Beside him was his best friend, Thang, another mischievous young monkey who loved to splash and play in the water. While most monkeys hesitated to get wet, Luk and Thang were different. They seemed to love the water, and the pool had become their favorite playground.
The moment the caretakers opened the gate to the pool area, Luk rushed forward and leapt in with a graceful splash. He immediately began paddling his arms and kicking his legs with impressive coordination. Thang followed right behind, but his entry was less elegant—he belly-flopped with a huge splash, sending water everywhere. The two of them surfaced, squealing and splashing each other, their little faces full of excitement.
Luk swam laps around the pool with ease, gliding smoothly like a professional swimmer. He even dived under the water, his tail flicking gracefully behind him. Thang, on the other hand, struggled to keep up. Every time he tried to copy Luk’s strokes, he ended up spluttering and rolling onto his back, much to the amusement of the watching troop.
At one point, Luk climbed out of the pool, shook off the water, and then took a running jump back in, sending a giant splash over the others watching from the side. Thang tried the same trick but miscalculated his jump and ended up half-landing on the edge before sliding into the water, making everyone burst into laughter.
The funniest moment came when the caretakers tossed a floating toy into the middle of the pool. Luk immediately went into “athlete mode,” swimming in a perfect straight line to retrieve it. Thang tried to race him but got distracted halfway through by his own reflection in the water. By the time he remembered the toy, Luk had already proudly brought it back to the pool’s edge.
Despite Thang’s clumsiness, Luk never left him behind. He often circled back to encourage him, giving playful nudges and chirps as if to say, “Come on, you can do it!” This made the whole troop chatter in delight, clearly enjoying the bond between the two friends.
As the sun began to set, Luk climbed out of the water one final time, shaking off the droplets from his fur. Thang followed, slipping a little on the edge but managing to pull himself up with Luk’s help. Both monkeys sat side by side, panting from all the excitement, their wet fur sticking out in funny angles.
That day in the garden pool was unforgettable. Luk’s graceful swimming skills combined with Thang’s hilarious antics made for a perfect mix of awe and laughter. It was clear that while Luk had the talent of a true athlete, the real joy came from sharing the pool with his best friend.
