It was a quiet morning in the countryside village of Kampong Srey. Birds chirped gently outside the windows, the sunlight filtered through the palm trees, and the villagers were just beginning to stir. In a humble wooden house at the edge of the forest, a peculiar friendship had blossomed — between a cheeky young boy named Cutis and an orphaned baby monkey called Miko.
Cutis, only six years old, was known in the village for his wild imagination and fearless curiosity. Ever since his father brought Miko home — having rescued the tiny creature from a roadside vendor — the two had been inseparable. Miko followed Cutis everywhere: into the garden, up the mango trees, even into the neighbor’s chicken coop (which had caused more than a few feathery disasters).
But that morning was different. Something was off.
A Quiet Escape
Cutis had been watching the road for days. He had overheard his uncles talking about the city and the zoo — a magical place filled with animals and excitement. He had also heard his mom mutter that Miko was getting too wild to keep around. “We might have to find a sanctuary or let him go back into the wild,” she said with a sigh, thinking Cutis hadn’t been listening.
But he was listening. And he misunderstood.
That morning, while his mother was sweeping the porch, Cutis quietly slipped into the kitchen, grabbed two bananas, stuffed his favorite red cap into his small backpack, and tiptoed to the corner of the house where Miko was playfully spinning a spoon. With a whisper and a banana bribe, Miko clambered onto Cutis’s shoulder. The two disappeared down the dusty trail leading out of the village.
The Realization
“Cutis! Breakfast is ready!” Mom called. Silence.
She called again. “Cutis, don’t make me come get you!”
Still silence. She checked under the table, in the backyard, even in the big clay jar he liked to hide in — but no sign of Cutis or Miko.
Panic began to creep in. The house, always echoing with monkey screeches and little boy laughter, was too quiet.
She rushed to the neighbors. “Have you seen Cutis? He’s gone — and so is Miko!”
The neighbors shook their heads, concern growing on their faces.
“He wouldn’t go far,” someone said. “He’s just a kid.”
But she knew her son. She knew how he dreamed of adventure and misunderstood things. And the road to the city — filled with trucks, strangers, and danger — was just beyond the rice fields.
Her heart pounded as she ran barefoot toward the trail.
Into the Wild
Meanwhile, Cutis and Miko were making slow progress down the path. The morning sun had risen higher, and Cutis was already sweating. Miko, sensing the unfamiliarity, clung tightly to his friend’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Miko,” Cutis whispered. “We’ll find a place where no one will take you away. We’ll live with the elephants.”
But the forest wasn’t like the stories. Mosquitoes buzzed in swarms, the grass was sharp, and strange noises came from the trees. Cutis started to feel unsure. Was this really a good idea?
Then came the barking.
Three stray dogs burst from the underbrush, growling and charging toward the small pair. Cutis screamed, stumbling backward. Miko jumped from his shoulder, baring tiny teeth and screeching. The dogs hesitated, surprised by the little monkey’s boldness.
Suddenly, a loud whack echoed through the forest. A village farmer, hearing the commotion, had come running with a bamboo stick, chasing the dogs away.
“Cutis?” the farmer said, recognizing the boy. “What are you doing out here?”
Cutis burst into tears.
Mom’s Desperate Search
Back at the village, Cutis’s mother was already crying. She had alerted the village elders. A small group of men had begun to search in different directions. Someone had taken a bicycle toward the nearby market. Another rang the temple bell to ask for help.
Her hands trembled. All she could think about were the stories of children getting lost in the forest, or worse. And now, her child had taken a baby monkey — who needed special care — into unknown dangers.
She clutched a scarf that still smelled like Cutis’s shampoo and whispered, “Please, let him be safe.”
The Reunion
It was nearing noon when she heard shouting.
“They found him! He’s back!”
She ran down the road, tears streaking her face. And there, in the arms of the farmer, was her son — muddy, scratched, but safe. Miko sat on his shoulder, eyes wide and clinging tightly.
She collapsed to her knees, sobbing, as she pulled Cutis into her arms.
“I thought I lost you,” she cried. “Why did you leave?”
Cutis looked down, ashamed. “I thought… you were going to send Miko away.”
Her heart softened even more. She realized her words had sounded scarier to a child’s ears than she had intended.
“No, sweetheart,” she said gently. “I just meant we’d have to think about what’s best for Miko together. We would never send him away without you knowing. He’s family.”
A Lesson Learned
That night, after a warm bath and a big bowl of rice porridge, Cutis sat in his pajamas next to Miko, who was munching on a slice of watermelon. His mom joined him on the mat.
“You know,” she said softly, “you’re brave for wanting to protect your friend. But running away — even with good intentions — can be dangerous.”
Cutis nodded. “I’m sorry, Mama.”
She smiled, pulling him into a hug. “Let’s make a promise. From now on, if you’re worried about something, we talk about it. No more secret plans. Deal?”
“Deal!” he said brightly.
Miko gave a happy little squeak, as if agreeing too.
Epilogue
The village still talks about the day Cutis and the baby monkey went missing. It became a tale told around fires, a reminder of how deeply children feel and how important it is to listen — not just to their words, but their hearts.
Cutis and Miko remained the village’s inseparable duo, though a bit more supervised. And while no one ever did build a monkey sanctuary in the backyard, they did build a little wooden hut just for Miko — complete with toys, snacks, and a painted sign that read:
“Miko & Cutis’s Adventure Base — Entry by Banana Only!”
And yes, entry was paid in bananas.
