The morning sun peeked through the tall banana trees, casting playful streaks of light onto the ground. Birds chirped noisily, and the whole forest seemed alive with its daily rhythm. In a small hut on the edge of the village, a little monkey named Bibi rubbed his sleepy eyes and stretched his tiny arms. His round belly rumbled loudly—he was hungry.
“Milk!” Bibi whispered to himself. Milk was his favorite comfort, the warm and creamy drink that made him feel safe and loved. Usually, Dad gave it to him right after he woke up. But today, the bottle was empty. Bibi looked around—Dad was busy chopping firewood, and no one seemed to notice the little monkey’s hunger.
Bibi tapped his bottle against the ground. “Clink! Clink!” he said, hoping someone would come refill it. But Dad only called out, “Be patient, Bibi, I’ll get it later.”
Bibi’s big brown eyes filled with determination. If no one will bring me milk, then I will go find it myself! he thought. And so, with a brave little heart, he slung his empty bottle over his shoulder like a bag and set off on a milk-finding adventure.
he First Stop: Auntie Cow
Bibi wandered down the dusty path until he heard a soft moo. He peeked around the fence and saw Auntie Cow, chewing grass slowly in the field. Bibi’s face lit up.
“Auntie Cow! Auntie Cow!” he called, running up to her. “You make milk, don’t you? Can you give me some for my bottle?”
The gentle cow lowered her head and licked Bibi’s ear affectionately. “Moo-oo, little one, I do give milk. But my milk goes to Farmer’s children first. They need it for their breakfast.”
Bibi’s face drooped. “Oh…” He rubbed his empty bottle sadly.
“But don’t worry,” Auntie Cow said with a smile. “If you follow the path past the tall tree, you might find another friend who can help.”
Bibi thanked her and marched off again, determination stronger than ever.
The Second Stop: The Coconut Tree
The path led Bibi to a tall coconut tree. A bunch of shiny green coconuts hung high above. Bibi clapped his hands in excitement. “Coconut water is like milk, right?!”
He scampered up the tree with all his monkey strength. Higher and higher he went until he reached a big round coconut. With a swift twist, he plucked it and carried it down.
Thud! The coconut hit the ground, rolling a little before stopping. Bibi tapped it with his bottle, but no milk came out. He frowned. Then he remembered—crack it open!
But try as he might, he couldn’t split it. He rolled it against rocks, bit at its husk, even tried sitting on it, but the stubborn coconut wouldn’t open. Exhausted, Bibi sighed. “Maybe coconut milk isn’t for me.”
Just then, a parrot watching from a branch squawked, “Try the village! Try the village!”
Bibi’s eyes brightened again. Off he went.
The Third Stop: The Village Shop
When Bibi reached the small village shop, he pressed his face to the glass. Inside were colorful boxes, fruits, jars of honey—and bottles of milk! His mouth watered just looking at them.
He rushed inside, clutching his empty bottle. “Hello, Shopkeeper! Can you give me milk for this bottle?”
The kind shopkeeper knelt down and chuckled. “Oh, little monkey, I’d love to, but you need coins to buy milk.”
“Coins?” Bibi tilted his head. He had no coins, only a tiny pebble in his pocket. He offered it with a shy smile. “Will this work?”
The shopkeeper laughed gently. “Not quite, dear one. But if you help me sweep the floor, I might give you a small treat.”
So Bibi grabbed a broom twice his size and did his best. Dust flew everywhere, and he sneezed so loudly that the chickens outside clucked in alarm. Still, the shopkeeper appreciated his effort and gave him a banana.
It wasn’t milk, but it filled Bibi’s tummy a little. “Thank you,” he said politely, even though his heart still longed for that creamy drink.
The Fourth Stop: Grandma Goat
On the way back, Bibi heard tiny bells jingling. It was Grandma Goat, who was carrying baskets of vegetables. Bibi ran to her.
“Grandma Goat! Do you know where I can find milk?”
She patted his head. “Oh, child, goats give milk too. But mine is already promised to the cheese-maker today.”
Bibi’s shoulders slumped. It seemed everywhere he went, the milk already belonged to someone else.
Grandma Goat bent down and whispered kindly, “Sometimes, the thing you seek is waiting for you at home.”
Bibi thought about her words. Maybe Dad had milk ready by now! With new hope, he scampered back toward the hut.
Home Again
By the time Bibi arrived, the sun was high, and his little legs ached from walking. He pushed open the door, dragging his empty bottle behind him.
Inside, Dad was waiting with a big smile—and a fresh bottle of warm milk.
“Bibi! There you are. I was wondering where you ran off to,” Dad said, scooping him into his arms.
Bibi squeaked happily, holding his bottle up. “I went everywhere looking for milk! I asked Auntie Cow, climbed a coconut tree, visited the shop, even talked to Grandma Goat. But no one could give me milk.”
Dad laughed and kissed Bibi’s forehead. “Silly little one, you don’t need to search so far. Everything you need is right here at home.”
He handed Bibi the bottle, filled to the top. The little monkey drank eagerly, his eyes closing in bliss. The warmth spread through his belly, and soon his adventurous frown turned into the sweetest smile.
Lesson Learned
As Bibi finished his milk, Dad rocked him gently. “Do you know what today taught you?”
Bibi licked a drop of milk from his lips. “That milk is very hard to find?” he guessed.
Dad chuckled. “Not quite. Today you learned that while adventures are exciting, sometimes the things we need most are waiting close to us, from those who love us.”
Bibi hugged his bottle tightly, thinking about all the kind friends he had met along the way. Though his tummy was finally full, he realized the journey itself had given him something special too—a story to tell and lessons to keep.
With that, the little monkey snuggled against Dad’s chest, already drifting into a nap. His empty bottle lay beside him, but his heart was full.
And so, Bibi’s big adventure for milk came to a happy end—not because of what he found, but because he learned that love and care are the sweetest nourishment of all.
