The sun was setting over the green hills, and the forest began to glow in shades of gold and orange. The troop of monkeys had finished their day of play and exploration, and everyone was getting ready to rest. The baby monkeys cuddled close to their mothers, nibbling on fruits and leaves as the cool evening breeze passed through the treetops.
But little Lulu, one of the youngest monkeys in the group, wasn’t ready for bed yet. She was curious, energetic, and always wanted to try something new. While her mother was busy grooming her older brother, Lulu decided to go on a tiny adventure of her own.
She climbed down a low branch and wandered toward a patch of bright green plants near a rock. The leaves looked juicy and shiny — much fresher than the ones she usually ate. Her tiny pink nose twitched as she sniffed them. “Mmm, smells nice,” she thought. Without hesitation, she plucked one leaf and began to chew.
At first, everything seemed fine. The taste was a bit bitter, but she thought maybe it was a new kind of leaf. She chewed a few more bites. But within minutes, her little tummy began to hurt. Lulu stopped chewing and sat down, confused. The world around her seemed to spin slightly.
Meanwhile, her mother, Mama Nini, noticed that Lulu had gone quiet. Usually, the baby was making noises or swinging nearby. “Lulu?” she called softly, looking around. No answer. Her mother’s heart started to beat faster. She jumped from one branch to another, scanning the ground below. Then she spotted a tiny brown figure sitting beside a rock, holding her stomach.
“Lulu!” Nini cried as she rushed down. She grabbed her baby gently and looked at her face. Lulu’s lips were trembling, and her eyes looked tired. The mother sniffed Lulu’s mouth — and immediately recognized the bitter, chemical smell. Her heart froze.
“Oh no… poison leaves!”
In this forest, some plants looked delicious but were deadly. The older monkeys knew to avoid them, but a baby wouldn’t understand. Nini’s mind raced — she had seen this before when a young monkey had eaten the same plant years ago. If she didn’t act quickly, Lulu could get very sick… or worse.
Without wasting a second, Nini carried Lulu to a nearby water stream. She dipped her hands in the cool water and tried to make her baby drink. Lulu weakly swallowed a few drops, but then her body trembled. Nini began to panic.
She remembered the trick that elder monkeys used long ago — they would make the baby spit out what they had eaten before it spread through their body. Nini quickly picked some long grass, rolled it into a small bundle, and gently rubbed it against Lulu’s tongue. The baby didn’t like it and tried to push her mother’s hand away, but Nini persisted.
“Come on, baby, spit it out,” she whispered desperately.
Finally, Lulu gagged and vomited a little. Pieces of the half-chewed poisonous leaf came out, mixed with saliva. Nini sighed in relief but knew it wasn’t over yet. She hugged her baby close and continued to rinse her mouth with water from her hands.
Soon, the troop’s elder female, Asha, arrived. She had seen the commotion and rushed over. “What happened?” she asked.
“She ate the wrong leaf,” Nini said with tears in her eyes. “I made her spit it out, but she’s still weak.”
Asha nodded calmly. “You did the right thing. Bring her to the banana tree — I have some herbs that can help.”
Together, they carried Lulu to a shaded area under a big banana tree. Asha crushed some herbal leaves between stones until a green paste formed. She mixed it with water and rubbed it gently on Lulu’s tongue and lips. The herbs were natural antidotes that helped neutralize mild poisons.
Within a few minutes, Lulu started to blink and move slightly. Her breathing slowed down, and her tiny hands reached for her mother’s fur.
“Shh… you’re okay now,” Nini whispered as she held her baby tightly. “Mama’s here.”
The other monkeys gathered around, worried but curious. Some of the young ones whispered, “What happened to Lulu?”
Asha turned to them and said seriously, “Remember, little ones — not everything green is good. You must always wait for your mother to give you food. The forest hides many dangers.”
That night, Nini didn’t sleep. She held Lulu close, feeling her tiny heartbeat against her chest. Every time the baby stirred, Nini checked her breathing. The moonlight shimmered through the leaves, making the moment feel calm but fragile.
Hours passed, and finally, Lulu opened her eyes. “Mama…” she murmured softly.
Nini smiled with tears of relief. “Yes, my love. I’m here.”
Lulu nuzzled her mother’s neck, her strength slowly returning. She didn’t remember much about what happened — only that something she ate made her tummy hurt and that her mother had saved her.
The next morning, the sun rose bright and gentle. The forest was full of birdsong and rustling leaves. Nini watched as Lulu played carefully with her friends again, this time staying close and not wandering off.
The older monkeys smiled as they saw the pair together. Everyone had learned a lesson — even the mothers, who became more watchful of what their babies touched or ate.
Days later, Lulu had fully recovered. Her fur looked shiny again, and her playful energy had returned. But she never forgot that bitter taste. Whenever she saw shiny green leaves, she would wrinkle her nose and move away.
One afternoon, while the troop was foraging, Lulu saw another younger baby reaching toward a similar poisonous plant. She immediately ran over and squeaked loudly, waving her tiny hands to warn them. The baby froze, startled, and the mothers quickly came over.
Nini watched proudly from a distance. “She remembers,” she whispered.
From that day on, Lulu became a little protector for the younger ones. She might have been small, but she had already learned an important lesson — curiosity is good, but safety comes first.
The story of Lulu spread through the troop, and even the elder monkeys praised Nini’s bravery and quick thinking. Without her love and knowledge, the little one might not have survived.
That evening, as the troop settled again under the fading light, Nini groomed Lulu lovingly. The little monkey leaned against her mother, enjoying the warmth and security she knew so well.
“Mama,” Lulu said softly, “I won’t eat anything unless you say it’s okay.”
Nini chuckled. “Good girl. You scared me so much that night.”
“I’m sorry,” Lulu whispered.
Her mother kissed her forehead gently. “You don’t have to be sorry. Just promise me you’ll stay close.”
“I promise,” Lulu said, snuggling into her mother’s arms.
As the stars appeared one by one in the dark sky, the forest grew quiet. The soft hum of insects filled the night, and the monkeys fell asleep in peace. Nini’s heart was full — she knew danger could come anytime in the wild, but as long as they had love, alertness, and each other, they could face anything.
And little Lulu, who had once eaten poison by mistake, had now become wiser and stronger. Her story became a gentle reminder to every young monkey — that a mother’s love can save a life, even in the darkest, scariest moments. 🙉💞
