It was a bright and sunny morning in the peaceful countryside. Birds chirped happily in the trees, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of ripening fruit. Uncle Phong, a kind and gentle farmer, was busy sweeping the front yard while keeping an eye on his playful little companion—Bibi, the curious baby monkey.
Bibi had been living with Uncle Phong ever since he was rescued from a dangerous situation. Uncle Phong cared for him like a family member, feeding him, bathing him, and making sure he stayed out of trouble. But Bibi was full of energy, and his mind was always bursting with new ideas and wild adventures. Today, one such idea had taken over Bibi’s thoughts.
From the small wooden fence that surrounded Uncle Phong’s house, Bibi had spotted something exciting. Just across the field, a group of neighborhood children were sitting under a big mango tree, laughing and passing around a basket of fresh fruits—juicy mangos, rambutans, bananas, and sweet lychees.
Bibi’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I want fruit! And I want to play!” he thought.
Uncle Phong had told Bibi to stay near the house because he was planning to give him a bath soon. But Bibi had other plans.
As soon as Uncle Phong turned his back to water the garden, Bibi made his move. He tiptoed silently across the yard, climbed up a fence post, and with one graceful swing, leapt into the bushes. He was off!
Down the dirt path and past the rice paddies, Bibi scampered like the wind, his tiny feet barely touching the ground. He made his way to the big mango tree, where the laughter of children grew louder and the scent of fruit stronger.
“Bibi!” cried one of the children as he arrived. “You came!”
The children were delighted to see him. They had often played with Bibi before, giving him small treats and letting him swing from the lower branches of trees. Today, they welcomed him with open arms.
“Come on, Bibi!” said Mai, a kind girl with pigtails. “We just picked some mangos. They’re so sweet today!”
Bibi clapped his hands and jumped in circles, clearly thrilled. Soon, he was happily munching on a ripe banana, juice running down his chin as he squeaked with joy. He took bites of mango, peeled rambutans with his nimble fingers, and even tasted a piece of watermelon the children had brought from home.
As the morning turned into afternoon, the sun grew warmer, but no one noticed. Bibi was having the time of his life—swinging from branches, playing tag with the kids, and filling his belly with the freshest fruits of the season.
Back at the house, however, Uncle Phong had noticed that something was wrong.
“Bibi?” he called, looking around. “Bibi, where did you go?”
When he didn’t hear any answer, Uncle Phong put down his watering can and began searching the yard. He checked Bibi’s favorite spots—behind the flower pots, under the bamboo table, and even up in the tree near the chicken coop. But Bibi was nowhere to be found.
“Oh no,” Uncle Phong said with a worried sigh. “He’s run off again.”
Knowing Bibi’s curious nature, Uncle Phong guessed where he might have gone. He quickly slipped on his straw hat, grabbed his walking stick, and set out down the path toward the mango tree.
Meanwhile, under the shade of that same tree, Bibi was starting to feel sleepy. His belly was full, and the warm afternoon breeze made him yawn. He curled up in Mai’s lap, ready to nap when suddenly—
“BIBI!”
The sharp, concerned voice of Uncle Phong startled everyone. Bibi’s ears perked up. He sat up straight and looked around.
“Oh no,” he thought. “I’m in trouble!”
Uncle Phong arrived with a mixture of relief and frustration on his face.
“Bibi! I told you not to run off. What if something happened to you?”
Bibi looked down, a little ashamed. He didn’t mean to make Uncle Phong worry—he had just wanted to have fun.
Seeing Bibi’s sad face, Uncle Phong knelt down beside him.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” he said gently, patting Bibi on the head. “But you must tell me next time. I was so worried.”
Mai stepped forward. “Uncle Phong, we were watching him. He was really good and had lots of fun with us.”
Uncle Phong smiled. “I’m sure he did. Bibi loves company. But he also needs to learn responsibility.”
He looked at Bibi. “Come on, little rascal. Let’s go home.”
But before they left, the children handed Uncle Phong a small fruit basket.
“For you and Bibi,” they said. “So he won’t miss out when he’s at home.”
Uncle Phong chuckled. “Thank you, children. That’s very kind.”
As they walked back, Bibi held tightly onto Uncle Phong’s shirt, tired from his grand adventure. His mouth still tasted of sweet fruit, and his heart felt happy. But he also felt something else—grateful.
Grateful that he had such good friends.
Grateful that he got to play and explore.
And most of all, grateful that he had someone like Uncle Phong, who always came looking for him.
That night, after a warm bath and a gentle brushing, Bibi curled up in his soft basket bed. Uncle Phong gave him a tiny kiss on the head.
“Goodnight, Bibi. No more running away, okay?”
Bibi gave a soft squeak and nodded sleepily.
And with that, the little monkey closed his eyes, dreaming of mangos, laughter, and swinging high in the trees—with Uncle Phong always nearby.
