The jungle was buzzing with life under the blazing summer sun. Cicadas sang loudly from the treetops, and the air shimmered with heat. Even the usually playful CUTIS felt the warmth pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. His fur stuck to his skin, and his tail swished lazily as he searched for shade.
Nearby, baby monkey lay sprawled on a flat rock, fanning himself weakly with a big leaf. “So… hot…” he mumbled, panting softly. “I can’t move… I’m melting…”
CUTIS chuckled and sat down beside him. “Haha, don’t be so dramatic! But yeah… you’re right, it’s way too hot today.”
Baby monkey sighed deeply. “I wish there was a big fan… or maybe a river made of ice cream.”
CUTIS laughed. “Ice cream river? You’d eat it all before swimming in it!”
Baby monkey stuck out his tongue. “Would not!”
CUTIS smiled but noticed how tired his little friend looked. The sun was relentless, and even the trees seemed to droop. “Hmm,” CUTIS muttered, scratching his head. “We need a way to cool down… but how?”
Then he remembered something—an old story Mom once told about cooling plants that grew deep in the forest. Their leaves were big, soft, and always cold to the touch, even in summer.
“Baby monkey!” CUTIS exclaimed, jumping up. “Wait here! I think I know how to help you!”
Baby monkey tilted his head. “Help me? How?”
CUTIS grinned. “I’m going to harvest some strange plants that can make you cool again! You’ll see!”
Without another word, he dashed off into the jungle, his tail flicking behind him. The forest was thick, buzzing with insects and filled with the scent of wildflowers. CUTIS climbed over fallen logs and ducked under branches, determined to find the mysterious plants.
He finally reached a shady part of the jungle where the air felt cooler. The sunlight peeked through the canopy in tiny golden spots. CUTIS looked around, sniffing the air, until he saw something unusual—a patch of tall, silver-green plants growing near a small stream.
Their leaves shimmered like they were covered in morning dew, even though it was hot and dry everywhere else. CUTIS touched one leaf carefully—and gasped.
“It’s cold!” he whispered. “Just like Mom said!”
He grinned wide. “Perfect! These strange plants will save baby monkey from the summer heat!”
CUTIS got to work. He carefully harvested several leaves, wrapping them together with some vines. Each leaf felt cool against his fingers. He even splashed some water from the stream on them to make them extra refreshing.
Then he hurried back toward the clearing, dodging roots and jumping over rocks. His heart was full of excitement. “Hang on, baby monkey! I’m coming!”
When he reached the clearing, baby monkey was still lying on the rock, eyes half closed, fanning himself weakly. “CUTIS… I think I’m turning into a pancake…”
CUTIS laughed. “Not on my watch!” He spread the cool leaves over baby monkey’s body like a blanket.
Baby monkey jumped slightly. “Ahh! It’s cold!”
CUTIS giggled. “That’s the point! It’s cooling you down!”
Baby monkey’s eyes widened as the chill from the leaves soaked into his fur. “Whoa… it feels amazing! So cool! Where did you find these?”
CUTIS puffed his chest proudly. “Deep in the forest! They’re strange plants that stay cold even in the hottest weather.”
Baby monkey sighed with relief, melting into the leaves. “Ahh… CUTIS, you’re a genius.”
CUTIS laughed and waved his tail. “I know, I know! CUTIS the scientist at your service!”
The two monkeys spent the next few minutes enjoying the refreshing coolness. Baby monkey lay quietly, smiling as the breeze rustled the leaves above them. CUTIS fanned him gently with a big palm frond.
After a while, baby monkey sat up, looking much better. “Thank you, CUTIS! You saved me from becoming a roasted banana.”
CUTIS chuckled. “A roasted banana? You’d be delicious!”
Baby monkey threw a leaf at him playfully. “Stop teasing! But really, these plants are amazing. How do they stay so cool?”
CUTIS tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Hmm… maybe they grow near cold water or in shady places. The forest is full of surprises.”
Baby monkey nodded. “Yeah… nature is magic!”
CUTIS looked at the remaining leaves and suddenly had an idea. “Hey! We could make hats out of these!”
Baby monkey’s eyes sparkled. “Cool hats?”
CUTIS grinned. “Yes! Cooling leaf hats! They’ll keep our heads cold!”
The two monkeys quickly started crafting. They used vines to tie the leaves together and shaped them into funny hats. Baby monkey’s hat was huge and floppy, while CUTIS’s had little leaf “ears” sticking out.
They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“CUTIS! You look like a forest king!” baby monkey giggled.
“And you look like a jungle wizard!” CUTIS replied, laughing so hard he rolled on the ground.
Together, they strutted around proudly, showing off their “fashion.” CUTIS even made a mini leaf cape and pretended to be a superhero. “Captain Coolness, saving the jungle from the summer heat!”
Baby monkey joined in, striking a pose. “And I’m his sidekick, Super Chill Monkey!”
They ran around the clearing, laughing and shouting. The heat didn’t bother them anymore—their strange plant hats worked perfectly, and the joy of playing together made the air feel lighter.
Later that afternoon, Mom came out of the hut and froze when she saw them. “CUTIS! Baby monkey! What are you wearing?”
CUTIS stood tall and proud. “Mom! We harvested strange plants that stay cold! Now we’re cool and stylish!”
Baby monkey nodded eagerly. “And we’re saving the jungle from summer!”
Mom couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, you two are the funniest monkeys I’ve ever seen! But… good thinking, CUTIS. Those leaves really do help cool you down.”
CUTIS grinned. “See? Told you I’m smart!”
Mom smiled and gave them some cold coconut water. “Drink this, Captain Coolness and Super Chill Monkey.”
They both drank happily, sitting under the shade of the big tree.
As the sun began to set, the air cooled down, and the forest glowed with golden light. Baby monkey looked at CUTIS and smiled. “You know, this was the best summer day ever.”
CUTIS nodded. “Yeah. Even when it’s hot, we can always find a way to make things fun—and help each other.”
Baby monkey patted his shoulder. “You’re the best friend ever, CUTIS.”
CUTIS grinned. “Of course! That’s what heroes do—save their friends from melting!”
They both burst out laughing again, lying on their backs and watching the pink sky fade into dusk. The forest slowly quieted, and the cool breeze whispered through the leaves.
Their funny leaf hats lay beside them, still glistening faintly in the fading light—a reminder of a day when friendship, creativity, and a little bit of jungle magic turned the hottest summer into a day full of laughter and joy.
Moral of the story:
Even when things get tough or uncomfortable, teamwork and creativity can turn any problem into an adventure. With a caring heart like CUTIS’s, even the hottest day can become the coolest memory. 🌿☀️🐒
