Mother, May I?Once upon a time in a cozy little village, there lived a curious and adventurous young girl named Lily. She loved exploring the woods behind her house, where the trees whispered secrets and the birds sang tunes only she could hear. But, as much as Lily loved the wilderness, there was one rule she always had to follow—"Mother, may I?"Every morning before setting out on her adventures, Lily would run to her mother, who sat by the window, knitting woolen scarves for the coming winter. She would stand before her with wide eyes, eager to explore the world, but knowing the importance of asking for permission first."Mother, may I go to the forest and search for the golden maple leaf?" Lily would ask each day.Her mother would smile kindly, placing her knitting needles down, and look into her daughter's bright eyes."Mother, may I?" Lily repeated with a tone of respect."Yes, my darling," her mother would answer, "but remember to be back before dusk, and stay on the well-trodden paths."And so, Lily would run off, feeling the freedom of the open woods and the comfort of knowing her mother's watchful eye was always with her, even from afar.One day, however, Lily grew bold. She had heard rumors of a hidden meadow deep in the forest, a place where the flowers bloomed year-round, and the air smelled like honey. It sounded magical, like something from one of her favorite fairy tales. But this meadow was far away, deeper in the woods than she had ever gone before. The paths were overgrown, and the trees grew closer together, making it easy to lose track of where she was.As the sun rose and her heart raced with excitement, she turned to her mother and asked, "Mother, may I go deeper into the forest today? To find the hidden meadow?"Her mother paused, her face soft but thoughtful. She had warned Lily about the deeper parts of the woods, telling her that sometimes the trees could be deceptive, and the paths could twist and turn in confusing ways."Mother, may I?" Lily asked again, her voice full of hope.Her mother's eyes softened, but she shook her head. "No, my dear, the woods may hold surprises you're not yet ready for. Stay close to the path. The meadow will still be there another day."Lily's heart sank a little. She had really hoped to find the meadow, but she trusted her mother's wisdom. "Okay, Mother. I'll stay close to the path."But as Lily wandered through the familiar woods, a strange tug of curiosity pulled her off the path. Just a few steps wouldn't hurt, she thought. She ventured farther and farther, the trees growing thicker and the sunlight dimmer, until she realized she had strayed too far.The birds' songs turned quiet, and a cool breeze rustled through the leaves, almost as if the forest was whispering a warning. Her heart raced, and she began to feel the weight of her mistake. How could she find her way back?Just as she began to panic, a soft voice called from behind her. "Lily... where are you going?"Lily turned around to see her mother, standing at the edge of the clearing. She had come searching for her."Mother, I'm lost," Lily said, her voice trembling.Her mother smiled warmly and held out her hand. "You forgot to ask, my love. Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones we take together."With that, Lily took her mother's hand, and together, they walked back along the familiar path, the sunlight breaking through the trees above them. Lily knew that next time, she would always ask before venturing too far.And so, from that day on, Lily always remembered to ask, "Mother, may I?" because she knew that with her mother by her side, she was never truly lost.And they lived happily, safely, and adventurously ever after.