Vol 1 Chapter 24: Side Story 2 – Adventure of Little Caelan with Mommy Part 1

A Clear Sky in Rose Valley…

POV: Caelan El Rose – Mommy’s Little Daughter

“La-la… la-la-la…”

I sang along the road. Today, I’m going to pick mushrooms in the forest with Mommy.

This morning, Mommy woke me up. Mommy changed my clothes. Caelan loves Mommy so much.

Mommy prepared breakfast for me. Honey toast, eggs, milk—I like all of it. But I don’t like boiled spinach. It tastes bad.

Mommy fed me until I was full. Mommy also ate the leftover spinach I didn’t finish. Mommy is really nice. Hehe.

After breakfast, Mommy asked what I wanted for lunch. I wanted grilled mushrooms… Mommy hasn’t cooked mushrooms for me in a long time.

Mommy said the mushroom seller was sick. So I can’t eat mushrooms today. But I want mushrooms.

I puffed my cheeks, crossed my arms, and sat on the dining chair. I won’t leave this chair until Mommy listens to me.

Mommy smiled softly. Mommy stroked my hair. It felt so good. Hehe.

Mommy said she would look for mushrooms in the forest behind the village. Mommy sighed. Her lips curved downward.

Mommy said if she went to the forest, I would be alone at home. I shook my head. I want to go with Mommy.

Mommy didn’t say anything. Then Mommy looked at me.

I could see my reflection in Mommy’s blue eyes. Mommy is really pretty. Hehe.

Mommy said I could come, but I had to obey.

I nodded. I don’t want to be left behind; I want to go with Mommy.

Mommy allowed me to come. Yay! I get to go on an adventure to the forest with Mommy. I can’t wait. Hehe.

…

“La-la… la-la-la…”

“Trii-li… trii-li-lii… tii-ri-lii…”

The birds sounded so pretty. I turned to the trees on the right side of the road. Yellow birds were dancing on the branches.

“Mommy… look! Mrs Bird is singing with Caelan,” I said, pointing at them.

Mommy smiled and patted my head. I love it when Mommy pats my head.

“The birds like sweet girls like Caelan,” Mommy said gently.

“Hehe… Mrs Bird is really nice, Mom,” I said cheerfully while raising my hand.

Mommy and I watched Mrs Bird fly, then settle into her nest. Mrs Bird was warming her eggs.

Mommy held my hand and said, “Let’s continue our walk, honey.”

“Okay, Mom,” I said, gripping Mommy’s hand. Mommy’s hand is so soft.

I kept walking on the green ground. Wow, the forest is beautiful. Lots of tall trees, green grass. Colourful butterflies. But—

“Hah… hah…”

My chest hurt. My forehead was sweaty.

Mommy stopped. Her blue eyes widened when she saw I couldn’t walk anymore.

“Honey… if you’re tired… tell Mommy, okay?” Mommy lifted me into her arms. “Mommy told you to stay home.”

I shook my head. “No, Mom. Caelan wants to go with Mommy. Caelan doesn’t like being left alone,” I said with a pout.

Mommy gave a small smile. She pinched my cheek. It tickled so much.

“Caelan is Mommy’s daughter. But—” Mommy exhaled. “Caelan must not force herself. If you're tired, tell Mommy, understand?”

“I understand, Mom,” I said, nodding, then hugged Mommy.

Hugging Mommy feels so warm. Mommy really is the best in the whole world. Hehe.

Mommy carried me. Sometimes she stopped to wipe the sweat on my forehead.

I tugged the hem of Mommy’s dress. “Mom… when can we eat mushrooms?”

Mommy stroked my silver hair. “Be patient, honey. We’re almost there.”

I nodded. “Caelan will wait, Mom.”

“Good. Caelan is a good girl.”

Mommy kept walking. I looked up and saw the sky growing darker.

The trees were so tall. The sun was covered by the leaves.

But I could see between the leaves. Mr Sun was still peeking at me and following me.

Maybe Mr Sun is feeling shy. Mr Sun can follow me. Caelan doesn’t mind.

I looked behind us. My chin was on Mommy’s shoulder.

I saw Mr Sun following until the leaves covered him. Mr Sun couldn’t peek anymore.

“Mommy… the forest is dark. Mr Sun can’t peek at Caelan anymore,” I said, pointing up.

Mommy laughed softly. Then Mommy caressed my face.

“We’ve arrived, honey. Here, we can find Caelan’s favourite mushrooms,” Mommy said gently.

“Yay! Caelan wants to get down and help Mommy look for mushrooms. Can I, Mom?”

“Caelan is a good girl.” Mommy set me down. “But Caelan must promise Mommy. Don’t go far from Mommy.”

“And if Caelan gets tired, Caelan must tell Mommy, understood?”

“Caelan understands, Mom,” I said happily, hopping lightly.

My feet touched the mossy ground. I crouched down. My eyes spotted mushrooms.

They grew on a rotten log. I picked the mushroom and walked back to Mommy.

“Mom… can we eat this mushroom?” I asked, giving it to her.

Mommy took the mushroom. Her blue eyes studied it. Then Mommy sighed softly.

“Honey… this mushroom can’t be eaten,” Mommy said gently.

I lowered my head. “But Caelan wants to help Mommy…”

Mommy patted my head. “Don’t give up, honey. Caelan can look for more.”

Mommy stood still for a moment. Her lips curved into a smile.

“If Caelan has trouble finding mushrooms, you can let Mommy handle it.”

“No, Mom. Caelan wants to help,” I said, shaking my head.

“Careful, honey. Caelan can gather them first, and Mommy will check them later, okay?”

“Mommy really is the best,” I said eagerly.

I walked again around the fallen log. I’m going to find lots of mushrooms. I want Mommy to praise me. Hehe.

I walked between the tree trunks. Termites were lined up along the wood.

I wanted to play with Mr Termite. My finger was about to touch Mr Termite. But—

“No! Caelan can’t play yet. Caelan has to look for mushrooms first,” I said, pulling my hand back.

I stepped over the fallen logs. I paused for a moment.

“Why are there more and more logs?” I asked while touching my chin.

I walked again through the grass and rotten wood. I crouched down and saw lots of mushrooms. They looked like ears. The mushrooms grew on the wood.

I picked the mushrooms. I rolled up the hem of my clothes and placed the mushrooms inside the fabric.

I picked more and more ear mushrooms from the woods. Then, I walked past a log covered in bushes. Then—

“Wow… there’s a field in the middle of the forest,” I said in awe.

I saw lots of logs in the field. I walked toward the logs arranged like the books on my desk.

I crouched down and picked a big ear mushroom from the bush near the woods. But—

“Mmm… who is this uncle?” I asked while touching my head.

I saw an uncle sleeping on the ground. His clothes were dirty.

“Uncle… don’t sleep here. Mommy said sleeping outside can make you cough,” I said while poking the uncle’s cheek with my finger.

But the uncle kept sleeping. He didn’t want to listen to me.

"Crack…"

I heard a twig snap. I turned around and saw Mommy standing behind me.

“Mommy… look! This uncle is sleeping on the ground…” I said while pointing at him.

I looked at Mommy’s face. But Mommy wasn’t smiling like usual. Her blue eyes widened.

“Mommy?” I tilted my head.

“It’s alright, honey. Come here—” Suddenly, Mommy smiled softly again.

Mommy lifted me into her arms.

“Look, Mom! Caelan already collected mushrooms!” I said proudly, showing her the ear-shaped mushrooms in the fold of my clothes.

Mommy took one of my mushrooms. She examined it closely.

Then Mommy smiled faintly and stroked my hair.

“Good job. Caelan truly is Mommy’s daugher. These mushrooms can be made into barbecue, honey,” Mommy said gently.

“Hehe… Caelan can eat mushroom barbecue. Yay!” I said happily.

I laughed joyfully, being praised by Mommy. I really like it when Mommy praises me. Mommy, please praise Caelan even more. Hehe.

…

Mommy put my mushrooms into the red pouch.

Oh, right, I forgot. There was that strange uncle sleeping on the mossy ground.

“Mommy… who is that uncle?” I asked while pointing at him.

Mommy didn’t answer. I looked at Mommy’s face. Her lips curved downward.

“Mommy?” I asked, eyes wide.

Suddenly, Mommy shook her head, then kissed my forehead.

“Honey, that uncle is just resting. Don’t disturb him.”

“But Mom, you said if Caelan sleeps outside, Caelan will cough. That uncle might cough if he sleeps there, Mom,” I said curiously.

Mommy stroked my face and gave a small smile. “Honey, you walked in the forest earlier and got tired, didn’t you?”

“Yes, Mom. Caelan couldn’t walk anymore,” I said, nodding.

Mommy smiled. “Just like you, that uncle is tired too, honey.”

“Tired?” I turned my head left and right around the uncle.

There were more uncles sleeping on the ground. They wore dirty iron clothes.

These uncles must have pushed themselves too hard like Caelan, then fell asleep from exhaustion.

“Caelan understands, Mom.” I stopped and held my head. “Can Caelan help wake the uncles up, Mom?”

“No, honey. Don’t disturb them. Let them wake up on their own,” Mommy said gently.

“It’s already noon. Let’s go home, honey,” Mommy said.

“Okay, Mom,” I replied obediently.

But before we left, Mommy walked toward a chubby uncle who was sleeping, leaning against a log. Mommy reached into her dress pocket.

Suddenly, a single stem of a rose appeared.

Wow, Mommy can do magic tricks. Mommy is amazing. Hehe.

Mommy placed the rose stem on the uncle’s body. Mommy gave a faint smile as she looked at the uncle sleeping peacefully on the ground.

“Let’s continue our walk, honey.” Mommy smiled softly. “Caelan can’t wait to eat mushroom barbecue, right?”

“Yes, Mom. Caelan wants to eat Mommy’s mushroom barbecue.” I tugged the edge of Mommy’s dress. “Let’s go home, Mom. Caelan is hungry.”

Mommy chuckled softly and kissed my cheek. “Caelan truly is a sweet girl. Say goodbye to the uncles, honey.”

“Goodbye, uncles.”

Mommy then carried me in her arms, and we went home.

That evening, Mommy made me delicious mushroom barbecue. Mommy really is the best in the whole world.

Caelan loves Mommy so, so much.