Lea and the Whispering Caves

Lea was a giggler. Her laugh bounced off the tall gum trees and chased the kookaburras living near their mountain cabin. Every morning, before any adventure could begin, there was one very important stop: the "Ready-Set-Go!" chart on the fridge. Her job was to pack the water bottles and check for hats. "Hats on heads, water in tummies, then fun for our mummies!" she'd sing, which always made her big brother Tom snort with laughter.

One sunny morning, Dad announced, "Team! Today's the day we hike to the Whispering Caves!" Lea's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. The Caves! She'd heard stories they hummed with secrets. She grabbed her backpack, ready to zoom out the door. She saw the chart, with her name next to 'water bottles', but her feet were already wiggling. "Caves can't wait!" she thought, and zipped past the kitchen, leaving her jobs behind.

The mountain path was dusty and the sun felt like a warm blanket. Soon, Tom started to lag. "I'm so thirsty," he mumbled. Mum turned, "Lea, love, can you pass Tom his water?" Lea's heart did a little wobble. The water bottles were sitting on the kitchen bench. She tried her best trick—a funny face and a silly voice. "Maybe the mountain has a secret lemonade tap we can find?" But nobody giggled. Tom just looked grumpy, and the fun felt like it was leaking out of the day.

Lea's cheeks felt as hot as the sun. The "Ready-Set-Go!" chart flashed in her mind. Her jobs weren't just jobs; they were team-jobs. "I forgot," she said in a small voice. "I was too excited. I'm sorry. I'll run back and get them." Dad smiled a little. "We'll all go back. That's a team-job too." So they trotted back down the path. Lea grabbed the bottles and hats, feeling a new kind of happy—the proud, responsible kind.

The second hike up the mountain was the best ever. They sipped cool water whenever they were thirsty and their hats kept them shady. The Whispering Caves were magical, echoing their happy voices. That evening, cozy in the cabin, Lea pointed to the chart. "Jobs first, then fun... makes the fun number one!" she declared. This time, everyone laughed, a big, happy, shared laugh that was better than any silly joke.