One sunny morning in the peaceful countryside, CUTIS the clever farmer was up early, strolling through his garden. He had discovered something very special the day before — a rare, sweet fruit growing deep in the orchard behind the house. Unlike any of the usual bananas or mangoes, this fruit was golden-red, shaped like a tiny heart, and smelled like sunshine and honey.
CUTIS had been keeping it a secret. He believed this fruit, which he named “Sunfruit,” could be something magical. He didn’t even tell Baby Monkey, his mischievous but lovable little friend who usually helped with gardening. The reason? Last week, Baby Monkey had accidentally ruined a batch of CUTIS’s harvested tomatoes by tossing them like balls in the yard. CUTIS got upset, and though they made up, he still felt nervous about letting Baby Monkey near anything delicate again.
So that morning, while Baby Monkey was playing with the chickens near the coop, CUTIS tiptoed into the orchard with a small basket. He checked carefully for any signs of someone following him. The coast was clear.
He reached the special fruit tree and stared at it in awe. “Just one or two today,” he whispered. The tree shimmered slightly under the sun, and CUTIS picked the ripest fruits gently, placing them softly into the basket. Then, he covered the basket with a cloth and hurried back to the house before anyone noticed.
But CUTIS didn’t know that Baby Monkey had seen the whole thing.
From behind a bush, Baby Monkey had watched quietly. His eyes were big with curiosity and his heart stung a little. Why would CUTIS hide something from me? he wondered sadly. Normally, they did everything together — planting, watering, harvesting, even tasting new fruit. This was the first time he felt left out.
Back in the house, CUTIS locked the fruit in the cupboard and went to prepare lunch. Baby Monkey sat quietly at the table, not his usual chatty self. CUTIS noticed. “Everything okay, little buddy?”
Baby Monkey nodded but didn’t smile.
CUTIS felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn’t meant to hurt Baby Monkey’s feelings. He just thought he was protecting the special fruit — and their friendship — from another mess. But now, it seemed he had done the opposite.
That night, after Baby Monkey went to bed, CUTIS sat by the window thinking hard. He remembered all the times Baby Monkey had helped him — the silly mistakes, yes, but also the clever ideas, the joy, the laughter, the teamwork. He realized he hadn’t given his little friend enough credit.
So the next morning, CUTIS made a decision. First, he went back to the orchard and picked a few more Sunfruits. Then, instead of hiding them, he turned them into a beautiful jam — sweet, golden, and sparkling like jelly diamonds. He carefully poured the jam into a small glass jar and tied a red ribbon around it.
Next, he went to the market and bought something he knew Baby Monkey had always wanted — a tiny wooden scooter, handmade and painted bright blue. It was just the right size for zooming around the yard.
When he returned home, Baby Monkey was sitting quietly on the porch, still looking a little hurt.
CUTIS knelt beside him. “Hey,” he said softly. “I’ve got something for you.”
Baby Monkey looked up. “For me?”
CUTIS held out the scooter. Baby Monkey gasped in delight. “My very own scooter?!”
“And this,” CUTIS added, handing him the little jar of Sunfruit jam. “Made from the fruit I kept secret.”
Baby Monkey took the jar in his small hands. “You picked it without me,” he said gently.
CUTIS nodded. “I did. I was worried you’d break them by accident, and that was wrong. I should’ve trusted you. I’m sorry.”
Baby Monkey’s eyes softened. He reached out and hugged CUTIS tightly. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “But next time, can we harvest the special stuff together?”
“Absolutely,” CUTIS replied with a smile.
From that day on, the two became an even stronger team. They named the fruit tree Sunshine Tree and created a special tradition: every Sunday, they would harvest the fruit together, sing a little song, and make jam for their neighbors.
Word spread about the magical Sunfruit and people came from nearby villages to buy jam, share stories, and visit the Sunshine Tree. But more than anything, they came to see the unbreakable bond between a wise farmer and his curious little friend.
The scooter? Baby Monkey rode it proudly every morning before chores. And whenever he passed the orchard, he’d ring the little bell on the handlebar and shout, “CUTIS! Time to check the Sunshine Tree!”
CUTIS would smile, grab his hat, and together they’d head into the orchard — partners, friends, and now, trusted jam-makers of the countryside.
And not a single Sunfruit was ever harvested in secret again.
The End.
