In the dense, sun-drenched fields on the outskirts of the village, something small and helpless cried out for help. The morning air was still and quiet — until a desperate, high-pitched squeal broke through the silence.
A baby monkey, barely old enough to walk steadily, stumbled out from a thicket, its tiny legs shaking and bruised. His fur was dusty, and his eyes—large and glassy—were filled with fear. Alone. Lost. Vulnerable. He looked around, hoping someone—anyone—would come to his rescue.
And that’s when he saw him—the tall man with the kind face. CUTIS.
CUTIS, a gentle farmer known throughout the village for his incredible care of animals, was walking home after checking on his crops. He often carried bananas in his bag—not for himself, but for the many wild friends who visited him regularly. He was loved by dogs, birds, and even a pair of squirrels who lived near his porch. But he’d never seen this monkey before.
The baby monkey’s eyes locked with his. He didn’t hesitate. With what little strength he had, the baby monkey limped toward CUTIS, arms outstretched, whimpering.
“Please… help me,” he seemed to say.
CUTIS dropped to his knees instantly. “Oh no, little one. What happened to you?” he whispered.
The baby monkey collapsed at his feet, barely conscious now. CUTIS gently lifted the tiny body into his arms, cradling him like a child. He felt the monkey’s heartbeat fluttering wildly, like a frightened bird.
Without wasting a second, CUTIS carried him home.
The Rescue Begins
Back at his small farmhouse, CUTIS turned his kitchen into an emergency clinic. He laid down a soft blanket, fetched warm water, and began carefully cleaning the baby monkey’s wounds. A few cuts. Bruises. A small sprain. He gave him tiny sips of water through a dropper and mashed up a banana for him to eat.
The baby monkey, now resting in a soft basket lined with towels, looked up with tired eyes. He reached out his tiny hand, grabbing one of CUTIS’s fingers.
That was all CUTIS needed to see. He wasn’t going to let this little one suffer. Not on his watch.
CUTIS named him “TIKO.”
A Bond Forms
Days passed, and under CUTIS’s tender care, TIKO slowly began to heal. He started standing up again, wobbling like a toddler. He even began to explore the porch, climbing CUTIS’s pant legs and jumping into his arms whenever he got tired.
CUTIS talked to him constantly: “TIKO, you’re going to be okay, I promise.” And somehow, TIKO seemed to understand.
But it wasn’t just CUTIS who was changing—TIKO was changing too. He was no longer just a wild baby monkey. He had found a father figure, a protector. Someone who showed him what love meant.
And TIKO never forgot that moment in the field—when he cried out in desperation and CUTIS answered.
Trouble Returns
One afternoon, as TIKO played with a rope swing CUTIS had made, a commotion broke out near the farm. A group of men from the nearby forest reserve were searching for a baby monkey.
Apparently, a small troop of monkeys had been displaced after a logging operation. The baby had been separated from his group. TIKO.
CUTIS’s heart dropped. He knew this day might come. But just thinking about saying goodbye tore at him.
The forest rangers were kind. They explained that TIKO’s troop had been spotted, and they could try to reunite him with his family. It was the right thing to do. But when CUTIS looked at TIKO, who had wrapped his arms around his leg and was shaking his head wildly, he wondered: What is home, really?
Was it the jungle he came from? Or the heart that had saved him?
An Unforgettable Decision
That night, CUTIS sat on the porch with TIKO in his lap. He looked at the stars and whispered, “What do you want, little one?”
TIKO didn’t need words. He placed a hand on CUTIS’s chest and nestled into his shirt.
In that moment, CUTIS made a choice—not out of selfishness, but out of love. He explained the situation to the rangers and offered a compromise: he would continue caring for TIKO in a safe, enriched environment with regular check-ups from wildlife officers. They agreed, seeing the deep bond between man and monkey.
Life Together
Seasons changed. TIKO grew stronger, smarter, more curious. He followed CUTIS to the fields, rode in his wheelbarrow, and even helped carry small tools. Villagers would stop by just to watch the two together—man and monkey, side by side.
And CUTIS? He had never felt more fulfilled. He had saved a life, yes—but that little life had saved his too.
Sometimes, CUTIS would still think about that day—the cry in the field, the look of desperation, the tiny arms reaching out. It haunted him. Inspired him.
Love had come to him in the form of a desperate cry. And he had answered.
Final Reflection
There’s a saying in the village now: “When you hear a cry, don’t turn away—it might just be your heart calling.”
TIKO is no longer just a rescued baby. He’s family. And CUTIS? He’s no longer just a farmer. He’s a hero in the eyes of one little monkey—and in the hearts of everyone who’s witnessed their story.
Sometimes, the most powerful words don’t need to be spoken. A look. A touch. A cry.
“Please save me…”
And someone who listens.
