The warm morning sun peeked through the forest canopy, lighting up the little clearing where the young monkeys played. Among them was baby monkey Susu, a tiny bundle of energy with bright eyes and a mischievous grin. He was known all over the troop as the cheeky oneâalways up to some kind of playful trouble.
That morning, Susu woke earlier than usual. The air smelled fresh after a night of light rain, and drops of water still clung to the big banana leaves above. He stretched, rubbed his eyes, and looked around for his best friend, Mimiâa shy little monkey who loved to play quietly and eat fruit in peace.

Susu spotted her sitting under a fig tree, nibbling on a ripe piece of papaya. âHehe,â Susu thought, âIâll surprise her today!â He crept behind the tree, careful not to make a sound. Mimi was so focused on her food that she didnât notice him at all. Thenâjump!
âBoo!â Susu shouted, landing right beside her.
Mimi squealed and dropped her papaya. âSusu! You scared me!â she cried, clutching her chest.
Susu laughed so hard he rolled on the ground. âYou shouldâve seen your face!â he giggled, pointing at her. âYou looked like you saw a ghost!â
Mimi frowned and picked up her papaya. âThatâs not funny,â she said softly. âYou always do that.â
But Susu was still chuckling, not realizing heâd really startled his gentle friend.

A few minutes later, all the young monkeys gathered to play. They climbed vines, swung from branches, and chased one another through the trees. The forest echoed with cheerful squeals and laughter. Susu was the fastest climber of them all, darting from tree to tree like a little spark of lightning.
When the game turned into hide and seek, Susu had another idea. Mimi was the seeker this time. While she covered her eyes and counted, Susu quietly climbed above her and dropped a small leaf on her head.
âWho did that?â Mimi asked, looking up.
Susu held in his laughter and stayed quiet. Then he plucked another leaf and dropped it. Mimi turned in circles, confused. The other monkeys giggled from their hiding spots.
When Mimi finally found Susu, he couldnât hold it in anymoreâhe burst out laughing, slapping his knee and falling from the branch into a pile of soft leaves below.
âYouâre so mean!â Mimi shouted. Her cheeks puffed up with anger, but Susu only laughed harder.
âCome on, itâs just a game,â he said. âYou have to learn to laugh too!â
But Mimi didnât find it funny at all. She walked away quietly, leaving Susu alone.

Later that day, the troop moved toward a stream to drink and cool off. The baby monkeys splashed water and played with floating leaves. Susu noticed Mimi sitting alone by a rock, still upset. He felt a little bad but didnât know how to say sorry. So instead, he decided to cheer her up the only way he knew howâby teasing her again.
He picked up a small twig and dipped it into the water, flicking droplets toward Mimi.
âStop it, Susu!â she said, covering her face.
But Susu only laughed and flicked again. âIâm just helping you cool down!â he joked.
Mimi turned her back. She didnât want to cry, but her eyes grew watery. She missed when Susu used to be kindâwhen they shared fruit together or played without him making fun of her.
Just then, Mama Lala, an older female monkey and the troopâs caretaker, noticed what was happening. She called out, âSusu! Come here right now!â
Susu froze. His little heart raced. Mama Lala rarely raised her voice.
He walked over, head down.
âWhy are you teasing Mimi again?â she asked gently but firmly.
âI was just playing,â Susu mumbled. âI didnât mean to make her sad.â
Mama Lala knelt down and looked him in the eyes. âPlay is fun when everyone is happy,â she said. âBut when someone feels hurt, itâs no longer a game. Friends are not toys, Susu.â
Susuâs ears drooped. He looked over at Mimi, who was still sitting by the rock, quietly wiping her eyes. For the first time that day, he felt something heavy insideâguilt.
That afternoon, while everyone rested, Susu sat alone on a branch, thinking about what Mama Lala said. He remembered all the times Mimi had shared her food with him or helped him climb down when he got stuck. She was always patient with him. And he⌠had made her cry.
Susu sighed. âI didnât want to hurt her,â he whispered.
He picked a small yellow flower growing near the tree trunkâMimiâs favorite kind. Then, slowly, he climbed down and approached her.
Mimi looked up when she saw him coming but didnât say anything.
âIâm sorry, Mimi,â Susu said softly, holding out the flower. âI didnât mean to make you sad. I just wanted to make you laugh.â
Mimi hesitated, but then she smiled faintly. âYou donât have to tease me to make me laugh, Susu,â she said. âWe can have fun without being mean.â
Susu nodded. âI know. Iâll try to be better.â
Mimi took the flower and tucked it behind her ear. âOkay,â she said, âletâs go find the others.â
From that day on, Susu tried to change. He still loved to play and make jokes, but he learned to notice when others were happy and when they werenât. When he saw Mimi, heâd smile instead of teasing.
One day, as they climbed together in the big fig tree, Mimi slipped a little. Susu quickly reached out and grabbed her hand.
âCareful!â he said. âDonât fall.â
Mimi looked surprised. âThank you, Susu.â
He grinned. âSee? I can be nice too!â
They both laughed, swinging side by side.
The other young monkeys noticed the change in Susu. âHeâs different now,â said one. âHe doesnât tease so much.â
âYes,â said another, âheâs actually really fun to play with.â
Hearing that made Susu proud. He realized that kindness brought him even more friends than teasing ever did.
That evening, as the sun set and the sky turned orange, Mama Lala watched the little monkeys curl up together near the big tree. She smiled when she saw Susu and Mimi sitting close, sharing a banana.
Susu looked up and caught Mama Lalaâs eyes. She gave him a gentle nod, proud of how much heâd grown.
The forest grew quiet except for the chirping of crickets and the soft rustling of leaves. Susu yawned, resting his head on his friendâs shoulder.
âGood night, Mimi,â he whispered.
âGood night, Susu,â she replied. âNo more teasing tomorrow, okay?â
Susu giggled softly. âPromise.â
And as the stars appeared above, baby monkey Susu drifted to sleepâno longer the naughty teaser he once was, but a caring little friend who had learned that laughter is sweetest when shared with kindness.
