It was a warm afternoon in the heart of the forest when a soft, heartbreaking sound echoed through the trees. A faint whimper, almost like a human baby crying, drew the attention of several nearby animals. Hidden among the tall grass and scattered leaves, a baby monkey sat all alone, his tiny body trembling and his big round eyes filled with tears.
The baby monkey’s name was Coco. He had soft brown fur, a pink little nose, and ears that twitched every time a sound came near. He was barely a few weeks old, and everything in the world still felt new and confusing. His mother had gone off to find food, as she often did, but this time something had gone wrong. She hadn’t come back.
Coco clutched a broken twig, his only comfort, as he sat under the shade of a tall banana tree. He had tried calling out, squeaking in his little voice for hours, but the forest was big and full of noise. No one seemed to hear him—or worse, no one seemed to care.
“Where is Mama?” Coco whispered, his voice cracking.
Each passing minute felt like an hour. His belly rumbled with hunger, and his heart ached with loneliness. At times, he curled into a tiny ball and tried to sleep, hoping that when he opened his eyes, he’d see his mother’s face. But every time he woke up, she was still gone.
Then came the rain.
Soft at first, then heavier, the drops splattered against the leaves and soaked the forest floor. Coco’s little body shivered as the cold water drenched his fur. He whimpered and let out a sad, squeaky cry. It was more than just cold—it was fear, sadness, and confusion all wrapped into one.
A nearby parrot, perched on a low branch, heard the cry. She tilted her head, listening closely. Something wasn’t right. Parrots are known for their curiosity, and this one, named Luma, flew down to see where the noise came from. Her eyes widened as she saw the trembling baby monkey, soaked and alone.
“Oh no… you poor thing,” Luma cooed gently.
Coco looked up at her with hope, but his face quickly fell when he realized it wasn’t his mother. He turned away, burying his face in his arms.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Luma said softly. “Are you lost?”
Coco sniffled and nodded.
“Where’s your mama?”
“I… I don’t know,” he said between sobs. “She went to find food, but she didn’t come back…”
Luma’s heart ached. The forest could be a dangerous place, especially for a little one like Coco. Wild cats, snakes, even humans sometimes wandered into the area. She knew Coco couldn’t survive on his own.
“I’ll help you,” she promised. “I may not be your mama, but I can look after you until we find her.”
Coco looked up again, his eyes still filled with tears but now mixed with a glimmer of hope.
“Really?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
“Really,” Luma smiled. “But first, let’s get you warm and dry.”
With her wings wide, Luma guided Coco to a hollow in a tree where it was dry. She picked some big leaves and dropped them around him like a blanket. Then she flew off to find some fruit. Within minutes, she returned with a ripe banana, peeled and ready.
Coco’s little hands reached out and eagerly grabbed the banana. He ate with hunger, and for the first time that day, he smiled—a tiny, shaky smile, but a smile nonetheless.
The rain stopped, and the forest began to glow again as sunlight broke through the clouds. Birds chirped in the distance, and the wind made the trees dance gently. Still, Coco looked around, hoping for a familiar face.
“Do you think she’s looking for me?” he asked.
“I’m sure she is,” Luma said reassuringly. “Mothers never forget their babies.”
For the next few days, Coco stayed with Luma. She watched over him, flew high to scan the trees for his mother, and brought him food every morning. The two grew close, and Coco began to laugh again. He even tried to swing from a low branch, although he fell right into a bush and got a leaf stuck on his head, making Luma laugh too.
But even in those happy moments, Coco’s heart still longed for his mother. Every night, he cried quietly before falling asleep. Luma would hum softly, staying close to comfort him.
One morning, something changed.
A distant call echoed through the forest. A series of chirps and hoots—very specific ones. Coco’s ears perked up. His heart raced. He recognized that call. It was her.
“Mama!” he screamed and darted off through the grass, ignoring the bushes and thorns.
Luma flew after him. “Coco, wait!”
But Coco was too fast. He followed the sound, calling back as loud as he could. “Mama! Mama, I’m here!”
Then he saw her.
Perched on a branch, eyes wide and filled with tears of joy, was his mother. Her fur was dirty and her face showed signs of a struggle, but she was alive. She had searched endlessly for Coco, and the moment she heard his voice, she had come running.
They embraced, a warm, tight hug that made the forest feel whole again. Coco clung to her, crying into her fur, but this time it was tears of happiness.
“I missed you so much, Mama…”
“I’m here now, baby,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry I took so long.”
Luma hovered nearby, smiling quietly. She didn’t want to interrupt the reunion. After a moment, Coco turned and called her over.
“Mama, this is Luma. She took care of me.”
Coco’s mother stepped forward and gave Luma a grateful nod. “Thank you for saving my baby.”
Luma smiled, “It was my pleasure. He’s a special little monkey.”
The three of them spent the rest of the day together. Coco played and laughed, this time without any tears. The forest, once so scary and lonely, now felt like home again.
Even though he cried that day, Coco’s tears brought kindness, friendship, and love into his life. And now, whenever a baby animal cries in the forest, someone always remembers the little monkey named Coco, whose tiny tears led to a beautiful reunion.
The End.
