
Morning in the monkey familyâs cozy wooden house always began with cheerful chaos. The sun slipped through the leaves, painting golden patterns on the bamboo floor. CUTIS, the ever-curious young monkey, was already wide awake, swinging from one beam to another with his endless energy. Baby, the tiny but clever youngest member of the family, followed CUTIS everywhereâlike a shadow that giggled.
That morning, though, something was different. The air felt tense, and even the usual chirping of birds outside seemed hesitant. CUTIS paused mid-swing, his head tilted. âHmm⊠why is everything so quiet today?â he wondered aloud. Baby, clutching his favorite banana toy, blinked up at him. âMaybe everyoneâs still sleeping?â
CUTIS scratched his head, shrugged, and continued exploring. He never could resist an adventure. But as he landed near the kitchen, his eyes widened. The basket of fruits that had been full last nightâbananas, mangos, and papayasâwas now empty. Completely empty! Only a few banana peels were scattered around like clues to a mystery.
âWait⊠who ate all the fruit?â CUTIS gasped dramatically, pointing at the mess. Babyâs eyes grew round, his mouth forming an âO.â âNo way! Mom will be mad!â he whispered, clutching CUTISâs tail in worry.
CUTIS looked left and right. âIt couldnât be me. I was sleeping⊠I think.â He rubbed his chin like a detective. âCould it be⊠a thief?â
The word thief made Baby shiver. He had seen Dad chase away a raccoon once who had tried to steal their coconuts. âA thief in our house?!â he squeaked.



Without wasting a second, the two monkeys decided to investigate. CUTIS grabbed a stick (his âdetective batonâ), and Baby grabbed a tiny leaf he used as a âclue collector.â Together, they began their mission.
They followed the banana peel trail through the living room. One peel led to another, and then anotherâuntil they reached the back door. CUTIS crouched down and examined the floor carefully. âLook! Footprints!â he exclaimed proudly.
Baby leaned closer. âUh⊠those are your footprints, CUTIS.â
CUTIS frowned. âHmm, true⊠but still suspicious!â
Suddenly, a loud thump! echoed from the attic above them. Both monkeys froze. CUTISâs fur stood on end. Babyâs little tail twitched nervously.
âDid you hear that?â CUTIS whispered.
Baby nodded. âIt came from up thereâŠâ
They looked at the ladder leading to the attic. It creaked slightly, as if someoneâor somethingâhad just moved. CUTIS puffed his chest. âWe have to be brave. Maybe the thief is hiding up there!â
Baby wasnât so sure. âOr maybe itâs a ghost monkey,â he said, trembling. CUTIS gulped but shook his head. âNo such thing! Come on, partner.â
Step by step, they climbed the ladder. The attic was dim and dusty, filled with old baskets, ropes, and forgotten toys. CUTIS squinted into the darkness. âHello? Anyone there?â
No answer. Only silence. Thenârustle!âsomething moved behind an old basket. Both monkeys jumped. CUTIS raised his stick, ready for battle. Baby clung to his back, eyes shut tight.
âCome out!â CUTIS shouted.
Out popped⊠a big round head with sleepy eyes and a banana in its mouth.



It was Grandma Monkey!
CUTIS and Baby gasped. Grandma looked just as shocked to see them. âWhat are you two doing sneaking around up here?â she demanded, wiping banana from her chin.
CUTIS pointed at her dramatically. âSo you were the thief!â
Grandma blinked. âThief? What nonsense!â
Baby, still wide-eyed, whispered, âYou ate all the bananas?â
Grandma burst out laughing, shaking her head. âOh, my silly little ones. I couldnât sleep last night, so I came up here for a snack. I didnât think anyone would notice.â
CUTIS and Baby looked at each other, then at the empty fruit basket memory. The mystery was solved⊠or so they thought.
But just as they started to laugh, another crash came from downstairs. All three monkeys froze again. Grandma frowned. âNow what was that?â
CUTISâs detective instincts kicked in again. âAnother thief!â he announced, rushing down the ladder before anyone could stop him.
Baby followed, clutching his leaf tightly, while Grandma sighed and came after them.
Downstairs, the living room was a messâpillows on the floor, curtains tangled, and the sound of something scurrying behind the couch. CUTIS pointed. âThere! Itâs moving!â




He crept forward, Baby close behind, both of them trembling but determined. CUTIS counted to three in a whisper: âOne⊠two⊠three!ââthen he jumped forward and pulled the curtain aside.
A loud squeak! erupted, and a small squirrel dashed out, darting straight between CUTISâs legs and disappearing through the window.
âHey!â CUTIS shouted, but it was too fast. Baby laughed in relief. âItâs just a squirrel!â
Grandma, arriving breathlessly, chuckled. âLooks like we had two hungry guests last nightâme and that little thief.â
The tension faded, replaced by laughter. CUTIS scratched his head sheepishly. âGuess I need more detective training.â
But just when everyone thought the drama was over, Dad Monkey entered the house carrying a bunch of fresh bananas. âWhatâs going on here? Why is everything upside down?â
CUTIS and Baby exchanged nervous glances. Grandma smirked mischievously. âAsk your little detectives,â she said. âThey thought I was a ghost thief.â
Dad burst out laughing so hard he had to hold his belly. âA ghost thief! Oh CUTIS, you and Baby always make life exciting.â


CUTIS smiled proudly, though a bit embarrassed. âWe were just protecting the family!â
Dad ruffled his fur affectionately. âAnd you did a great job. But maybe next time, investigate after breakfast.â
Everyone laughed again, and soon Mom joined in, bringing bowls of coconut milk and roasted nuts. The house, once filled with confusion, now buzzed with warmth and joy.
Baby perched beside CUTIS, munching on a banana. âHey CUTIS,â he said quietly, âtoday was really scary but fun.â
CUTIS nodded. âYeah. You know what that means?â
âWhat?â
âDetective CUTIS and Assistant Baby are officially the best team ever!â
Baby giggled. âBut next time, can we solve a mystery without ghosts or squirrels?â
CUTIS grinned. âNo promises.â
As the afternoon sun filtered through the trees, the monkey family sat together, their laughter echoing through the forest. Grandma told funny stories from her younger days, Dad teased CUTIS about his âghost hunt,â and Baby clapped his tiny hands at every joke.
But later that night, as CUTIS was getting ready to sleep, he heard a faint sound from outsideâa quiet rustle near the window. His detective ears perked up. He tiptoed closer and peeked out.



There, under the moonlight, was the same squirrelâsneaking back toward the fruit basket theyâd refilled earlier. CUTIS smiled, shaking his head. âSome thieves never learn.â
Instead of chasing it away, he placed one banana on the window sill and whispered, âHere, little one. But no more mess, okay?â
The squirrel grabbed the banana, chattered softly as if in thanks, and scampered off into the trees. CUTIS smiled and returned to bed, feeling proudânot just as a detective, but as a kind-hearted monkey who understood even the smallest creatures.
When Baby woke up in the middle of the night and saw CUTIS smiling in his sleep, he whispered, âGood night, Detective CUTIS.â
The forest was peaceful again. The mysterious noises were gone, the fruit basket was full, and the house was warm and quiet.
Yet one thing was sureâwherever CUTIS and Baby Monkey were, life was never boring. Every day brought laughter, chaos, and love.
And thatâs how the day of the unexpected incident in the house endedâwith two brave monkeys, a loving family, and one very satisfied squirrel munching its midnight snack under the moonlight. đ”đđ