
The morning sky was still pale and sleepy when CUTIS woke up to a strange sound coming from the corner of his room. It wasnât his alarm clock, it wasnât the birds outside, and it definitely wasnât Mom calling him to get ready. Noâthis sound was soft, weak, almost like a tiny squeak from a toy that had run out of batteries.
CUTIS sat up instantly.
There, curled in a small ball on the blanket heâd laid out last night, was Baby Monkey⌠shaking.
His bright eyes, usually full of mischief and sparkle, looked dull. His little hands trembled. His nose twitched, and then he let out another faint squeakâlike he was calling for help but didnât have the strength.
CUTIS froze for one second, then launched himself from the bed like a superhero whoâd just spotted danger.
âBaby Monkey?!â he gasped, dropping to his knees. âOh no⌠oh no, are you sick?â
Baby Monkey blinked slowly, his head wobbling as he tried to sit up. But he collapsed again, curling closer to the blanket.
CUTIS felt panic rise in his chest. His heart thumped so loud he could hear it in his ears.
He lifted the tiny monkey in his armsâcarefully, gentlyâfeeling the warmth of fever on Baby Monkeyâs forehead.




âMom! MOM!â he shouted, running toward the living room, cradling the trembling furball like a fragile treasure.
Mom rushed in. One look and she knew. âHe has a fever.â
CUTISâs eyes filled with worry. âWhat do we do? WHAT DO WE DO?!â
Mom gave instructions calmly. âCool towel on the forehead. Small sips of water. Keep him warm but not too warm. And stay with him. He needs comfort.â
CUTIS nodded quicklyâtoo quicklyâlike a bobblehead about to snap. âIâll take care of him! I wonât leave him!â
He rushed back to the room, Baby Monkey wrapped in a small blanket against his chest.
And so began CUTISâs mission:
Operation: Take Care of Sick Baby Monkey.
Step 1: Make a Soft Monkey Bed




CUTIS placed Baby Monkey on his own pillow, then rearranged blankets with the seriousness of a professional nurse. He built a little nestâfluffy, warm, comfyâand tucked Baby Monkey inside like a tiny burrito.
But Baby Monkey whimpered.
CUTIS panicked again.
He tried adjusting the blanket.
Too hot.
Tried again.
Too cold.
Tried again.
Too puffy.
Tried again.
Baby Monkey threw his little hands in the air like, Enough!
CUTIS sighed dramatically. âTaking care of you is harder than taking care of myself.â
Baby Monkey weakly tapped CUTISâs cheek, as if saying, Youâll manage.
Step 2: Keep Him Hydrated





CUTIS brought a tiny bottle cap filled with water. He lifted Baby Monkeyâs head and whispered, âDrink a little, okay? Just a tiny bit.â
Baby Monkey closed his eyes.
CUTISâs eyes widened in horror.
âNO NO NOâdonât go unconscious on me!â CUTIS cried.
He panicked so much he ended up squirting a few drops on Baby Monkeyâs nose. The monkey sneezed three times, making a tiny âpff-pff-pffâ sound.
CUTIS gasped. âHeâs alive!â
Baby Monkey glared weakly at him.
CUTIS apologized twenty times.
Step 3: Cooling Fever





CUTIS ran to the bathroom and soaked a towel in cold water. But he squeezed it so clumsily the water splashed everywhereâon the floor, his shirt, and even his hair.
He rushed back, placed the folded towel gently on Baby Monkeyâs forehead.
Baby Monkey sighed softly in relief.
CUTIS smiled. âSee? I can do it.â
Then the towel slipped off.
CUTIS put it back.
It slipped again.
He used tape.
It stuck to Baby Monkeyâs fur. That did NOT work.
He used a tiny headband from his toy box. Perfect!
CUTIS beamed proudlyâuntil Baby Monkey yanked it off and threw it on the floor weakly.
CUTIS groaned. âYouâre sick AND stubborn?â
Baby Monkey puffed his cheeks.
CUTIS puffed his cheeks back.
Even sick, Baby Monkey let out a faint amused squeak.
Step 4: Comfort Time




CUTIS sat beside Baby Monkey, holding his little hand. He didnât want to leave even for a second.
âIâll stay right here,â he whispered. âAll day. All night. I donât care.â
Baby Monkey rested his head against CUTISâs arm, eyes fluttering shut.
CUTIS gently stroked his back. âYouâre gonna be okay. I promise.â
Minutes passed. Hours passed.
CUTIS told stories.
He sang songsâbadly.
He hummed lullabies.
He mimicked monkey sounds to make Baby Monkey laugh.
He even tried to do a little magic trickâpulling a banana from behind Baby Monkeyâs head. Baby Monkey was too sick to react, but CUTIS saw the tiny sparkle in his eyes.
CUTIS felt his own eyes soften. He couldnât lose his best friend. Not even for one day.
Step 5: The Unbelievable Part



Around noon, Baby Monkey woke up shivering again. CUTIS was ready, but something unexpected happened.
Baby Monkey reached out with both tiny arms and clung to CUTISâs shirt, pulling himself onto CUTISâs chest.
CUTIS froze.
Then Baby Monkey crawled upward, reached CUTISâs neck, and wrapped himself around it like the weakest, tiniest, clingiest scarf ever made.
CUTIS held him carefully. âDo you⌠want me to carry you?â
Baby Monkey nodded weakly.
And so, CUTIS spent the next two hours walking slowly around the houseâBaby Monkey wrapped around his neck, sleeping, breathing softly against his shoulder.
Mom quietly watched from the kitchen. âHe trusts you,â she whispered. âHe feels safe with you.â
CUTIS felt something warm fill his chest.
Then, the unbelievable happenedâ
While CUTIS was whispering a silly story, Baby Monkey slowly opened his eyes⌠and leaned up to give him a gentle kiss on the cheek.
A tiny, warm, thankful kiss.
CUTIS froze.
His heart melted like butter in the sun.
âYouâre thanking me?â he whispered.
Baby Monkey snuggled closer.
CUTIS hugged him gently. âOf course Iâll take care of you. Always.â
The Ending You Shouldnât Miss



Late afternoon, Baby Monkey suddenly chirpedâloud and clear.
CUTIS gasped. âYour voice! Itâs back!â
Baby Monkey sat up.
Wobbly at first.
Then stronger.
He reached toward the fruit bowl on the table.
CUTIS frowned. âWait⌠donât tell meââ
Baby Monkey grabbed the banana, peeled it halfway⌠and stuffed it in his mouth with the speed of a tiny thief.
CUTIS burst into laughter.
âYou werenât THAT sick, were you?!â
Baby Monkey grinnedâcheeks full of banana like a furry hamster.
CUTIS pointed at him dramatically. âYou tricked me! You tricked me into carrying you for HOURS!â
Baby Monkey clapped happily.
CUTIS tried to act seriousâbut ended up laughing again.
He lifted Baby Monkey high in the air. âFine. You win. Iâm just happy youâre okay.â
Baby Monkey chirped proudly.
CUTIS hugged him close.
That day, CUTIS learned that caring for someone is scary⌠tiring⌠stressfulâŚ
But also beautiful.
Especially when your patient steals your heartâand your bananas.
