It was a peaceful afternoon in the jungle park — the air warm, the trees whispering softly in the breeze, and the smell of ripe fruit wafting through the open space where the monkeys often gathered. CUTIS, the most beloved and hardworking monkey of the group, had decided that today was “cooking day.” Of course, monkeys didn’t really cook, but CUTIS had developed quite the habit of imitating the humans who visited the park. Whenever she saw people preparing food, she’d sit nearby, watching every motion with bright curiosity. Over time, she began copying them — gathering fruits, stacking leaves, and pretending to “stir” her imaginary meals in coconut shells.
But this time, she wasn’t alone. Her little one — a chubby-cheeked, wide-eyed baby monkey named Miko — was sitting nearby, playing with a stick and occasionally poking at CUTIS’s pile of fruits. The two were an inseparable duo, full of energy and mischief. CUTIS had become like a mother figure to all the younger monkeys in the park, but with Miko, she was especially gentle, patient, and endlessly loving.
That afternoon, after a busy morning of climbing trees and entertaining visitors, CUTIS seemed unusually tired. She gathered a few bananas, a handful of berries, and even a few nuts she’d found near a bench. She sat down, cross-legged, beside an old cooking pot the caretakers sometimes used for feeding time. As usual, she began her funny little “cooking” routine — tossing fruit pieces into the pot, stirring them with a stick, and occasionally tasting them like a professional chef. The nearby monkeys watched, amused, while Miko giggled, clapping his tiny hands.
“Eee-eee!” he chirped, as if cheering her on. CUTIS smiled, squeaked back softly, and continued stirring.
But the heat of the afternoon sun, combined with the exhaustion from the morning, began to take its toll. Her movements slowed. The steady rhythm of her stirring became lazy and uneven. She blinked heavily, rubbed her eyes, and let out a small sigh.
Miko noticed immediately. “Eee?” he squeaked, tilting his tiny head. CUTIS gave a sleepy smile, reached out to pat him on the head, and then — to everyone’s surprise — she nodded off mid-stir.
The stick fell from her hand. Her head drooped. Her eyes closed completely. CUTIS… was asleep.
For a moment, there was silence. Miko stared in disbelief. His little mouth fell open, and his hands froze mid-clap. He couldn’t understand what was happening — his strong, lively mother who always moved and played was suddenly still.
“Eee-eee-EEE!” he chirped, louder now. CUTIS didn’t move.
The baby monkey scrambled closer, shaking her shoulder with his tiny hands. “Eee! Eee!” His eyes widened with panic. He tugged at her fur, patted her face, and even tried to pull her hand up. But CUTIS was in a deep, peaceful nap.
From a nearby branch, one of the other monkeys, an older male named Jiko, watched with amusement. To him, it was clear CUTIS was just sleeping, but to Miko, this was an emergency. He squeaked frantically, jumping around her, waving his arms, and making the most dramatic monkey noises anyone in the park had ever heard.
Visitors who happened to be nearby started laughing. “Aww, look at the baby! He thinks his mom fainted!” one woman said, covering her mouth.
But Miko wasn’t joking. His little heart was pounding. He looked at the “pot,” sniffed it, and suddenly began mimicking CUTIS’s cooking movements — as if trying to finish the job for her. Maybe, in his tiny mind, he thought, If I finish cooking, she’ll wake up!
So there he was — a baby monkey, stirring with both hands, making a huge mess of fruit pieces, squeaking nervously the whole time. “Eee! Eee!” He looked at CUTIS every few seconds, waiting for her to move. Still nothing.
Finally, Miko paused, staring at her face. Slowly, he climbed onto her lap and sat there, patting her cheek gently. His expression softened. The panic turned into worry, then into sadness. He nuzzled against her chest, hugging her tightly, making small, pitiful squeaks. The scene was so heart-melting that everyone watching went silent. Even the other monkeys stopped playing, gathering around with curious eyes.
Then, suddenly — CUTIS snored.
It was loud, funny, and completely unexpected. The sound startled Miko so much that he jumped straight up into the air, squealing in shock. CUTIS blinked awake, confused by the sudden movement and noise.
When she saw Miko trembling, eyes wide and teary, she quickly pulled him close. She squeaked softly, wrapping her arms around him in a tight, comforting hug. Miko buried his face into her chest, still hiccuping little cries. CUTIS groomed his fur gently, cooing in that low, loving tone only monkeys can make.
The crowd watching broke into laughter and applause. Some even filmed the entire moment — the baby monkey’s frantic panic, the dramatic “rescue,” and the hilarious snore that ended it all. CUTIS, now fully awake, blinked at the humans, tilting her head as if to ask, What did I miss?
After a few moments, CUTIS looked down at her “meal.” The pot was overflowing with half-eaten fruit, peels, and berry juice splattered everywhere. Miko had clearly tried to “help.” CUTIS sighed dramatically — a big, expressive monkey sigh — and gave him a playful tap on the nose.
“Eee!” Miko squeaked, now giggling. He picked up a banana slice and offered it to her. CUTIS took it, pretending to chew it thoughtfully, and then placed a berry on his head like a tiny crown. The humans watching laughed again, one of them saying, “They’re like a comedy duo!”
But CUTIS wasn’t done yet. Once she realized she had fallen asleep mid-cooking, she became overly dramatic — pointing at herself, squeaking loudly, then pretending to fall asleep again, snoring and “collapsing” into Miko’s lap. The baby squealed with laughter this time, clapping his tiny hands. CUTIS “woke up” dramatically again, pretending to faint in slow motion, and the cycle continued until the entire park was roaring with laughter.
By now, other monkeys had joined in, mimicking CUTIS’s fake fainting act. It turned into a full-blown performance — monkeys falling over dramatically, others pretending to fan them, and Miko running around squeaking in mock panic. It was chaos, comedy, and heartwarming family bonding all rolled into one unforgettable scene.
Later, as the sun began to dip and the park quieted down, CUTIS and Miko sat side by side on their favorite tree branch. Miko leaned against her belly, clutching her arm like a tiny child. CUTIS gently stroked his fur, glancing at the distant horizon where the orange light danced through the leaves.
Miko looked up at her with sleepy eyes, as if to say, Don’t fall asleep again, okay? CUTIS smiled — that gentle, knowing monkey smile — and kissed the top of his head.
The caretakers nearby whispered softly, “It’s amazing how much love and emotion these monkeys have. The baby really thought she was gone.”
CUTIS let out a soft purr, eyes half-closed. This time, she stayed awake — at least until Miko’s breathing slowed and he drifted off in her arms. She looked down at him, brushed a stray leaf from his fur, and held him tighter, her heart full of quiet love.
And somewhere, among the trees and laughter that still echoed faintly through the park, CUTIS reminded everyone watching — humans and monkeys alike — that even in the funniest moments, there’s always a deep bond, a mother’s instinct, and a child’s love that makes the world a little brighter.
Because sometimes, it only takes one funny nap, one panicked baby, and one loud snore to remind everyone what love looks like — even in a monkey’s world. 🐒❤️
