The sun was already high in the sky, and the backyard was filled with soft laughter and the smell of ripe longans. Kevin, the baby monkey, sat on the small wooden table beside his dad, swinging his tail happily while chewing on a juicy longan. His little hands were sticky from the sweet fruit, and he looked so proud of himself for being able to peel it just like the humans did.
Dad, sitting nearby with a gentle smile, kept an eye on Kevin. He knew his little monkey loved longans more than anything — but he also knew that Kevin didn’t always understand the danger of the slippery seeds inside. “Slowly, Kevin,” Dad said softly. “Don’t eat too fast.”
Kevin chirped a tiny sound as if to say, “I’m fine, Dad!” and popped another longan into his mouth. He bit into it with delight, his eyes lighting up. But suddenly, his cheerful face froze. His little hands stopped moving. He looked at Dad with wide, frightened eyes.
The seed had slipped to the back of his throat.
“Kevin?” Dad’s voice sharpened. He immediately put down the fruit bowl and rushed over. Kevin made a small gagging noise, trying to cough but unable to get the seed out. His eyes began to water. Panic filled the air.
Without hesitation, Dad gently but quickly picked Kevin up. “It’s okay, baby, I got you,” he murmured, trying to stay calm even though his heart was pounding. Kevin clung to his shirt, his small body trembling. Dad could feel his little chest rising and falling fast.
He remembered what he’d learned before — how to help someone when they’re choking. He carefully turned Kevin upside down so the seed could move downward. With one hand supporting Kevin’s chest, he gave a few gentle but firm pats on his back. “Come on, Kevin. Spit it out, boy. You can do it.”
Kevin coughed weakly, but the seed stayed lodged. Dad felt a wave of fear, but he didn’t give up. He tried again — a few more pats between the little monkey’s shoulder blades — and suddenly, with a small pop, the longan seed flew out and bounced across the ground.
Kevin gasped, taking in a huge breath of air. His chest heaved as he began to cry — not from pain, but from shock. Dad quickly turned him around and hugged him tight. “It’s okay, Kevin. You’re safe now,” he whispered.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Kevin’s small arms wrapped tightly around Dad’s neck, and he buried his face against his chest, whimpering softly. Dad stroked his back gently, feeling an overwhelming wave of relief. “You scared me, little one,” he said with a shaky laugh. “No more longan seeds for you, huh?”
Kevin sniffled, his eyes still wet, but he managed a faint, apologetic chirp. His dad smiled and kissed the top of his tiny head.
A few minutes later, Dad brought Kevin some water to drink and wiped his sticky face with a soft towel. Kevin looked calmer now, but he stayed close to Dad, clinging to his arm. His big brown eyes followed every move, as if afraid to be left alone.
“You know, Kevin,” Dad said, smiling gently, “you have to be careful when you eat fruit. Longans are sweet, but that seed inside can be tricky.” He picked up another longan and peeled it slowly, showing Kevin how to separate the seed before eating. “See? Like this. You can eat the juicy part, but the seed goes here.”
Kevin nodded seriously, watching closely. He reached out with his little fingers, carefully imitating Dad’s movements. This time, he took the seed out first — holding it proudly in his palm before eating the fruit. Dad laughed. “Good boy! That’s how smart monkeys do it.”
The rest of the afternoon turned peaceful again. Dad and Kevin sat under the big mango tree, sharing fruits and fresh air. Kevin kept glancing at the longan seeds piled up beside them, as if reminding himself not to make the same mistake again.
But even after everything, he still couldn’t resist playing with them. He picked one seed up and rolled it across the table, watching it spin and wobble. Dad chuckled. “You’re really something, Kevin. Always turning a scare into a game.”
Later that evening, as the sky turned orange and the wind grew cooler, Kevin curled up on Dad’s lap, looking tired. His earlier fright had drained his little energy. Dad gently brushed his fur. “You did very well today,” he whispered. “And you were brave.”
Kevin made a soft cooing sound, half asleep already. Dad thought about how much he loved this little creature — how much he had changed since Kevin came into his life. Kevin wasn’t just a baby monkey; he was family. Watching him grow, learn, and make mistakes was just like raising a curious child.
That night, as Dad placed Kevin in his small blanket bed, the baby monkey suddenly reached out his hand. He wanted Dad to stay close. Dad smiled and sat beside him until Kevin finally drifted off to sleep. The little monkey’s breathing became slow and peaceful, and his tiny hand still rested on Dad’s arm.
When Dad looked down at him, he couldn’t help but feel grateful. The day could have turned tragic, but it didn’t. It turned into another reminder — how fragile and precious life was, and how love and care could make all the difference.
The next morning, Kevin woke up early, full of energy again. He jumped onto Dad’s shoulder, chirping happily, as if to say, “Good morning, Dad!” Dad laughed and rubbed his head. “Feeling better now?”
Kevin nodded eagerly and ran toward the fruit bowl. But when he saw the longans, he hesitated — then turned to Dad with a questioning look. Dad smiled, peeled one carefully, removed the seed, and handed it to him. “There. Safe and sweet.”
Kevin took it and began eating slowly, savoring each bite. He even showed Dad his mouth to prove that he wasn’t hiding any seeds this time. Dad laughed until tears came to his eyes. “You’re learning fast, buddy.”
From that day on, Kevin never forgot the lesson. Whenever he saw a longan, he would always remove the seed first — sometimes even showing Dad proudly, as if saying, Look! I’m being careful!
And every time, Dad’s heart would swell with warmth. That moment — the day he helped Kevin remove the longan seed — became a story he would never forget. It was more than just a scary incident. It was a story of trust, love, and the bond between a father and his little monkey — a reminder that even the smallest acts of care could mean everything in life.
So whenever the longan season came around again, and the air filled with the sweet scent of ripe fruit, Dad would smile, hand a peeled one to Kevin, and say, “Here you go, champ — no seeds, no worries.”
And Kevin would grin, tail swishing happily, before taking a bite — safe, loved, and always under Dad’s watchful eyes.
