One warm afternoon, playful little Lala was wandering around the backyard when she spotted something round and mysterious lying under the tree — a large brown coconut! Its rough shell and sweet, tropical scent immediately caught her attention.
Lala picked it up with both hands, sniffed it, tapped it, and even tried biting it — but it was far too hard. She tilted her head, curious and determined. “What’s inside?” she wondered. She had seen Thuy drink coconut water before, and now, she wanted to taste it herself.
She tried hitting the coconut against a rock. Thud! Nothing happened. Then she rolled it across the ground, hoping it would crack. Still, the coconut stayed firm. But Lala didn’t give up. She remembered seeing Thuy use a stick to open fruits, so she looked around and found a thick wooden stick.
With all her strength, she held the coconut steady and started tapping at its seam again and again. After a few more hits — CRACK! A tiny split appeared! Lala’s eyes lit up with excitement. She squeaked joyfully and kept tapping until the coconut finally opened.
Cool, sweet-smelling coconut water trickled out. Lala quickly grabbed a little bowl and poured the juice into it, then dipped her tongue in for a taste. “Mmm!” Her eyes sparkled with delight. She scooped out the soft white coconut meat and munched away happily under the tree.
When Thuy returned and saw the empty coconut and the sticky, happy monkey, she laughed. “Smart girl, Lala!” she said, giving her a gentle pat.
