The sun peeked through the tall banana leaves, painting golden streaks across the little courtyard where the baby monkeys liked to play. The morning air was fresh, filled with the smell of damp earth and the faint sweetness of papaya. In this peaceful corner of the world, two baby monkeys, Sumi and Kevin, were growing up together under the watchful care of their human family.
Sumi was a little girl monkey—curious, gentle, and shy. She loved climbing onto small wooden stools and sitting there like a tiny queen, observing everything that happened around her. Kevin, on the other hand, was loud and full of energy. He loved to jump, chase, and wrestle with anything that moved—whether it was a toy, a leaf blown by the wind, or another monkey.
That morning, Sumi sat quietly near the basket of fresh fruit, her little hands holding a small banana. She was peeling it carefully, taking tiny bites, enjoying the taste. Her big round eyes were calm, and she hummed a soft, almost unnoticeable sound of contentment.
But Kevin had other plans.
He had just finished his bottle of milk and was bouncing with energy. His eyes darted around until they landed on Sumi. He saw her sitting there so peacefully, so still, and something inside him just couldn’t resist. Kevin squealed with excitement, stood on his little legs, and ran full speed toward her, arms open as if to tackle her into play.
The moment Sumi noticed him charging toward her, her heart leapt. She didn’t like sudden movements. Kevin was loud and sometimes too rough, and she wasn’t ready for one of his wrestling games. With a startled little cry, Sumi quickly leapt from the stool, dropped her banana, and darted across the courtyard.
“Eee! Eee!” Kevin squeaked as he chased after her, thinking it was a game.
But to Sumi, it was not fun at all. Her tiny feet carried her fast, her long tail swinging as she ran past the basket, over a log, and behind the big clay pot. She peeked out, her wide eyes watching Kevin, who stopped in the middle of the yard, looking around with confusion.
“Where did she go?” Kevin seemed to think, tilting his head this way and that.
From behind the pot, Sumi stayed hidden. Her little chest rose and fell quickly as she caught her breath. She didn’t want to fight or play roughly; she just wanted to enjoy her banana in peace.
Kevin, still buzzing with energy, didn’t give up. He spotted her tail flicking behind the pot and let out a happy shriek before running toward her again. Sumi gasped and darted out from her hiding spot, this time climbing up the small wooden fence and sitting on the top beam. From there, she looked down at Kevin, her eyes wide, as if saying, “Don’t come any closer!”
Kevin reached the fence and jumped, but he was still too small to climb all the way up. He clung to the wood, kicking his legs as he tried to reach Sumi. She looked down at him, half nervous, half amused.
The humans nearby laughed softly at the scene. “Look at Sumi, always running away from Kevin,” Dad said with a smile. “And Kevin, always chasing her. One wants peace, the other wants fun.”
Sumi sat on the fence, hugging herself, while Kevin finally slid down to the ground in defeat. But only for a moment—his playful spirit wasn’t done yet. He grabbed a small stick and waved it around, making little noises to get Sumi’s attention.
Sumi tilted her head, curious but still cautious. She knew Kevin too well. He always turned curiosity into chaos.
Finally, Kevin dropped the stick and ran off to the fruit basket, grabbing the banana Sumi had dropped earlier. He held it up, squealing proudly, as if to say, “Look, I found your treasure!” Then, instead of eating it, he waddled toward her slowly, holding it out like a peace offering.
Sumi hesitated. Was he tricking her? She watched him carefully, her tail curling tighter around the beam. Kevin stopped at the bottom of the fence and lifted the banana higher, his little face looking surprisingly sweet.
Something softened in Sumi’s heart. Slowly, carefully, she climbed down from the fence. Kevin’s eyes sparkled with triumph—not the mischievous kind, but the happy kind that came from sharing. When she was close enough, he pushed the banana toward her little hands.
Sumi blinked, surprised. She took it gently, nibbling the end, and then looked at Kevin. For a rare moment, she didn’t run away. Instead, she let him sit beside her on the ground.
The humans watching clapped softly, touched by the little moment of peace between the two baby monkeys.
But peace never lasted long with Kevin. After a few bites, he suddenly reached out, trying to grab the banana back. Sumi shrieked and quickly leapt away, scampering to the other side of the yard with her fruit.
“Eee! Eee!” Kevin cried, chasing after her again.
And just like that, the game restarted. Sumi, with her cautious little heart, always on the run. Kevin, with his endless bursts of energy, always giving chase.
As the sun climbed higher and the yard filled with laughter, the two baby monkeys continued their playful dance of running, hiding, chasing, and squealing.
Though Sumi ran away whenever Kevin ran to her, deep inside, she loved him like a brother. And Kevin, even in his wildest moments, never wanted to hurt her—he just wanted her to play.
And so their days went on, a mixture of gentle patience and unstoppable energy, two little souls learning how to grow together in their small, lively world.
