Deep in the warm, green heart of the forest, three baby monkeys—Susu, Lala, and Mimi—were bursting with morning energy. The sunlight slipped through the leaves in tiny golden beams, inviting them to start their day with adventure. Every morning, these three little friends met under the big banyan tree, which they always called their “playground tree.” Today was no different. In fact, they were even more excited than usual, because they had discovered something new the day before: a giant fallen log perfect for sliding, jumping, and hiding.
Susu, the smallest but the fastest, arrived first. His fluffy cheeks were round, and his bright eyes sparkled with mischief. He jumped onto the log and shouted, “Hurry up! I’m ready!” He bounced up and down, unable to stay still.
A moment later, Lala swung from a hanging vine and landed on the ground with a soft thump. She was the smartest of the three, always finding new games and new ways to have fun. “I’m here! And I have a new idea,” she announced proudly.
Before she could explain, Mimi waddled toward them. Mimi was plumpy, gentle, and always smiling. She wasn’t as fast as Susu or as clever as Lala, but she had the warmest heart. “Sorry,” she puffed, “I stopped to pick some berries for us.” She held out a handful of small red berries like an offering.
But Susu was too excited to eat. “Let’s play sliding!” he cried. He climbed to the top of the fallen log and slid down on his belly. “Wheeee!” he squealed, landing softly on a pile of leaves. This made Lala and Mimi burst into laughter.
Soon, all three were taking turns. Susu slid like a rocket, Lala slid with perfect balance, and Mimi slid slowly but giggled every time she reached the bottom. The forest echoed with their happy voices, and even the birds in the branches seemed to join the fun.
After sliding a dozen times, Lala stood up suddenly, her eyes shining. “Let’s play hide-and-seek!” she declared. Everyone agreed instantly, because hide-and-seek was one of their favorite games.
Lala covered her eyes and started counting loudly, “One… two… three… no peeking!”
Susu zipped away like wind. Because he was tiny, he could hide almost anywhere. He found a big shrub and wiggled under it, trying not to giggle.
Meanwhile, Mimi looked around slowly, unsure where to hide. She spotted a big tree root shaped like a little cave. Perfect! She squeezed herself inside, though her round belly stuck out slightly.
“Ten! Ready or not, here I come!” Lala shouted.
She searched carefully, always clever and observant. The first thing she noticed was a round shape poking out from the tree root. She tiptoed quietly, then tapped Mimi on the back. “Found you!” she said with a grin.
Mimi gasped dramatically. “Oh no! You’re too smart!” The two giggled together.
Then, the mission to find Susu began. Lala checked behind trees, beside rocks, under leaves, but Susu was nowhere. Mimi walked beside her, humming softly to help her think.
“Hmm… if I were Susu, where would I hide?” Lala wondered. She squinted her eyes. Suddenly—rustle, rustle! The leaves in one nearby bush trembled lightly.
Lala whispered, “I found him.”
She tiptoed, Mimi tiptoed, and together they pounced. “Got you!”
Susu leapt up in surprise, then burst into laughter so loud a bird flew off. “You scared me!” he cried, rolling on the ground.
They switched turns again and again, playing hide-and-seek until their bellies rumbled with hunger.
Mimi beamed. “Good thing I brought berries!” The little monkeys sat together on the log, munching happily. The berries were sweet and fresh. Susu even licked his fingers after finishing his share.
When they were done, Lala pointed to a puddle nearby, sparkling with reflected sky. “Let’s play splashy-splash!” she said.
Before anyone could respond, Susu ran straight into the puddle—SPLASH! Water flew everywhere, soaking his tiny arms and feet. Lala and Mimi followed, splashing water onto each other. Drops flew like diamonds in sunlight. The monkeys played and spun in circles, laughing until they felt dizzy.
After all the splashing, they were tired and lay down on the warm grass beside the puddle. Mimi played with a flower she found, Lala braided a tiny crown of grass, and Susu watched the clouds drifting slowly. The forest felt peaceful again, like it was breathing calmly with them.
But baby monkeys never stay still for long!
Suddenly Susu sat up. “Let’s climb the playground tree!”
This time they agreed instantly. The banyan tree was enormous, with branches like long arms reaching everywhere. They climbed together—Susu darting ahead, Lala analyzing the best route, and Mimi climbing slowly but surely.
At the lower branches, they found their favorite spot, where the leaves formed a cozy green tent. They rested there, talking softly.
“I wish we could play every day like this,” Mimi said dreamily.
“We can!” Susu replied. “The forest is big. We still have so many things to explore!”
Lala nodded. “Tomorrow we should build a little leaf house here. We can make our own clubhouse.”
Susu’s eyes widened. “Yes! And we can decorate it with flowers!”
Mimi clapped happily. “And we can keep our snacks inside!”
They imagined the leaf house together—soft leaf walls, tiny beds made of moss, a flower window, and a roof of big banana leaves. The idea made all three giggle with excitement.
After a while, the wind blew gently through the branches, making whispery sounds. The monkeys leaned close to each other, enjoying the warmth of friendship. Though they were all different—Susu fast, Lala clever, Mimi gentle—they made the perfect team.
As the sun lowered behind the treetops, painting everything in soft orange light, the mothers of the three baby monkeys began calling for them.
“It’s time to go home,” Lala said.
“But we’ll meet again tomorrow,” Susu added.
“And build our clubhouse!” Mimi said cheerfully.
They hugged each other—quickly, because baby monkeys didn’t like long goodbyes—and scampered off toward their homes. Each step felt light, full of joy, because they knew tomorrow would bring another day of playing together.
And in the middle of the quieting forest, the big banyan tree stood proudly, waiting for the return of its three cheerful little friends.
