In a quiet little village surrounded by tall trees and bright green rice fields, there lived a baby monkey named Tomo. Tomo was playful, curious, and full of energy. His days were usually filled with climbing bamboo stalks, swinging from branches, and exploring the corners of the farm where he lived with his family. But lately, Tomo had discovered something new and exciting—the sound of voices coming from a little device his Dad used all the time: the phone.
One morning, as the golden sunlight streamed through the leaves, Tomo sat on the porch and noticed Dad’s phone lying on the table. The screen lit up and made a soft buzzing sound. Tomo tilted his head and tapped it with his tiny fingers. The phone made a “beep,” and suddenly, a voice came through. Tomo’s eyes widened.
“Hello? Hello?” said the voice.
Tomo gasped. Someone is inside this box! He held the phone to his ear just like he had seen Dad do. But instead of answering properly, Tomo squeaked and giggled. Then, with great excitement, he pressed more buttons.
Soon the screen showed pictures of people—Dad’s friends. Tomo thought they were all waiting to talk to him. With one quick swipe, he pressed the call button.
“Eee-eee! Ooo-oooh!” Tomo chattered into the phone.
On the other side, Dad’s friend answered. “Uh…hello? Who is this?”
Tomo squealed and tapped the screen again, making the call end. He clapped his tiny hands with delight. This is fun! I can talk to anyone I want!
The Calling Adventure Begins
After that discovery, Tomo made it his mission to call as many “friends” as possible. He thought of them as friends even if he had never met them. To him, anyone who answered was automatically his playmate.
First, he called Auntie Mai, who always brought bananas when she visited.
“Tomo? Is that you?” Auntie Mai asked, laughing when she heard monkey chatter.
Tomo responded with little squeaks, bouncing up and down. Auntie Mai laughed so much that her neighbors could hear. “Oh dear, you’ve figured out the phone, haven’t you?”
Next, Tomo pressed another button and reached Uncle Vann, who worked at the market. Uncle Vann was surprised to hear monkey sounds at first, but then he smiled through the line. “Well, hello little one. Are you calling to ask for mangoes?”
Hearing the word “mango,” Tomo jumped excitedly. He loved mangoes more than anything. To him, it felt like Uncle Vann had read his mind.
One by one, Tomo kept calling. Each time he heard a new voice, his heart filled with joy. Some people answered with confusion, some with laughter, and some simply hung up. But Tomo didn’t mind—he was learning something important: the world was bigger than he had thought, and friends were everywhere.
Dad’s Surprise
By the time Dad returned from the garden, his phone had already made more than ten calls. Dad picked it up and noticed the long list of outgoing numbers. His eyes widened.
“Tomo!” Dad said in mock seriousness. “Did you call all these people?”
Tomo looked up with innocent wide eyes and gave a cheerful squeak. He hugged the phone tightly as if it were his new toy.
Dad sighed but couldn’t help laughing. “You little rascal. You’re making everyone think I’ve gone crazy calling them so early in the morning!”
But Dad didn’t take the phone away. Instead, he decided to watch what Tomo would do next.
Sure enough, Tomo pressed another button, and suddenly Grandma’s face appeared on a video call. Grandma laughed warmly when she saw the little monkey.
“Oh, my sweet Tomo! You miss me, don’t you?” she said.
Tomo clapped his hands and squeaked. He tried to kiss the screen, making Grandma laugh even harder. Dad shook his head and smiled. “Looks like Tomo really has found a new way to stay connected.”
Friends From Far Away
Word spread quickly in the village that Tomo had learned to use the phone. Instead of being annoyed, most people found it adorable. Some even looked forward to receiving his random calls. Children giggled when they heard his monkey chatter, and adults smiled, feeling their day brighten.
One day, Dad’s old friend from another city answered. When he saw Tomo’s curious face on the video screen, he introduced his own children. They waved at Tomo, and Tomo waved back.
From then on, Tomo didn’t just call adults—he made friends with kids his own age. They would laugh together, show him toys through the screen, and even pretend to feed him fruits. Tomo would respond by holding up his own banana proudly, as if to say, Look! I have food too!
It became a kind of routine. Every morning, Tomo would sit patiently, waiting for Dad to hand over the phone. Dad allowed it, but only under supervision. After all, Tomo was not just playing—he was building a circle of friendship bigger than the jungle around him.
The Lesson of Connection
As the weeks passed, Tomo’s “phone calls” became something everyone looked forward to. Auntie Mai would tell her neighbors, “I got another call from little Tomo today. He’s such a clever monkey!” Uncle Vann would keep aside a mango, saying, “This one’s for Tomo when I see him.”
Even Grandma started preparing short songs to sing whenever Tomo called, and Tomo would clap along happily.
Dad realized something important. What had started as mischief had turned into a powerful way to spread joy. Tomo reminded everyone that friendship didn’t need words—it only needed warmth, laughter, and a little effort to reach out.
The Big Day
One sunny afternoon, Dad decided to organize a small gathering. He invited all the people Tomo had been calling. To Dad’s surprise, many of them came, bringing fruits, flowers, and smiles.
When Tomo saw them arriving, his eyes lit up. He ran around, hugging legs, climbing onto shoulders, and chattering happily. It was as if all his “phone friends” had suddenly stepped out of the little screen and appeared in real life.
Auntie Mai gave him bananas, Uncle Vann handed him ripe mangoes, and the children showed him their toys in person. Tomo squealed with delight, sharing hugs and little kisses.
That evening, as everyone sat together eating and laughing, Dad whispered to Tomo, “See, my boy? Calling friends is wonderful. But the best part is when friends come together.”
Tomo curled up in Dad’s arms, his belly full of fruit, his heart full of joy. For the first time, he understood what friendship truly meant—not just voices in a phone, but people who cared enough to come and share moments.
The Ending
As the moon rose and the gathering ended, Tomo fell asleep with a smile. The phone rested quietly on the table nearby, no longer just a toy but a bridge that had connected him to a world of kindness.
From that day on, whenever the phone rang, everyone hoped it was Tomo calling. For in his playful chatter and innocent giggles, he carried a simple message:
Friends make the world brighter—and sometimes, even a baby monkey knows how to bring them together.
