The afternoon sun shone warmly over the small farm, casting long golden rays on the vegetable patch where a giant melon sat proudly. It was the biggest melon anyone had ever seen—round, glossy, and nearly the size of a small barrel. Farmer Mom had been carefully nurturing it for months, watering it gently and protecting it from pests. She often joked that this melon was her “third child” because of how much care it required.
One day, when Mom went inside to rest after her morning chores, CUTIS, the curious and mischievous boy, tiptoed toward the garden. Beside him, his best companion—the playful baby monkey—followed eagerly, eyes sparkling with excitement. The two had been staring at that giant melon for days, whispering their own little plans.
“Look at it, Baby Monkey,” CUTIS said, patting the shiny green surface. “It’s so big… I bet we can do something amazing with it!”
The monkey clapped its tiny hands and squeaked in agreement. They didn’t want to just eat the melon; they wanted to turn it into something special. Something magical.
The Secret Plan
After whispering back and forth, CUTIS and Baby Monkey decided to hollow out the melon and use it for their own invention. CUTIS grabbed a small wooden spoon while the monkey fetched a stick. Carefully, they started carving a hole at the top. The melon was so thick that the task took almost an hour, and they had to stop several times to laugh at each other when juice splattered all over their faces.
Soon, the inside of the melon was filled with sweet, fragrant pulp. The smell was so delicious that the monkey couldn’t resist stuffing its cheeks, and CUTIS had to stop himself from eating it all too.
“Don’t eat too much, Monkey,” CUTIS giggled. “We need the inside empty for our special project.”
The monkey tilted its head curiously but obeyed. Together, they scooped out the melon until it became a giant hollow bowl.
Turning the Melon into Magic
Now came the fun part. CUTIS had always loved boats, but he had never built one. Looking at the hollow melon gave him an idea.
“Monkey! We’re going to make a melon boat!”
The monkey’s eyes widened, and it jumped up and down, thrilled by the thought.
They dragged the hollow melon to the small pond at the back of the farm. With teamwork, they tied two big bamboo sticks on the sides for balance, like floating wings. CUTIS cut out a piece of cloth from an old scarf he found in the shed and attached it to a stick for a sail. The monkey proudly pushed the stick into the melon.
When they set the creation on the pond, the melon floated gently, rocking with the water. CUTIS and the monkey cheered. It was a real melon boat!
Sailing in Secret
CUTIS climbed in first, then carefully helped the monkey aboard. The boat wobbled, but it held steady. With a little bamboo paddle, they began sailing across the pond. The monkey squealed with joy, splashing water everywhere, while CUTIS laughed so loudly that even the birds turned to watch.
They felt like explorers on a grand adventure. CUTIS pretended he was the captain, giving orders, while the monkey acted as the lookout, pointing at fish and dragonflies. The giant melon had become more than food—it was their magical vessel, carrying them into a secret world only they could understand.
Mom’s Confusion
Meanwhile, Mom had just woken up from her nap and walked outside to check on her prized melon. But when she reached the patch, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Her eyes widened. The giant melon was gone!
She looked around, scratching her head. “That’s strange… I was sure the melon was right here.”
Mom searched the entire garden, thinking maybe a thief had stolen it. But there were no footprints, no wheelbarrows, no sign of struggle. Just a few melon seeds and sticky juice on the ground.
Her confusion grew deeper when she heard faint giggles coming from the pond. She followed the sound, squinting as the sunlight reflected off the water.
What she saw made her jaw drop.
There, in the middle of the pond, was CUTIS and the baby monkey, sailing proudly in her giant melon! The scarf-sail fluttered in the wind, and the monkey was waving like a sailor on a grand ship.
Mom gasped. “What on earth…?!”
The Big Reveal
CUTIS spotted her on the shore and waved happily. “Mom! Look! We made a melon boat!”
The monkey squealed and clapped, showing off their invention.
Mom rubbed her eyes, thinking she might be dreaming. “My giant melon… it’s… a boat? CUTIS! What did you do?!”
CUTIS quickly paddled the boat back to shore, grinning from ear to ear. The monkey leapt out first, landing with a little somersault, while CUTIS carefully stepped out and presented their creation.
“See, Mom? We didn’t waste it! We made something special. Now it’s not just food—it’s an adventure!”
Mom stared at the melon-boat, torn between frustration and amazement. She had worked so hard to grow that melon, but at the same time, she couldn’t deny the creativity and teamwork her son and the monkey had shown.
A Sweet Ending
After a long sigh, Mom finally smiled. “Well… I suppose it is pretty clever. And at least you two had fun.”
The monkey hugged her leg, as if apologizing. CUTIS looked up at her, his face still sticky with melon juice, and said, “We can still eat the pulp, Mom. Look, we saved it in this bucket!”
Indeed, beside the pond sat a bucket full of the sweet melon flesh they had scooped out earlier. Mom laughed at their thoughtfulness. She took the bucket, mixed it with a little sugar and ice, and soon they were all enjoying refreshing melon juice together.
That evening, CUTIS, the monkey, and Mom sat by the pond, sipping their drinks while the melon boat floated gently in the water, glowing under the golden sunset.
Mom shook her head, still half-confused and half-proud. “You two never fail to surprise me. My melon may not have ended up on the dining table like I planned, but… I think this is even better.”
The monkey squeaked in agreement, and CUTIS leaned against his mom, smiling.
The farm was filled with laughter, the sound of splashing water, and the quiet hum of summer. And though Mom had been confused at first, she would never forget the day her giant melon became a magical boat—thanks to CUTIS and his mischievous little partner.
