The morning sun had just begun to rise over the small, peaceful animal village where baby monkey Lele lived. The air was cool and filled with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves. Lele, with his soft golden-brown fur and bright round eyes, woke up with a happy little yawn. He stretched his tiny arms, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and looked around his cozy little corner where he kept his most precious treasure—his milk bottle.
That bottle wasn’t just any bottle. It was his comfort, his joy, his favorite thing in the world. It had a little blue cap with a banana sticker on it, and Lele loved to drink from it while hugging his soft blanket.
“Good morning, my milk bottle,” he whispered, hugging it tightly. “Time for breakfast!”
But just as he was about to drink, he heard giggling from outside the window. It was his mischievous friend Subi, a young monkey with a cheeky grin and endless curiosity. Subi was known for loving to play tricks on everyone, especially Lele.
Lele waved and smiled. “Hi, Subi! Want to play later after my milk?”
Subi tilted his head, pretending to think. “Play? Hmm, maybe! But first… what’s that yummy thing you’re holding?”
Lele proudly lifted his bottle. “This is my milk! My mom gave it to me. It’s warm and sweet!”
Subi’s eyes widened with excitement. “Sweet, you say? Can I have a sip?”
Lele shook his head quickly. “No, no! This is my milk. Mom said it’s just for me because I’m still small.”
Subi pouted. “Just one sip, Lele! Please?”
But Lele hugged his bottle tightly. “Sorry, Subi! Maybe next time.”
Subi smiled, but behind that smile was a mischievous idea forming in his little monkey mind.
As Lele sat under the mango tree, happily drinking, Subi began sneaking closer. He tiptoed like a little ninja—one paw at a time—careful not to step on any dry leaves. Lele was so focused on his milk that he didn’t notice. And then—swish!—Subi grabbed the bottle and ran away, laughing loudly.
“Hey!! That’s mine!” Lele cried, jumping up in shock. “Come back, Subi!”
But Subi was already swinging from tree to tree, holding the bottle like a trophy. “Catch me if you can!” he shouted playfully.
Lele chased after him through the forest, his tiny legs moving as fast as they could. He dodged rocks, ducked under vines, and tried to keep his balance. “Subi, stop! That’s not funny!” he yelled, but Subi only laughed harder.
When Subi reached a tall tree near the banana grove, he sat on a high branch and examined the bottle. “Wow, this really does smell nice,” he said, giving it a sniff. “Maybe just a little taste…”
He tilted the bottle and took a sip—gulp! His eyes widened. “Mmm! It’s delicious!”
Down below, Lele was almost crying. “Subi, please! Don’t drink it all! I haven’t finished yet!”
But before Subi could take another sip, he accidentally squeezed the bottle too hard. The cap popped off, and milk splashed everywhere! White drops sprinkled down like rain, landing on leaves, flowers, and even Lele’s head.
Subi froze. “Oh no…”
Lele looked up, his fur dripping with milk. His little lips trembled. “You spilled it… my milk…”
For a moment, the forest went quiet. Subi looked down, ashamed. The fun had suddenly turned into a big mistake.
Lele sat under the tree, wiping his tears. “I told you not to take it,” he said softly. “Now it’s all gone.”
Subi climbed down slowly, his tail drooping. “I’m sorry, Lele. I just wanted to taste it. I didn’t mean to spill it.”
Lele sniffled. “You always play tricks, Subi. But this one wasn’t funny.”
Subi looked truly guilty now. He sat beside Lele, silent for a moment, then said, “Wait here. I’ll fix it. I promise.” And off he ran into the jungle.
Lele sighed and hugged his empty bottle. He didn’t believe Subi could fix it. After all, how could a monkey make milk?
But Subi didn’t give up. He climbed from tree to tree, searching for coconuts, bananas, and even a few drops of goat’s milk from the nearby farm. He worked hard, mixing everything in a small bamboo cup, trying to make something similar to Lele’s milk. It wasn’t easy—he spilled, he slipped, and he got milk all over his fur—but he didn’t stop.
After what felt like forever, he finally returned, holding the bamboo cup with both hands. “Here, Lele,” he said softly. “It’s not perfect, but I made this for you.”
Lele looked surprised. He sniffed the mixture—it smelled sweet, like bananas and coconut. Carefully, he tasted a little sip. His eyes widened. “Wow! It’s actually good!”
Subi smiled shyly. “Really?”
Lele nodded. “Yeah! It’s not the same as my milk, but it’s yummy.”
Subi scratched his head. “I didn’t know making up for a mistake was so hard. I just wanted to have fun. I’m sorry for taking your bottle, Lele.”
Lele looked at him quietly, then smiled. “It’s okay, Subi. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. Next time, just ask, okay?”
Subi nodded quickly. “I will! Promise!”
They sat under the tree together, sharing the new “banana-coconut milk” that Subi made. The sun was shining through the leaves, and the forest looked golden and peaceful again.
Then, suddenly, they both started laughing.
“You look funny with milk all over your fur!” Subi teased, pointing at Lele’s sticky face.
Lele giggled. “You’re even worse! Your tail looks like a milk stick!”
They laughed so hard that even the birds joined in, chirping happily from the trees above.
From that day on, Subi never stole anything from Lele again. Instead, they became closer friends. Every morning, they shared their milk and snacks together under the same mango tree. Sometimes Subi would help Lele warm his milk, and sometimes Lele would help Subi collect fruits.
Lele learned to forgive, and Subi learned an important lesson about respect and kindness.
One afternoon, when the sun was setting, Subi gave Lele a small surprise—a brand-new bottle with a yellow banana sticker, just like his old one.
Lele gasped. “Where did you get this?”
“I made it from bamboo and asked Auntie Deer to paint the banana on it,” Subi said proudly. “So even if you lose the old one, you’ll still have a special one from me.”
Lele’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Thank you, Subi! You’re the best friend ever!”
They hugged tightly, their little tails wrapping together. The whole forest glowed in the warm orange light of sunset, and even the wind seemed to whisper softly, “Forgiveness makes friendship stronger.”
And from then on, whenever they drank milk together, they remembered that day—not as the day Subi stole Lele’s bottle, but as the day their friendship grew deeper and sweeter than ever.
Moral of the story: Mistakes can happen, but when we say sorry and make it right, friendship becomes even stronger. 🐵💛🍼
