Bath time was supposed to be quick and easy. But when Lilly, the big baby monkey, saw the basin filled with water… everything went wild.
The moment Mom touched her fur with the first splash, Lilly exploded.
“EEEEEEEEEK!” she screamed, flailing her arms and kicking her legs like a monkey tornado. Water flew in every direction. The soap bottle was knocked over, and the sponge went flying across the room.
Mom tried to calm her. “Lilly, sweetie, it’s just water!” she pleaded, holding her gently.
But Lilly had made up her mind—she did not like water, not one drop of it!
She clung to the side of the tub like her life depended on it. Her face scrunched up, and her mouth opened wide as she let out the loudest wail anyone in the house had ever heard.
Mom had to pause. Lilly was soaked, yes—but mostly from her own wild splashing.
Trying another approach, Mom reached for Lilly’s favorite rubber ducky. With a squeaky quack, she gave it to her. Lilly grabbed it with a trembling hand, still crying, but a tiny flicker of calm appeared in her eyes.
“Quack,” Mom said again with a smile.
Lilly sniffled… then blinked. The duck quacked once more.
Slowly, the cries began to fade. Lilly still wasn’t happy, but she let Mom rinse her back—with many dramatic sighs and pouts, of course.
By the end of the bath, Lilly sat sulking with the duck on her lap, wet but clean.
She’d survived bath time… barely.
And Mom? She was soaked too—but relieved her big baby was still her dramatic, lovable Lilly.
