
The morning sky was still pale when the troop woke up, but the usual cheerfulness was missing. A heavy silence clung to the trees like a shadow. Dad Tono, the strongest and kindest monkey in the troop, had been injured the previous night. A falling branch had struck his leg badly, leaving him unable to climb, hunt, or protect his family.
He lay on the forest floor under a broad leaf shelter, breathing slowly, his eyes half-closed from pain. Mama Kira sat beside him, stroking his fur worriedly. But the two smallest members of the troopâCUTIS and Baby Mimiâstood apart, staring at their father with trembling lips and teary eyes.
They were too young to understand everything, but they knew one thing with painful clarity:
Dad was hurt,
and they needed to help him.
CUTIS approached slowly, his tiny fingers brushing Tonoâs arm. Mimi followed, clutching CUTISâ tail like a scared little sibling.
Tono forced a smile. âBe brave,â his eyes seemed to say.
But Mama Kira whispered something that made their little hearts tremble:
âWe need human medicine⌠or fruit to trade with the humans. Without help, Tono will not recover.â
CUTIS and Mimi exchanged a lookâsmall, frightened, but determined. Even though they were babies, even though they didnât fully understand money or trade, they understood the word help.
They had to save Dad.
No matter what.
The First Mission: Collecting Fallen Fruits






CUTIS tugged Mimiâs hand and raced toward the lower part of the forest. There, humans often left baskets for villagers to gather fruits. Some of the local humans were kind and would offer food or medicine in exchange for fruits.
CUTIS and Mimi began their mission.
CUTIS climbed a low branch and shook it with all his tiny strength. Mimi scrambled below, catching the fallen fruits with her small armsâthough more often than not the fruits just bounced off her head.
Each time a fruit hit her, she squeaked in frustration, but she never stopped.
CUTIS kept shaking branches, his little legs trembling but his eyes fueled by determination.
When they had gathered a pile of mangoes, bananas, and jujubes, CUTIS puffed his chest proudly. Mimi clapped softly, though her hands were shaking. They bundled the fruits into large leaves and dragged them toward the human path.
The Second Mission: Working for Peanuts






But when they reached the old trading spot, only one villager was thereâa woman selling vegetables. She looked at the heap of fruits and smiled kindly.
âOh, itâs you again⌠Cutis, right?â she said, recognizing the tiny monkey. CUTIS nodded desperately.
But she frowned. âI donât need fruits today⌠but if you help me clean this area, I can give you some medicine bandages.â
CUTIS looked at Mimi. Mimi looked at CUTIS.
Then both nodded fiercely.
The woman pointed to the fallen leaves scattered everywhere. CUTIS began sweeping with a tiny branch he found on the ground. Mimi tried to help but ended up sweeping leaves onto CUTIS instead of off the path. CUTIS glared, Mimi apologized by hugging him tightlyâand then they continued working.
People passing by paused, amazed at the sight:
Two tiny monkeys working harder than most humans.
Two babiesâearnest, determined, desperate.
CUTIS kept sweeping until his arms shook. Mimi dragged small piles of leaves into little mounds, though half the leaves kept blowing back.
When they were done, the woman handed CUTIS a small packet wrapped in clothâherbal bandages soaked in healing oils.
CUTIS hugged the packet as if it were treasure.
Mimi hugged CUTIS as if he were the treasure.
The Third Mission: Earning Real Money






But the bandages alone wouldnât be enough. Dad Tono needed medicine from the clinic near the village. That required moneyâcoins or bills.
CUTIS knew where humans sometimes dropped them. Near the market. Near the food stalls. Near the trash bins.
So CUTIS and Mimi headed there, their tiny feet padding urgently along the forest path. The closer they got to the village, the louder the noises became: chatter, footsteps, carts rattling, children laughing.
CUTIS grabbed Mimiâs hand to keep her close.
He began scanning the ground.
Looking⌠searching⌠hoping.
Nothing.
They checked under benches.
Under a bicycle.
Near the fruit stand.
Still nothing.
CUTIS felt his heart begin to sinkâuntil he saw a little toddler drop a coin while playing. The coin rolled across the ground and stopped near CUTISâ feet.
CUTIS froze.
Mimi froze too.
The toddler didnât notice.
CUTIS slowly picked up the coin. It glinted in the sunlightâsmall, but full of hope. Mimi squeaked happily and hugged him. CUTIS smiled, though his eyes were tired.
But just thenâ
A loud voice roared:
âHEY! What are you monkeys doing here?!â
A shopkeeper waved a broom, shooing them away. CUTIS grabbed Mimi and sprinted, clutching the coin tightly. He didnât care about the shouting. He only cared about Dad.
The Emotional Return Home




By the time they reached the forest again, CUTIS was exhausted. Mimi was stumbling with fatigue. But when they saw Dad Tono lying weakly in Mamaâs arms, their tiredness vanished.
CUTIS ran to Mama Kira and placed the bandages in her hand. Mimi proudly held out the coin.
Mama covered her mouth with trembling fingers.
âThese⌠you⌠you did all this?â
CUTIS nodded.
Mimi nodded tooâso hard she nearly fell over.
Tears glistened in Mamaâs eyes. She kissed both babies on their foreheads.
âThank you⌠You saved your dad.â
Tono looked at them weakly but with so much pride that CUTISâ little heart nearly burst. Mama Kira wrapped the bandages around his injured leg gently. Tono winced at first, then sighed in relief as the herbal oils soothed the pain.
He reached out and pulled CUTIS and Mimi into his armsâweak but loving.
CUTIS leaned against him happily.
Mimi curled up on his chest, tears of relief soaking his fur.
They had done it.
Two babies.
Tiny, fragile, innocentâŚ
Yet brave enough to work harder than anyone, just to save the one they loved most.
A Heartbreaking but Beautiful Ending



That night, Tono slept peacefully for the first time since the accident. CUTIS and Mimi slept on either side of him, guarding him like two tiny warriors.
Mama Kira kept watching them, wiping away tears occasionally.
The forest was quiet nowâgentle, warm, protective.
And somewhere deep in the silence lay the truth of the day:
Sometimes the smallest hearts carry the greatest courage.
And sometimes love is strong enough to move mountainsâeven when carried by tiny monkey hands. đđđ
