It was a peaceful morning in the yard, and the sun was just starting to peek through the clouds after a rainy night. Baby Jerry, at five months old, was sitting on a small mat alongside his older siblings, Janna and Sara. They were all gathered outside for breakfast. Their mom had given each of them small bowls with fruits and some mashed snacks. Jerry, tiny and full of energy, was sitting between his sisters, munching on a banana. He was always the curious one, never sitting still for long. Janna, the responsible older sister, was nibbling quietly, watching over Jerry. Meanwhile, Sara, wearing her favorite pink frock, was already distracted by a butterfly fluttering by, giggling as she watched it dance in the air. Jerry, however, had something else in mind. His big, curious eyes had spotted something on the road ahead—a small pothole filled with mud water from the previous night’s rain.
As soon as Jerry saw the mud puddle, his food became the least of his concerns. He dropped his half-eaten banana and suddenly stood up on his wobbly legs, looking intently at the puddle. It was as if the little pool of muddy water was calling out to him. Without warning, and before anyone could stop him, Jerry let out an excited squeal and took off running.
“Jerry, wait!” Janna called after him, but Jerry was on a mission. His tiny legs moved as fast as they could, arms flailing in the air as he made a beeline for the pothole.
Within seconds, Jerry dove headfirst into the mud puddle, splashing water everywhere. He looked absolutely thrilled as he landed in the middle of the puddle with a loud “splat!” The mud splashed onto his face, arms, and belly, and for a moment, Jerry looked shocked. But then, a wide, toothless grin spread across his face, and he started giggling uncontrollably.
Janna and Sara could only stare in disbelief at their muddy little brother. Sara, ever the playful one, started clapping and laughing, finding Jerry’s mud bath hilarious. But Janna, the big sister, was more concerned.
“Jerry! Look at you! You’re all muddy!” she said, trying to sound like a grown-up.
But Jerry couldn’t care less. He was having the time of his life. He rolled around in the mud, splashing and kicking, like he had discovered the world’s best swimming pool. His tiny hands scooped up the mud and smeared it on his face, making him look even more ridiculous. His fur, usually soft and clean, was now a mess of brown and black. His eyes sparkled with joy, completely oblivious to how dirty he had become.
At one point, Jerry even tried to “swim” in the puddle, belly down and flapping his arms like he was in a real pool. Of course, the puddle was too shallow for swimming, but that didn’t stop him from trying. His attempts were so clumsy and adorable that Janna couldn’t help but giggle, despite trying to act responsible. Even Sara joined in, laughing and pointing at Jerry’s muddy face, her small hands clapping with excitement.
Jerry’s mom, who had been inside the house preparing more food, finally came outside to check on the commotion. She gasped when she saw Jerry, completely covered in mud. His face was barely recognizable beneath the layers of dirt, but his big, bright eyes and mischievous grin gave him away.
“Oh no, Jerry!” his mom said, rushing over to him. “What have you done?”
Jerry just looked up at her, still smiling, and clapped his hands together, sending another splash of mud flying. His mom couldn’t help but chuckle at how ridiculous he looked. His entire face was smeared with mud, his once-clean fur now brown and messy. He looked like a tiny, muddy monster.
“Alright, young man, let’s get you cleaned up,” his mom said with a sigh, picking him up carefully to avoid getting too muddy herself.
As she carried him toward the house, Jerry let out a joyful squeal, clearly proud of his muddy adventure. Janna and Sara followed, still giggling at their brother’s funny antics.
“Next time, try to finish your food before you go swimming,” Janna teased, wiping some mud off her own arm.
And so, the morning that started as a peaceful breakfast ended with Jerry getting his second bath of the day—this time, with a lot more soap and scrubbing involved. But as his mom washed him off, Jerry’s little face remained as happy as ever, as if he was already dreaming about his next muddy adventure.
