The Second Time
Rainbow had always been curious—too curious, Mama said. The first time it got him into trouble, he’d tried to chase a butterfly across the river stones and nearly slipped in. But this time was worse. Much worse.
It happened on a warm afternoon when the sky was so bright it almost looked painted. Baby Levy was sitting beneath the big mango tree, playing with a wooden toy cart. Rainbow, the family’s mischievous little pup, was darting around, chasing shadows and sniffing everything in sight.
Levy loved Rainbow. Wherever the puppy went, Levy wanted to follow.
That’s how it started.
Rainbow spotted something—a bright green lizard crawling up the mango tree. Without hesitation, he leaped onto the trunk and began scrambling upward, barking excitedly. Levy giggled. To him, it looked like a game. A challenge.
Slowly, clumsily, Levy pulled himself up using the rough bark. His tiny feet searched for balance while his hands gripped tightly. Rainbow had already climbed higher, completely unaware of what was happening below.
“Ra…in…bow!” Levy called, laughing as he climbed.
The branches creaked softly. A breeze passed through the leaves, making them whisper. Levy was higher now—too high.
Rainbow finally noticed. He turned, tail wagging, thinking Levy had come to play. But as he shifted his weight on the branch, it shook. Just enough.
Levy wobbled.
For a split second, everything froze.
Then—crack.
The small branch beneath Levy’s foot gave way. His body tilted backward, his hands slipping from the bark.
But before he could fall, a strong pair of arms caught him.
Mama.
She had seen it all from the doorway and ran faster than she ever had before. Holding Levy tightly against her chest, she sank to her knees, heart pounding.
Rainbow barked from above, confused, as if asking what went wrong.
Mama looked up at him, her expression a mix of relief and stern warning. “That’s the second time, Rainbow,” she said softly.
From that day on, Rainbow still chased lizards—but Mama made sure Levy stayed safely on the ground.
