On a bright morning by the riverside, the gentle sound of rippling water mixed with the chirping of tiny birds. The air was fresh and filled with the scent of wet grass. Near the edge of the water, Baby Monkey Lele was sitting on a smooth rock, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He had just woken up from his nap, and his tummy was starting to rumble.
Lele loved mornings because that’s when everyone in the little riverside animal village came out to play. There were ducklings splashing in the water, frogs jumping between the lotus leaves, and the tiny family of crabs scuttling near the shore. Among them was Baby Crab, a cheerful little creature with bright eyes and a shiny shell that glistened under the sun. Baby Crab had a small milk bottle that his mom gave him every morning. It was filled with creamy milk made from coconuts — his favorite!
Lele watched Baby Crab sipping from the bottle happily. The way the crab held it with his small pincers looked so adorable that Lele couldn’t take his eyes off. He licked his lips and thought, “That milk must be so delicious!”
Lele’s owner, Yen Nhi, was washing clothes nearby and had promised to bring Lele’s own milk soon. But for the playful little monkey, “soon” always felt like forever. His tummy growled louder. He looked again at Baby Crab, who was humming a tiny tune while drinking.
Curiosity sparkled in Lele’s eyes. He jumped down from his rock and tiptoed closer. “Hi, Baby Crab!” he greeted cheerfully.
“Hi, Lele!” Baby Crab replied with a giggle. “Do you want to play by the water today?”
“Maybe later,” Lele said, scratching his head shyly. “That milk you’re drinking looks so good… what does it taste like?”
“Oh, it’s very yummy!” Baby Crab said proudly, holding up the bottle. “It’s made with coconut milk and a bit of banana flavor. My mom makes it special for me every day!”
Lele’s eyes widened. Banana flavor? That was his favorite! He smiled sweetly and said, “Wow, that sounds amazing. I’ve never tasted coconut banana milk before…”
Baby Crab tilted his head. “You haven’t? Oh, poor Lele! Would you like to try some?”
Lele hesitated for a second, pretending to be polite. “Well, only if you don’t mind sharing!”
Baby Crab smiled kindly. “Of course I don’t mind! We’re friends!” He handed the bottle to Lele.
Lele’s face lit up. He grabbed the bottle carefully and took a small sip. The moment the milk touched his tongue, he sighed happily. It was sweet, creamy, and full of banana flavor — exactly what he loved! “Mmm, Baby Crab, this is the best milk I’ve ever tasted!”
Baby Crab clapped his tiny pincers together. “Really? I’m glad you like it!”
But one sip quickly became two, then three. Lele was so delighted by the taste that he forgot his manners. Soon, he was drinking and drinking until the bottle was almost empty!
Baby Crab blinked in surprise. “Um… Lele? Maybe that’s enough, I still need some for later…”
Lele froze mid-sip. His cheeks puffed out with milk, and he realized what he had done. Slowly, he put the bottle down, feeling guilty. “Oh no… I’m sorry, Baby Crab. I didn’t mean to drink so much! It’s just… it was too good!”
Baby Crab frowned a little, looking at the almost-empty bottle. But he could see that Lele truly felt bad. His big brown eyes looked so sorry that the little crab couldn’t stay mad. “It’s okay, Lele,” he said softly. “Next time, just take a few sips, okay?”
Lele nodded quickly. “I promise! I’ll make it up to you!”
Just then, Yen Nhi came over with Lele’s own bottle of milk. “Lele, here’s your milk, little one!” she said kindly.
Lele’s eyes brightened with an idea. “Wait right here, Baby Crab!” He took his milk from Yen Nhi, ran back, and offered it to his friend. “Here, Baby Crab! This one’s banana milk too! You can have some of mine!”
Baby Crab blinked in surprise. “Really? You’d share with me?”
“Of course!” Lele said proudly. “You shared with me, so now it’s my turn.”
The little crab smiled happily and took a sip. “Wow! Yours is sweet too! Thank you, Lele!”
They sat side by side, sipping each other’s milk bottles under the shade of a big tree. The sun sparkled on the water, and their laughter filled the air. Other animals nearby watched the scene with warm smiles. The ducks quacked approvingly, and even the frogs stopped croaking for a moment to admire the sweet friendship between the baby monkey and baby crab.
After they finished their milk, Lele jumped up excitedly. “Let’s play now! I’ll show you how to swing from the vines!”
Baby Crab giggled. “And I’ll show you how to dig little sand holes by the riverbank!”
Together, they ran off to play — Lele swinging between the branches and Baby Crab scuttling quickly below. Every time Lele swung down close to the ground, Baby Crab waved his tiny pincers to high-five him. The two laughed endlessly, forgetting all about the milk bottle incident.
Later in the afternoon, when the golden sun began to sink, they sat together again by the water. The river sparkled like a mirror. Baby Crab looked at his empty bottle and said, “You know, Lele, I think milk tastes even better when you share it.”
Lele smiled and nodded. “You’re right. It’s sweeter when it’s with a friend.”
Just then, Yen Nhi came back and saw the two sitting quietly. “What a lovely pair you two make,” she said warmly. “Lele, did you share your milk today?”
Lele nodded proudly. “Yes, Mama! I borrowed Baby Crab’s milk first… but then I shared mine too!”
Yen Nhi laughed softly. “That’s my good little monkey. Always remember — sharing makes hearts happy.”
Lele puffed up his tiny chest with pride. Baby Crab giggled and clapped his pincers. “We’re best friends now!”
As the evening breeze blew gently, the two little ones lay down on the soft grass. Lele closed his eyes, still smiling. “Next time, I’ll bring snacks to share,” he murmured sleepily.
Baby Crab yawned and replied, “And I’ll bring more coconut banana milk!”
The stars began to twinkle above them as the river whispered softly in the background. That day, a small mistake turned into a big lesson — one about kindness, sharing, and friendship.
And from that day on, whenever Lele saw Baby Crab drinking his milk, he no longer felt jealous. Instead, he sat beside him, ready to share a sip or a laugh — because he knew that friendship was far sweeter than any milk in the world.
The End. 🐵🦀💖
