It was a bright, breezy morning in the quiet countryside, and the birds were chirping excitedly as if they sensed something special was about to happen. CUTIS, a little golden-furred monkey with big round eyes and a curious nature, woke up feeling something was different. He rubbed his eyes, stretched his long arms, and looked around.
Then he saw her—his favorite person in the whole world—his Mom, brushing her hair in front of a small mirror, wearing a dress CUTIS had never seen before. It sparkled under the sunlight like stars had been sewn into it. Her face glowed with happiness.
CUTIS tilted his head and blinked. “Where going?” he asked, crawling closer.
Mom turned around, laughing softly. “It’s a wedding, sweetie. Auntie Sokha is getting married.”
“A wedding?” CUTIS repeated. He didn’t know exactly what that was, but it sounded magical. He clapped his tiny hands. “CUTIS go too!”
Mom smiled, kneeling down to his level. “Oh, I wish I could take you, baby. But it’s not a place for little ones. Too many people, too noisy, too far.”
CUTIS’s face dropped instantly. His lips trembled, and his eyes started to water. “But CUTIS be good… CUTIS want go… CUTIS no noisy.”
Mom kissed his forehead. “I know, honey. But it’s just for a few hours. You stay with Grandma, okay?”
But CUTIS didn’t want to stay with Grandma. He wanted to go with Mom. He had never seen a wedding, but the way she smiled made him want to be there too. He wanted to see what made her so excited. He wanted to wear his little blue bow tie and dance, and eat sweet fruits, and be held in her arms.
“No!” CUTIS shouted suddenly. “CUTIS go too!”
Tears rolled down his cheeks. His little hands grabbed the hem of her dress as she stood up. “Please, please,” he cried, “CUTIS follow Mom!”
Mom hesitated. It broke her heart to leave him behind. But the wedding was two hours away, and she knew there would be loud music, firecrackers, and lots of guests. CUTIS hated loud sounds. He’d cover his ears and cry. It wouldn’t be safe.
She gently pried his tiny fingers off her dress, whispering, “I love you, CUTIS. I’ll be back before you know it.”
And just like that, she was gone.
CUTIS stood at the wooden gate, watching her disappear into the distance, riding on the back of a motorbike, her scarf flying in the wind. His heart thumped with sadness. He wailed. His cries echoed across the trees, and Grandma came rushing out.
“Oh, my poor boy,” Grandma said, lifting him up. “She’ll be back soon. Want to help me make banana pudding?”
But CUTIS turned his head away. He didn’t want pudding. He didn’t want toys. He didn’t even want his favorite soft blanket.
He wanted Mom.
CUTIS sulked in the corner, tears still drying on his cheeks. Then, suddenly, an idea popped into his head. His eyes lit up.
He would follow her.
He waited until Grandma was busy sweeping the floor. Then, as quiet as a cloud, CUTIS crept outside. He slipped past the gate, past the mango tree, and onto the narrow dusty road. His tiny feet ran fast, his heart pounding with hope.
He followed the path he saw Mom take, sniffing the air and scanning the road for clues. Every now and then, he called out softly, “Mom…?”
But the road stretched far and quiet. After a while, CUTIS grew tired. His feet were dusty, and the sun beat down hot and heavy. Still, he didn’t stop. He had to find her. He had to go to the wedding.
But after an hour of walking, CUTIS began to slow down. His legs ached. His stomach growled. He hadn’t brought any water. The world didn’t seem magical anymore—it seemed big and empty without her.
He sat down under a tree, wiping his tears with his tiny hands. “Mom…” he whispered sadly.
Just then, a motorbike approached in the distance. CUTIS’s ears perked up. Could it be?
No—it wasn’t her. It was a kind farmer passing by, surprised to see a little monkey sitting alone by the road.
“Hey there, buddy,” the farmer said gently. “Are you lost?”
CUTIS looked up, too tired to speak. He just nodded, eyes full of sadness.
The farmer picked him up carefully and took him to the nearby village. Someone there recognized CUTIS—everyone knew the monkey who followed the farmer’s wife around like a shadow.
Soon enough, the village called Grandma, and she came rushing over, worried sick.
“Oh CUTIS!” she cried, hugging him tight. “You gave us such a scare!”
Back at home, CUTIS curled up in Grandma’s lap, exhausted. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t go. He didn’t understand why something so happy made him feel so left out. All he knew was he wanted to be with his Mom.
That evening, just as the sun was setting, CUTIS heard the familiar sound of the motorbike again. He jumped up and ran to the gate.
“MOM!” he shouted.
She was back.
She scooped him into her arms, spinning him around. “My brave little one! Grandma told me everything. You tried to follow me?”
CUTIS nodded, pouting.
Mom sat down with him on her lap and showed him pictures from the wedding on her phone—flowers, food, dancing, and Auntie Sokha in her red and gold dress.
“Next time,” she said softly, “when you’re a little older, I’ll take you with me. You can dance and eat cake and stay by my side all night. Okay?”
CUTIS smiled faintly and buried his face into her shoulder. He didn’t need the wedding anymore. He had what mattered most now—her.
And this time, she wasn’t going anywhere.
