Jacee was the younger one — small, clumsy, and full of giggles. Joyce, a little older and braver, loved challenges and often led their adventures. That day, Joyce had her eyes set on something exciting: swimming across the wide river to reach a small island filled with fruit trees.
“I’m going to swim all the way over there!” Joyce pointed with excitement.
Mama Lina raised her eyebrows. “Be careful, Joyce. That water is deep, and the current is strong.”
“I can do it!” Joyce grinned and jumped into the water. She swam confidently, her arms moving smoothly through the water. She had been practicing every day and was determined to make it across.
Back on the bank, Jacee was sitting on a large rock next to Mama Lina, swinging his legs. He watched his sister swim away, then looked at his mom with wide eyes.
“Mom, I want to go too!” he said.
Mama Lina gently smiled and said, “You’re not ready to swim across yet, Jacee. Let’s wait for Joyce to come back, okay?”
But Jacee, being playful and impatient, had other ideas. As his mom leaned forward to look at Joyce in the distance, Jacee climbed onto her back. He slipped a little, trying to balance himself, and suddenly lost his footing. With a loud splash — SPLASH! — he fell right on top of Mama Lina, knocking them both into the water!
“Ahh!” Mama Lina gasped as they went under for a moment. She quickly resurfaced, holding Jacee tightly in her arms.
“You silly monkey!” she said with a mixture of relief and concern.
Jacee coughed and clung to her neck. “I didn’t mean to!”
“I know,” she said, swimming them back toward the bank. “But that’s why we don’t play near the edge without watching.”
Meanwhile, Joyce had reached the middle of the river. She heard the splash and looked back, worried. She saw her mom and Jacee in the water and shouted, “Are you okay?!”
“We’re fine!” Mama Lina called out, still swimming with Jacee clinging to her like a backpack. “Just a surprise dive!”
Joyce giggled and turned back to continue her journey across. A few minutes later, she made it to the small island, where she climbed up onto the grass and waved proudly.
Jacee and Mama Lina finally reached the bank, both dripping wet. Mama Lina shook the water off her fur while Jacee looked embarrassed.
“I wanted to be like Joyce,” he mumbled.
Mama Lina hugged him. “You will, Jacee. One day. But you have to grow a little more and learn to swim safely. Until then, leave the wild dives to your sister!”
Later that evening, Joyce swam back with a bunch of sweet red fruits in her hands. She gave some to Jacee and winked. “Next time, I’ll teach you how to swim like me.”
Jacee beamed. He was ready to learn — just not fall into the water again.
