Deep in the warm, green heart of the forest lived a tiny baby monkey named Susu. She was one of the youngest in her troop, with soft brown fur, bright round eyes, and the sweetest little cheeks that everyone loved to pinch. Susu was playful, curious, and always full of energy—so full of energy that she somehow managed to get messy every single day.
On this peaceful morning, sunlight streamed through the leaves like golden threads. Birds chirped softly, and the air smelled fresh after last night’s light rain. Susu was already awake, rolling around in the soft dirt outside the family’s tree. Her mother, Mama Lala, watched from a branch above.
“Susu,” Mama called gently, “don’t wander too far.”
But Susu was too busy exploring a shiny pebble she found. She tapped it, rolled it, then put her face close to it to sniff. Somehow, the next moment, she slipped forward and her whole little face brushed across the dirt.
Her once-clean cheeks were now smudged with soil. Her tiny nose wore a muddy streak. And her mouth—well, Susu didn’t notice, but it had a big patch of brown right above her lips. She giggled, stood up, and proudly carried the pebble to show Mama Lala.
“Mama! Look!” she squeaked.
Mama Lala couldn’t help smiling. “Oh Susu… what happened to your face?”
Susu blinked, confused. “What? My face is fine!”
Mama Lala shook her head with loving amusement. She reached down, lifted Susu gently into her arms, and held her close. “Come here, little one. Your face needs cleaning.”
“Noooo!” Susu squealed dramatically, squirming. “I’m not dirty!”
But Mama Lala kissed her forehead. “My sweet girl, you are adorable—but you are definitely dirty.”
Mama carried Susu to a small patch of leaves where the morning dew still rested. She plucked a broad leaf, curled it into her hand, and dabbed it into the cool droplets. Susu puffed out her cheeks, preparing for the wipe.
“Susu,” Mama teased gently, “you look like a tiny forest ghost with all this dust.”
“I’m not a ghost!” Susu protested with a giggle.
Mama began wiping Susu’s forehead gently. Susu scrunched her eyes shut, making funny faces. Her little feet wiggled in the air. When the cold leaf touched her cheeks, she squeaked softly.
“Mama! Cold!”
“It’s only water,” Mama Lala laughed. “If you would stay clean for even ten minutes, maybe I wouldn’t have to do this every morning.”
Susu lifted her chin dramatically. “I’m a big monkey now. Big monkeys don’t need their faces wiped.”
Mama raised an eyebrow. “Big monkeys don’t rub their faces in the dirt.”
Susu froze. “Oh… right.”
Mama continued wiping. Her hands were soft and warm, and though Susu pretended she didn’t like it, she secretly loved when Mama cleaned her. It made her feel safe and cared for.
As she wiped, Mama hummed a soft lullaby. The same lullaby she had sung to Susu since the day she was born. The forest around them felt peaceful as the gentle hum drifted through the trees.
Susu slowly relaxed. Her little hands curled around Mama’s arm. Her tail stopped wiggling. She leaned her head slightly against Mama’s chest, closing her eyes.
After cleaning Susu’s face, Mama used a dry leaf to pat her dry. “There. My beautiful baby.”
Susu smiled shyly. “Mama… do I look pretty again?”
Mama touched the tiny pink spot on Susu’s nose. “You look perfect.”
Susu giggled loudly and hugged her mother tightly. “Thank you, Mama!”
But Mama wasn’t done yet. “Don’t you want breakfast? You can’t eat like that.”
Susu gasped. “Bananas?!”
“Bananas,” Mama confirmed.
Susu practically jumped out of her arms, bouncing on the branch while waiting for Mama to pick a ripe yellow banana hanging close by. Mama peeled it halfway and handed it to Susu.
The baby monkey held the banana with both hands and took a big, dramatic bite. But of course—because she was Susu—banana mush immediately smeared across her cheek.
Mama stared.
Susu blinked.
Then Mama sighed softly. “Susu…”
“It wasn’t my fault!” Susu declared, though she was already giggling.
Mama picked her up again. “Come here, little mess maker.”
But this time, instead of using a leaf, Mama gently wiped Susu’s cheek with her thumb. Susu burst into a fit of giggles as Mama cleaned the banana smudge from her fur.
“See?” Mama teased. “I can’t let you out of my sight for even a minute.”
“I’m just… practicing eating!” Susu said proudly.
“And making a mess while you practice.”
Mama finished wiping her and gave her a playful kiss on the cheek.
Susu wiped her cheek where Mama had kissed her. “Mama! You put more mess!”
“That’s not mess,” Mama laughed. “That’s love.”
Susu’s eyes sparkled. “It feels nice.”
As the morning went on, they moved to a sunny rock where the light warmed their fur. Mama sat comfortably while Susu crawled into her lap, still nibbling the banana. Birds fluttered above them, dropping tiny feathers that drifted gently to the ground.
Mama stroked Susu’s head. “One day you’ll be big. You’ll climb higher than me, find food on your own, and maybe even take care of your own little ones.”
Susu hugged Mama’s belly tightly. “But I don’t want to grow too big. I want Mama to wipe my face forever.”
Mama felt her heart melt. “I’ll always take care of you. Even when you’re big. Even when you’re strong. You’ll always be my baby.”
Susu beamed happily and pressed her face against Mama’s chest.
The peaceful moment was interrupted when a small butterfly fluttered past. Susu gasped. “Mama! Look!”
She leaped off Mama’s lap and chased the butterfly with all the excitement of a child who’d forgotten every lesson from five minutes ago. She hopped over roots, rolled in the grass, and tumbled into a little pile of soft leaves.
By the time she stood up again, her face was covered in bits of leaves.
Mama stared at her with a knowing expression.
Susu smiled innocently. “Mama…?”
Mama lifted her gently. “Come here.”
“No wiping! No wiping!” Susu chanted while giggling uncontrollably.
But Mama wiped her anyway—softly, lovingly, like always. She cleaned Susu’s face, kissed her forehead, and hugged her close.
And Susu felt warm, safe, and perfectly loved.
Because no matter how much she played, no matter how messy she got, Mama was always there—ready to wipe her face and shower her with love.
