Morning sunlight shimmered over the calm lake, where thousands of lotus flowers floated like pink and white stars on the water’s surface. The gentle breeze carried a sweet fragrance, mixing with the sounds of birds and the rippling waves. It was a beautiful day — the kind that made the whole jungle feel alive.
Near the edge of the lake sat a curious little creature — baby monkey Coco, his fur soft like brown silk and his eyes full of sparkle and mischief. He had come along with CUTIS, the cheerful boy who loved him more than anything. CUTIS often brought Coco to explore new places, but today was special.
Mom had told them, “Be careful near the lotus lake! It’s slippery there.”
CUTIS promised to be careful, but Coco wasn’t one for rules. The moment they arrived, he was already hopping from rock to rock, sniffing flowers, and splashing his tiny hands in the water. CUTIS laughed. “Hey, silly monkey! Don’t fall in again!”
Coco squeaked, turning his head with a mischievous grin. Then his eyes caught something floating nearby — a round, green pod that looked deliciously strange. It was a lotus fruit.
The Discovery of the Lotus Fruit
The lotus pod bobbed gently on the water, filled with seeds that looked like tiny treats. Coco tilted his head. He’d never seen anything like it before. Was it food? Was it a toy? His curiosity buzzed like a bee.
He leaned forward, stretching his little arm out as far as he could. CUTIS watched nervously. “Coco, don’t you dare fall in!”
But it was too late — splash!
Coco slipped into the shallow water with a loud squeal. CUTIS gasped, rushing over, but Coco quickly popped his head back up, soaked but proud, clutching the lotus pod like a treasure. He held it above his head triumphantly.
CUTIS sighed in relief and started laughing. “You crazy monkey! All that for a fruit?”
Coco paddled back to shore, dripping wet, and sat down with the lotus pod in his lap. He sniffed it carefully, then tried to bite it — crunch! The taste made him stop for a moment. It wasn’t like a banana or mango — it was crunchy, earthy, and sweet in a strange way.
“Do you like it?” CUTIS asked.
Coco’s eyes widened, and he nodded quickly, munching happily. His tiny fingers popped out one of the seeds, and he chewed it with delight. The more he ate, the more excited he became. Soon, his face was covered in lotus bits, and he looked both ridiculous and adorable.
The Joy of Taste
CUTIS couldn’t help but laugh. “Coco, you look like a little chef who lost a food fight!”
Coco ignored him, too focused on enjoying his new discovery. Every few bites, he’d pause to inspect another lotus seed pod, trying to find the biggest and juiciest one. He was like a tiny gourmet monkey on a mission.
The lake sparkled in the sun, and dragonflies zipped around them. CUTIS sat beside Coco, watching with amusement. “You know,” he said softly, “humans eat lotus seeds too. Maybe you have fancy taste!”
Coco looked up with puffed cheeks full of food, as if saying, See? I told you I’m special.
He offered CUTIS one seed — just one. CUTIS took it and popped it into his mouth. The flavor was surprisingly sweet and refreshing. “Hey, not bad!” he said. “You have good taste, buddy.”
Coco clapped his hands, clearly proud of himself.
The Mischief Begins
After finishing his first lotus pod, Coco decided he wanted more. He spotted several others floating farther away. Without hesitation, he scampered across the slippery rocks toward them.
“Coco! Come back here!” CUTIS called, chasing after him.
But Coco was on a mission. He reached for another lotus pod, slipped again, and landed right in the middle of the water. This time, he didn’t seem to care at all. He grabbed two pods at once and tried to carry them both, but they were too heavy. The sight of him struggling — half swimming, half balancing his precious snacks — made CUTIS burst into laughter.
“Okay, okay, I’ll help you,” CUTIS said, rolling up his pants and wading in. Together, they gathered a few pods and brought them back to the shore.
When they sat down again, Coco began carefully arranging his “harvest” in a neat line. It was as if he was setting up a little fruit shop. He picked one, cracked it open, and began munching. Then he handed one to CUTIS, and even placed one in front of a turtle that had crawled up from the water.
CUTIS chuckled. “You’re sharing now? How generous!”
The turtle blinked slowly, sniffed the lotus pod, and wandered away, uninterested. Coco looked offended, then shrugged and ate the turtle’s share himself.
The Unexpected Visitor
Just when the peaceful lunch seemed perfect, something unexpected happened. A group of wild monkeys appeared on the trees nearby. They had spotted Coco’s little feast and began chattering loudly.
Coco froze. His tail twitched nervously. CUTIS whispered, “Don’t worry, they’re just curious.”
But the wild monkeys weren’t just curious — they were hungry. One of them, a big gray male, leapt down and tried to snatch a lotus pod from Coco’s pile.
Coco screeched in protest, clutching his food and jumping behind CUTIS. “Hey! That’s his!” CUTIS said, waving his arms to scare them away.
The monkeys hesitated. The big one gave a sharp call, and soon the group climbed back into the trees, watching from above.
Coco peeked from behind CUTIS’s leg, still clutching his lotus fruit like a prized jewel. CUTIS patted his head. “See? You’re safe. But next time, we bring extra so you can share, okay?”
Coco nodded seriously, then offered CUTIS a piece from his last pod, as if to say, You protected me, so you deserve this.
CUTIS smiled. “Thanks, little buddy. You’re the best.”
A Peaceful Ending
As the afternoon sun softened into gold, CUTIS and Coco sat together watching the ripples on the lake. Coco had eaten so much that his belly was round and full. He leaned against CUTIS, sleepy and content, holding one last lotus seed in his tiny hand.
“You know,” CUTIS whispered, “today was one of the best days ever.”
Coco yawned and squeaked softly, his eyelids drooping. He looked like a little baby who had just discovered the secret to happiness — food, sunshine, and love.
When they finally walked home, Mom was waiting at the gate. “Look at you two!” she said, laughing. “You’re covered in mud again!”
CUTIS grinned. “Coco found a new favorite snack — lotus fruit!”
Mom smiled warmly. “Lotus fruit, huh? That’s special. It means peace and purity.” She knelt and stroked Coco’s head gently. “Maybe he was meant to find it.”
Coco blinked sleepily and gave a tiny smile, as if he understood.
That night, as the moon rose and the village grew quiet, Coco curled up in his little blanket beside CUTIS’s bed. He still held onto one dry lotus seed, refusing to let it go. It was his treasure, a reminder of the day he discovered something beautiful and shared it with the people he loved.
And from that day forward, every time they visited the lake, Coco would run straight toward the lotus flowers, splash in the water, and look for his favorite fruit.
Sometimes, CUTIS would join him, and they’d sit side by side, eating lotus seeds and laughing under the wide blue sky — boy and monkey, best friends forever.
Because that one simple moment — baby monkey eating lotus fruit — wasn’t just about food. It was about curiosity, joy, friendship, and the beauty of small discoveries that make life sweet. ❤️🐒🌸
