her mother handed her a bottle of cool water. “Here, drink this slowly,” she said. Lyly took a few sips, feeling a little better as the cool water refreshed her.
After resting for a while, her mother took a leaf and gently fanned Lyly to help her cool down. “When it’s hot like this, we need to listen to our bodies and rest,” she explained.
Lyly nodded, learning an important lesson. “I think I rushed too much,” she admitted.
“That’s okay,” her mother replied kindly. “Helping is good, but taking care of yourself is just as important.”
After the break, Lyly felt much better. Though the sun was still hot, she worked more slowly and carefully this time.
By the end of the day, Lyly was tired but happy. She smiled at her mother and said, “Next time, I’ll remember to take breaks!”
Her mother laughed softly, proud of her little monkey’s growth.
