The sun peeked through the lush green canopy of the forest, sprinkling soft golden light on the ground below. Morning had just begun at the animal sanctuary, and the air was filled with cheerful sounds—birds chirping, leaves rustling, and somewhere nearby, the excited squeals of a little monkey named Xuxu.
Xuxu was wide awake and full of curiosity. Her tiny hands reached through the bars of her play area as she watched her caretaker, Mina, walk toward her carrying a large basket. Xuxu’s eyes sparkled with interest the moment she caught a whiff of something sweet and delicious. Her nose twitched, and she leaned forward, eager to see what surprises Mina had brought.
“Good morning, my little girl,” Mina said with a bright smile. “Guess what I have for you today?”
Xuxu jumped in place, her tail curling tightly with excitement. She made a few soft “ee-ee” sounds, clapping her hands as if to say, “Show me! Show me!”
Mina set the basket down in front of her and slowly lifted the lid. Inside were the most colorful fruits Xuxu had ever seen—ripe bananas, juicy mangoes, shiny apples, plump grapes, bright oranges, and even a few slices of watermelon glistening with moisture.
The moment Xuxu saw the rainbow of fruits, she gasped and covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes widening in wonder. It was like a treasure chest of sweetness waiting just for her!
“Today,” Mina said playfully, “you get to choose your favorite fruit.”
Xuxu tilted her head, blinking curiously. Choose? That was a big responsibility for such a small monkey. She glanced back and forth between the fruits, scratching her head, unsure where to start.
She began her inspection seriously, like a tiny fruit expert. First, she picked up a banana. Bananas were her comfort food—soft, sweet, and easy to peel. She sniffed it thoughtfully, then gave it a gentle squeeze. It was perfectly ripe. She let out a small pleased hum and took a tiny bite. Her eyes lit up. Delicious! But then she paused. There were so many other choices… maybe something even better?
She carefully set the banana aside and reached for a bright red apple next. It was shiny and smooth. Xuxu turned it around in her hands, admiring its color. She tried to bite into it, but her little teeth found the skin too tough. She frowned, tapping it with her finger as if to say, “Too hard!” Then she looked at Mina, who laughed softly and cut a small slice for her. Xuxu took the slice, chewed it slowly, and nodded with satisfaction. “Mmm!” her eyes seemed to say. Sweet and crunchy—quite good.
Next, she spotted the juicy watermelon slices. The red color fascinated her. She poked one slice, and a drop of juice slid down her finger. She licked it curiously and then took a big bite. Instantly, her face changed—her eyes widened, her cheeks puffed out, and then she smiled so big that Mina laughed. Watermelon was cold, juicy, and sweet—it tasted like sunshine and fun!
But Xuxu wasn’t done yet. She saw the small purple grapes and picked one up between her fingers. She squeezed it a little too hard, and it popped, spraying a tiny drop of juice onto her nose. Surprised, she blinked twice and licked the juice off her fur. Then she giggled and reached for another one, this time more carefully. She popped it into her mouth, and the burst of sweetness made her do a little happy dance.
“Looks like someone likes grapes too,” Mina chuckled.
Xuxu gave a proud nod, her cheeks stuffed with fruit.
Still, she wasn’t ready to decide. She looked down at the basket again, her little face turning thoughtful. The mango slices caught her eye next. Their golden-yellow color looked irresistible. She reached for a piece, sniffed it, and took a small bite. Immediately, her expression softened—eyes half-closed, a dreamy smile spreading across her face. The mango was so soft and sweet that she let out a tiny satisfied squeal, swinging her tail happily.
Mina watched her with affection. “Oh, I think we found your favorite, didn’t we?”
But Xuxu wasn’t ready to declare it yet. She looked at the orange slices next. She loved their bright color, but when she tried to peel one, she frowned—it was tricky! Mina helped her open it, and Xuxu sniffed the citrusy scent. She took a bite, but the sour taste made her scrunch up her nose and shake her head quickly. She even stuck out her little tongue as if to say, “Too sour!” Mina laughed so hard she had to wipe away tears.
After her grand fruit-tasting adventure, Xuxu sat surrounded by tiny fruit pieces—bananas, grapes, apple slices, mango chunks, and a half-eaten piece of watermelon. Her fur around her mouth was sticky with juice, and her hands were covered in fruit bits, but she didn’t care. She looked at the basket again, thoughtful and satisfied.
Mina leaned closer. “So, little one, which fruit is your favorite?”
Xuxu looked up at her, then down at the fruits. She picked up the mango slice again, gave it one more bite, and smiled. Then, with a happy squeak, she lifted it high like a trophy.
“Mango it is!” Mina said, laughing.
Xuxu nodded proudly, her eyes shining. She continued eating her mango slices, one after another, licking every bit of sweet juice from her fingers. The other fruits lay forgotten for now—though she occasionally reached out for a grape or a bit of banana, just to compare.
When she finally finished, she sat back with a content sigh, rubbing her round little belly. Mina handed her a small wet cloth to clean her hands, but Xuxu playfully wiped her face with it too, giggling as the cool fabric brushed her cheeks.
Then she climbed onto Mina’s shoulder, curling up comfortably. Her stomach was full, and her heart was happy. The morning sun warmed her fur as she rested her head against Mina’s neck.
As they walked through the sanctuary, other monkeys watched curiously. A few of them chattered, noticing the fruit stains around Xuxu’s mouth. It was clear she had just had the best breakfast of her life!
Later that day, Mina decided to make fruit time a daily routine. Each morning, she would bring a basket filled with different fruits and let Xuxu choose what she wanted. Sometimes Xuxu picked mangoes, sometimes bananas—but mangoes always remained her top choice.
Her playful personality showed more and more each day. When Mina wasn’t looking, Xuxu would sneak into the fruit basket, pick up a mango slice, and run away to her favorite branch to eat it quietly. Mina would laugh when she found her, juice dripping from her chin, looking so proud of herself.
The other monkeys soon joined in, turning fruit time into a cheerful group activity. They’d all gather around, watching Xuxu’s dramatic reactions to each fruit—her scrunched face at the sour orange, her giggles at popping grapes, her dreamy sighs over the mango.
Xuxu had become the “fruit queen” of the sanctuary. Whenever Mina brought fruit, everyone waited to see what Xuxu would choose first. And, without fail, she would always reach for a golden slice of mango and hold it up proudly before taking her first delicious bite.
That evening, as the sun dipped behind the trees and the forest filled with the hum of crickets, Xuxu sat on Mina’s lap, licking the last bit of mango juice from her fingers. Mina stroked her soft fur and whispered, “You’re such a funny little girl, Xuxu. Always full of joy.”
Xuxu looked up, eyes half-closed in happiness, and pressed her tiny hand against Mina’s cheek as if to say, “Thank you for the fruit.”
In that simple, sweet moment, the world felt peaceful and perfect. The little monkey who loved mangoes had not only filled her belly but also warmed every heart around her.
From that day on, whenever someone mentioned fruit, Xuxu’s ears perked up, and her face lit with excitement. Because for her, fruit time wasn’t just about food—it was about love, discovery, and the joy of choosing her favorite fruit all by herself. 🍌🍉🥭🐒💞
