Lala woke up early one sunny morning, her eyes twinkling with excitement. Today, she was determined to find something new and fun to play with in the small pond near her home. She loved water and all the little creatures that lived in it—frogs, tadpoles, and, of course, fish.
As she reached the pond, she noticed a few loach fish swimming near the surface. Their slender, wiggly bodies glistened in the gentle ripples of the water. Lala’s eyes widened with curiosity—she had seen fish before, but these loaches seemed extra playful as they darted around in the cool water.
With a giggle, Lala sat down by the water’s edge, dipping her fingers in. The loach fish were quick and clever, slipping through her fingers like silk. She squealed in delight, determined to catch at least one. Splashing a little, she cupped her hands gently and tried again. Sometimes she nearly had them, but the loaches always wriggled free at the last second.
Thuy, who was watching from the shore, called out, “Lala, be careful! Don’t hurt the fish!” Lala nodded, her cheeks pink with excitement. She didn’t want to hurt them—she just wanted to play.
The mischievous little girl even tried to scoop them up with a small leaf, but the loaches were too smart. They seemed to enjoy the game just as much as she did, darting in and out of her reach.
After a while, Lala gave up on catching them and simply watched, her chin resting in her hands. She loved the way the loach fish glided through the water so gracefully, making her laugh at their silly dance.
As the sun set, Lala promised the loaches she’d come back to play another day. The pond was her favorite new playground, full of tiny friends and endless fun.
