It was a bright and sunny morning on the peaceful farm where CUTIS the farmer lived with his animal friends. The dew still sparkled on the leaves, and the birds chirped cheerfully in the trees. CUTIS was in a great mood, humming a tune as he walked out of his little wooden house. Beside him, bouncing with energy, was Baby Monkeyâa tiny, curious, and lovable creature who adored CUTIS and followed him everywhere.
Today, CUTIS had planned to repair the chicken coop. He grabbed his toolbox and a ladder, while Baby Monkey playfully tugged at his pant leg, clearly wanting to help.
âAlright, little one,â CUTIS laughed, patting Baby Monkey on the head, âbut you have to promise to be careful, okay?â
Baby Monkey nodded eagerly, though he didnât fully understand what âcarefulâ meant. All he wanted was to copy CUTIS and be part of the action.
As CUTIS began hammering the old wooden boards of the coop, Baby Monkey picked up small nails and tried mimicking CUTIS by tapping them with a small stick. It was adorable and funnyâuntil things took a turn.
CUTIS climbed up the ladder to fix a loose roof plank. As he reached for a nail in his tool belt, he didnât realize that Baby Monkey had wandered behind him. The little monkey, looking for something interesting, noticed a shiny object on the ground: the wheel lock on the ladder. It looked like a toy, so of course, he gave it a twist.
That was the moment everything went wrong.
With a loud creak, the ladder shifted slightly. CUTIS, still unaware, leaned forwardâand suddenly the entire ladder wobbled. CUTIS cried out, grabbing the roof with one hand while trying to steady himself. But it was too late. The ladder gave way, and CUTIS fell backwards, crashing into the straw-covered ground with a loud thud.
But that wasnât all.
As the ladder fell, it tipped over a nearby bucket of water. The water spilled quickly across the yard, running downhill toward the small wooden ramp Baby Monkey had built from planks. The water made the surface slipperyâjust as Baby Monkey decided to walk up it.
His tiny feet slipped, and the poor monkey tumbled down the ramp, rolling through the mud and hitting a small log at the bottom. He squealed in pain and fear, then curled up on the ground, trembling.
CUTIS, still dazed from his fall, heard Baby Monkeyâs cry and leapt to his feet. âOh no! Baby Monkey!â he shouted, rushing over with panic in his eyes. He scooped up the muddy little creature and cradled him in his arms.
Baby Monkey looked up at him with watery eyes and whimpered. His arm seemed sore, and he wasnât moving it much.
CUTIS felt a wave of guilt crash over him. âItâs my fault,â he whispered. âI should have kept you farther away. I shouldâve locked the ladder better. Oh, my poor babyâŠâ
CUTIS gently carried Baby Monkey to the porch and wrapped him in a soft towel. He quickly checked his limbs, body, and head. Thankfully, there were no signs of serious injuryâbut that arm needed to be checked. Without wasting another second, CUTIS placed Baby Monkey into a cozy box filled with soft cloth and hurried into town on his motorbike.
At the animal clinic, the vet examined Baby Monkey carefully. After a few moments, she smiled and said, âNo broken bones, but his arm is bruised and heâs frightened. With some rest, heâll be just fine.â
CUTIS sighed in relief. âThank you, doctor,â he said, his eyes still heavy with worry. âI feel terrible. He was just trying to help.â
Back home, CUTIS set up a warm, quiet corner for Baby Monkey to rest. He gave him a bottle of milk and gently stroked his head while Baby Monkey slowly drifted off to sleep. As the monkey snuggled closer to CUTIS, the farmer whispered, âI promise Iâll be more careful from now on. You mean too much to me.â
Over the next few days, CUTIS watched over Baby Monkey closely. He didnât let him run or play too much and made sure he had everything he neededâfood, warmth, and love.
Something changed during those days. CUTIS realized that even when accidents happen, what matters most is how you respond. He had made a mistake, but he was doing everything he could to make it right. He also learned that Baby Monkey needed more supervision, especially around tools and equipment.
A few days later, Baby Monkey was back to his playful self. He jumped around, tried climbing furniture again, and even squeaked with joy when CUTIS gave him a banana. But now, CUTIS kept a much closer eye on him.
They both learned valuable lessons from the incident. Baby Monkey learned that not everything shiny should be touched. And CUTIS learned that being responsible for a little life meant always thinking one step ahead.
To celebrate Baby Monkeyâs recovery, CUTIS invited his neighbors over for a small picnic. There were fruits, vegetables, rice cakes, and a special banana smoothie just for Baby Monkey.
At the picnic, CUTIS told everyone what had happened. Instead of laughing or judging, the neighbors patted him on the back and said, âThatâs what makes you a great caretaker, CUTIS. Accidents happen, but love and responsibility fix them.â
Baby Monkey squealed happily, munching on his banana while sitting safely in CUTISâ lap. His bruises had healed, and so had CUTISâ guilt.
From that day forward, CUTIS and Baby Monkey became even closer. They still worked together on the farm, but now with extra safety and more hugs.
And whenever CUTIS climbed a ladder, Baby Monkey stood far awayâholding a banana and waving.
