Every afternoon, when the sun begins to dip behind the tall mango trees and a golden glow fills our backyard, itās bath time for my little baby monkey, Cici. Most baby monkeys love splashing in the water, but not Cici. She has her own way of showing her feelings about bath timeāby pretending to sleep! š“š¦
It all started a few weeks after I brought her home. Cici was tiny, with soft brown fur, curious eyes, and a playful spirit. She loved climbing my shoulders, hugging my neck, and stealing my fruit. But the moment she heard the sound of running waterāpssshhhāher energy disappeared like magic. She would suddenly yawn, stretch her little arms, and flop over in my lap, pretending to be fast asleep.
At first, I thought she really was tired. I would gently touch her cheek and whisper, āCici, wake up, sweetie. Itās just bath time.ā But she wouldnāt move. Her tiny chest rose and fell in slow, exaggerated breaths, as if she were deep in dreamland. Her eyelids would flutter just a littleāenough for me to know she was faking.

āCici, you canāt fool me,ā Iād laugh. āYou just donāt want to take a bath, do you?ā
Her tail twitched slightly, betraying her act. Then she would snuggle deeper into the towel, completely motionless. If I tickled her tummy, sheād wiggle a bit, but her eyes stayed tightly shut.
One day, I decided to test her little performance. I said out loud, āOkay, fine, no bath today.ā Instantly, her ears perked up, and one tiny eye peeked open. When she realized I was watching, she quickly shut it again! I couldnāt help but burst out laughing.
āCici! You little actress!ā I said, scooping her up. āYou deserve an award for this show.ā
Of course, I still had to bathe her. Baby monkeys, like human babies, get dirty after playing all day. Cici especially loved rolling in the dirt, climbing trees, and sitting under the banana leaves, where sheād collect bits of dust and leaves in her fur. So even if she pretended to sleep, bath time couldnāt be skipped.

When I gently placed her in the warm water, she always āwoke upā suddenlyāblinking dramatically as if she had just been disturbed from the best nap ever. Then sheād make a soft eep eep! sound, looking at me like Iād betrayed her.
āItās just water, my love,ā Iād tell her. āYouāll feel so fresh and pretty after this.ā
Sometimes, sheād cross her little arms and pout, like a toddler refusing vegetables. Other times, sheād cling to me so tightly that I had to wash her with one hand while holding her with the other. But once the warm water began to flow over her fur, her stubbornness would melt away.
Her eyes softened, her body relaxed, and sheād start to enjoy the gentle scrubbing. I used a mild baby shampoo that smelled like sweet coconut, and Iād massage her back with my fingertips. Soon, her eyes would droop againābut this time, not from pretending. The warm water really made her sleepy.

Iād whisper softly, āSee? Itās not so bad. My little baby smells so nice now.ā
Sheād sigh happily, resting her tiny head on my wrist, while I rinsed the bubbles from her fur. Moments like that always filled my heart with love. The bond between us wasnāt just about taking care of herāit was about trust. Cici trusted me completely, even when she pretended to dislike bath time.
After the bath, Iād wrap her in a soft pink towel. Her fur would fluff up like a little cotton ball, and sheād peek out from the towel with her round eyes shining. That was when her mischievous side returned.
Sheād try to nibble on the towel, play hide-and-seek under it, or suddenly jump onto my shoulder, wrapping her arms around my neck like a tiny hug. Once, she even tried to steal the hairbrush I used for her fur, running off with it while squealing with joy.
āCici! Give that back!ā Iād chase her around the room, both of us laughing. Sheād stop just far enough away to tease me, holding the brush like a trophy.
Eventually, Iād catch her and give her a gentle hug. āYouāre too smart for your own good,ā Iād whisper. Sheād look up at me with her little grin, as if saying, I know!
Over time, I began to realize her āpretend sleepā wasnāt just about avoiding the bath. It was also her way of playing with me. She loved the attentionāthe gentle words, the tickles, the laughter. Bath time had turned into a game of love and trust between us.
One afternoon, as I prepared her bath, I decided to make it even more special. I added a few floating flowers and played soft music in the background. The sound of gentle water mixed with a sweet melody filled the air.
When I turned around, there was Ciciāalready in her usual āsleepingā pose, lying on her side, pretending to snore! I couldnāt stop laughing.
āOkay, drama queen,ā I said, lifting her up. āLetās make todayās bath extra fancy.ā
To my surprise, she didnāt resist this time. Maybe she liked the music or the flowers, or maybe she just trusted me completely. She dipped her little fingers into the water, splashed a bit, and gave a tiny smile.
I smiled back, feeling proud. āSee? My baby is growing up.ā
That day, she even let me brush her fur afterward without running away. When she was finally dry, she climbed onto my lap, curled up, and truly fell asleepāno pretending this time.
Watching her breathe softly, I felt overwhelmed with affection. Raising a baby monkey is not always easy. It takes patience, gentleness, and understanding. But moments like these make everything worth it.
Cici might be mischievous and dramatic, but her love is pure and honest. Her fake naps and funny little tricks show how much personality she has. Sheās not just an animalāsheās part of my family.
Now, every time I hear the sound of running water, I canāt help but smile, wondering if sheāll āfall asleepā again. Sometimes she still does, just to make me laugh. But most days, she climbs willingly into my arms, ready for her warm bath.
Maybe she finally realized that bath time isnāt something to fearāitās another way we share our love. š
And when sheās clean, fluffy, and smelling like coconut, she looks up at me with her sweet eyes, as if to say, See, Mommy? I was just pretending for fun.
I kiss her tiny forehead and whisper, āI know, baby. Youāre my little actress.ā
As the sun sets and the day grows quiet, Cici curls up on my shoulder, truly asleep this timeāher warm breath brushing against my neck. The house smells like soap and peace. I smile, thinking about how every bath, every pretend nap, and every splash of water has brought us closer together.
Life with Cici is full of laughter, patience, and the sweetest love. And no matter how many times she pretends to sleep, Iāll always be right thereāready with a towel, a gentle smile, and all the love in the world for my clever little monkey. š“šš¦š
