The forest was just beginning to wake, its canopy painted gold by the gentle rise of morning sunlight. Dew still clung to the long blades of grass, and the air felt cool and soft, like a whispered promise of a calm day. But beneath that peaceful stillness, something unexpected was unfolding — something that would soon become the talk of the entire forest. And at the center of it all were two unlikely heroes: the clever young CUTIS and a tiny baby monkey who had more heart than strength.
CUTIS had always been known as the thinker of the troop. Even though he was still young, he had a special way of observing the world — noticing problems before others did, understanding cause and effect, analyzing situations with a calm maturity that amazed the adults. The troop often joked that he didn’t just see the world; he solved it. And for the baby monkey, who adored him endlessly, CUTIS was not just a friend; he was a big brother, a guide, a partner in every little adventure.
That morning, the baby monkey was full of restless energy. His mother had gone out to forage with the other adults, leaving him in the care of the younger troop members. But he didn’t want to wait patiently. No, he had woken up with one goal that had taken root in his tiny mind — he wanted to climb the Big Rock.
The Big Rock was not just any rock. It was tall, smooth, and stood proudly near the riverbend, a natural landmark that every young monkey wanted to conquer but few could. Even some of the older juveniles couldn’t get to the top. The surface was too slick, the angle too steep, and halfway up there was a long stretch with no grip. Parents always told the little ones to avoid it. But the baby monkey, stubborn as ever, wanted to stand on top of it today and prove he was growing up.
When CUTIS noticed the baby monkey tugging at the vines near the rock, he approached quietly.
“What are you up to?” CUTIS asked.
The tiny monkey puffed up his chest. “I’m climbing today! All the way to the top!”
CUTIS blinked. He admired the confidence, but he also knew this was dangerous. “You can’t climb it alone,” he said gently. “You could slip.”
“I won’t slip!” the baby protested. “I’m strong!”
CUTIS smiled softly. Strength wasn’t the problem — planning was. But instead of scolding, CUTIS crouched beside him, his eyes thoughtful. “If you really want to get up there,” he said, “let’s use our brains instead of only our muscles.”
The baby monkey’s ears perked up. Whenever CUTIS said something like that, exciting things usually followed.
CUTIS studied the rock, then the trees around it. An idea sparked instantly — a brilliant, simple, but daring plan. If the rock couldn’t be climbed directly, perhaps it could be approached differently.
“Come with me,” CUTIS said.
The two moved around the back of the rock where the terrain was uneven and a small hill rose nearby. CUTIS climbed the hill first and jumped onto a thick, low branch that stretched out toward the rock. It wasn’t close enough to reach the top, but it was positioned at just the right angle — close enough to swing from.
The baby monkey’s eyes widened. “Are we flying?”
“Not flying,” CUTIS laughed. “Swinging with purpose.”
CUTIS began gathering long vines from the nearby trees, selecting the strongest ones. He tested each of them with determined precision, pulling, tugging, even biting to check their fibers. The baby monkey tried to help, bringing tiny vines that were far too weak, but CUTIS accepted every one with gratitude before gently replacing them when the baby wasn’t looking.
After weaving together a sturdy vine rope, CUTIS wrapped it securely around the thick branch.
“We’re going to swing to the flat part of the rock,” CUTIS explained. “Once we land there, I’ll help you climb the last bit.”
The baby monkey suddenly looked nervous. The distance wasn’t small. The rock looked far bigger now that they were preparing to jump toward it.
“Are you sure?” he whispered.
CUTIS placed a hand on his shoulder. “You won’t be alone. I’ll be right beside you the whole time.”
That was enough. With CUTIS there, the baby monkey felt there was nothing in the world he couldn’t do.
CUTIS grabbed the vine rope with a practiced grip and guided the baby monkey’s hands around his waist. “Hold tight. Don’t let go until I say so.”
The baby nodded fiercely.
With a deep breath, CUTIS took a powerful leap. The vine stretched but held firm, sending them gliding through the air. The baby monkey squealed — half fear, half exhilaration — as the wind rushed past them. CUTIS adjusted his posture mid-air, controlling the swing with impressive precision before their feet touched the slanted surface of the rock.
They landed. Not gracefully — the baby monkey stumbled, claws scrambling — but they stayed upright.
CUTIS laughed breathlessly. “See? Told you.”
The baby monkey clung to him with sparkling eyes. “CUTIS! That was unbelievable!”
“And we’re not done yet,” CUTIS reminded him.
The final part of the climb was tricky, but CUTIS guided the baby every step. He pointed out the safest footholds, supported his weight, and even pushed him gently upward when the ledges grew narrow. CUTIS moved calmly, confidently, as though he had studied the rock his whole life.
And then — after a few minutes of determined climbing — the baby monkey reached the top.
He stood upright, chest rising and falling, a wide grin splitting across his tiny face. “I did it!” he cried. “CUTIS! I really did it!”
CUTIS climbed up beside him, smiling as warmly as the morning sun.
“You did,” he said proudly. “I just helped you find the right way.”
For a few precious minutes, the two stood together on the Big Rock, the river shimmering below, the forest stretching endlessly around them. It was a simple moment but powerful — a moment of courage, trust, and the quiet brilliance of a young monkey who knew how to use his mind to create possibilities.
When the adults returned later in the day and learned what had happened, they were stunned. Some were shocked by the daring act. Others were amazed by CUTIS’s quick thinking. But everyone agreed on one thing: CUTIS had helped the baby monkey do something truly unbelievable.
And as the baby monkey proudly recounted the adventure again and again, he always ended with the same line:
“I couldn’t have done it without CUTIS. He made the impossible possible!”
And so, in the heart of the forest, their bond grew stronger — built on trust, bravery, and the brilliance of a young thinker who always found a way.
