The morning sun cast a soft golden light across the shallow lakebed, where little baby monkey Polo found his own perfect playground. A dried, sun-bleached stick lay partly buried in the mud, and to Polo, it was the most exciting discovery of the day.
He sat at the edge of the lake, his tiny tail curled, feet squished gently in the cool, damp sand. With a bright spark in his eyes, Polo picked up the stick, turning it over with both hands. He tapped it on the ground, waved it in the air, and even tried to balance it on his head.
There was no one else around, but Polo didn’t mind. He was fully content, wrapped in his own little world of exploration. Every movement was full of curiosity—he jabbed at the water gently, watching the ripples form and dance. A tiny splash made him squeak and jump, only to giggle at himself for being startled.
The breeze carried the scent of warm earth and wet grass, and birds chirped somewhere in the trees beyond. Polo paused, his tiny hands resting on the stick, and looked out over the lake. The calm reflection made his big eyes even wider. It was as if the world had slowed down just for him.
For a baby who was often surrounded by chaos, older siblings, and busy caregivers, this quiet moment by the lake was special. Alone, yet not lonely—Polo was completely at peace.
He ended his little stick game by poking at a floating leaf and watching it drift away. Then, without hurry, he lay down beside the stick, sighing with tiny monkey satisfaction.
Sometimes, joy is just a simple stick and a quiet morning by the lake.
