The sun peeked through the leaves of the tall mango tree, and the farmyard slowly came alive. CUTIS, the kind farmer with a heart as warm as the morning sun, was preparing breakfast for his family. Mom was still resting with the newborn baby, and beside them was the cradle rocking gently. But in another corner of the house, a little monkey sat with wide, curious eyes fixed on one thing—the baby’s milk bottle.
The monkey had always been playful, mischievous, and endlessly curious. He had watched CUTIS carefully prepare warm milk for the baby every morning, and the sight fascinated him. The bottle wasn’t just food—it looked like a shiny treasure. To the little monkey, the soft white liquid inside must be something magical, and he wanted to try it for himself.
The First Attempt
As CUTIS placed the milk bottle on the small table beside the bed, he went out to fetch water from the well. The baby slept soundly, Mom was dozing, and the monkey saw his chance. He tiptoed—though his tiptoeing was more like bouncing—across the wooden floor, eyes locked on the bottle.
With a quick jump, he reached the table, stretched out his tiny hand, and grabbed the cool bottle. The plastic nipple squished between his fingers, and he chirped happily as if saying, “I got it!”
But the victory was short-lived. The bottle was heavier than he expected. As he tried to lift it to his mouth, it slipped, rolled across the table, and dropped to the floor with a dull thud.
The baby stirred. Mom opened her eyes slightly, saw the monkey scrambling, and whispered with a sleepy smile, “Oh, you cheeky little one, that’s not yours.”
The monkey froze, then darted behind the curtain, peeking out shyly with wide, guilty eyes.
Curiosity Grows
For most animals, one failure would have been enough. But not this monkey. His curiosity grew stronger. The way CUTIS held the bottle, tilting it so the baby could drink, fascinated him. He thought if he could just figure out the secret, he too could enjoy the mysterious white drink.
So he began observing. Every time CUTIS fed the baby, the monkey sat close, head tilted, eyes following every move. He even mimicked CUTIS, picking up sticks or bananas and pretending to tilt them toward his mouth.
CUTIS noticed and chuckled. “You really want to know, don’t you?” he said, scratching the monkey’s head. But he didn’t give the bottle to him, because the milk was special for the baby.
Still, the monkey waited patiently for another chance.
The Great Chase
One afternoon, while CUTIS was in the field, Mom had just finished feeding the baby. She placed the half-full bottle on the bedside table, planning to give the baby more later. The little monkey was playing near the cradle when his nose twitched—he had caught the sweet, warm smell of milk.
He scrambled onto the bed, grabbed the bottle, and this time held it tightly to his chest. But before he could taste it, Mom spotted him.
“Hey! That’s not for you!” she said, reaching out.
The monkey squealed and leapt away, clutching the bottle like a stolen prize. What followed was pure chaos.
The monkey darted across the room, scampering up shelves and under chairs. Mom, careful not to wake the baby, chased him gently but firmly. “Come here, little rascal! You’ll spill it!”
At one point, the monkey climbed onto the curtain rod, dangling with one hand while holding the bottle with the other. He tilted it, and a drop of milk landed on his tongue. His eyes widened in delight—it was sweet!
That taste was enough to make him even more determined.
CUTIS Joins In
When CUTIS returned from the fields, he was greeted by the funniest scene: Mom trying to corner the monkey, the monkey hopping around with the milk bottle, and the baby giggling at the commotion.
“What’s going on here?” CUTIS laughed.
“This little troublemaker won’t give up the bottle!” Mom said, half-exasperated, half-amused.
CUTIS crouched down and stretched out his hand. “Come here, buddy. Give it back.”
But the monkey shook his head vigorously and clutched the bottle tighter. CUTIS sighed, then smiled. “Alright, I see you won’t give up easily. Let’s make a deal.”
The Clever Solution
CUTIS walked to the kitchen and poured a small amount of warm milk into a tiny clay cup. He placed it on the floor and called gently, “Here, this is for you.”
The monkey sniffed the air, his curiosity battling his stubbornness. Finally, he crept down from the chair, set the bottle on the floor, and dipped his fingers into the cup. He tasted the milk—and his eyes lit up with joy.
It was better than he had imagined. He drank eagerly, both hands holding the cup. Meanwhile, CUTIS retrieved the bottle, cleaned it, and set it back for the baby.
“See? Everyone gets what they need,” CUTIS said with a wink.
The monkey, satisfied at last, licked the cup clean and then curled up happily beside the baby’s cradle.
A New Routine
From that day forward, the monkey no longer tried to steal the baby’s bottle. Instead, every time CUTIS prepared milk for the baby, he also poured a small portion into the clay cup. The monkey would wait patiently, sometimes tapping his fingers on the floor impatiently, but never stealing again.
The baby would drink from the bottle, the monkey would sip from his cup, and CUTIS and Mom would laugh at the sight of their unusual family sharing such a tender moment.
The farm, once filled only with the sounds of animals and tools, now echoed with laughter, chatter, and the gentle bond between a baby, a monkey, and the loving parents who cared for them.
A Lesson in Sharing
One evening, as the sun set and the family gathered around the warm fire, CUTIS reflected on the day’s events.
“You know,” he said, “it’s funny how determined he was to get that bottle. But in the end, all he needed was his own little share.”
Mom nodded. “Just like children, animals also need patience and understanding. He wasn’t being naughty—just curious.”
The monkey, now full and drowsy, nestled close to CUTIS, while the baby slept peacefully in the cradle.
CUTIS stroked both gently. “Family means making space for everyone, no matter how big or small, human or not.”
The monkey gave a soft chirp, as if agreeing.
Conclusion
The little monkey’s quest for the milk bottle turned into more than just a playful adventure. It became a story of patience, curiosity, and love. Though he never truly won the bottle, he gained something better—his own place at the family table, where his needs were understood and respected.
For CUTIS and his family, the incident became a favorite memory. Every time they saw the monkey drinking from his little cup, they remembered the chaos of that first chase and laughed.
And for the monkey, every drop of warm milk was more than just a drink—it was a symbol of belonging. He wasn’t just a mischievous pet anymore. He was family.
