The morning began like any other in the little house by the edge of the forest, where birds chirped on the mango tree and sunlight spilled across the yard in soft golden patches. Dad was busy fixing a loose chair leg, humming to himself, completely unaware that a “top-secret mission” was already underway. High above him, hidden behind banana leaves and peeking eyes, CUTIS the clever monkey was planning something very special—and very funny.
CUTIS had woken up earlier than usual, his tail twitching with excitement. Today was not just any day. Today, he wanted to surprise Dad. Not with food, not with a hug, but with something BIG. Something unforgettable. Something that would make Dad laugh so hard his stomach would hurt. At least, that was the plan.
The idea came to CUTIS when he overheard Dad talking on the phone the night before.
“Life is too serious,” Dad had said. “We need more laughter around here.”
CUTIS took that sentence very seriously.
With the seriousness of a tiny general preparing for battle, CUTIS began collecting supplies. First, he quietly rolled Dad’s old straw hat under the porch. Then he dragged a long shirt from the laundry line—one that still smelled like soap and sunshine. He even found an old broom leaning against the wall and pulled it inch by inch across the yard. To anyone watching, it would have looked like a strange parade of objects moving on their own. But CUTIS was focused. This was art. This was comedy.
Behind the shed, CUTIS began assembling his masterpiece. He tied the shirt around the broom, stuffed the straw hat with dry leaves, and balanced it carefully on top. From a distance, it looked exactly like a tall, silent figure standing very still. CUTIS stepped back, tilted his head, and grinned. Perfect.
Now came the hardest part: waiting.
Dad finished fixing the chair and wiped sweat from his forehead. “I’ll go grab some water,” he muttered, walking toward the back of the house. CUTIS’s heart started pounding. He hid behind a barrel, covering his mouth with both hands to stop himself from giggling too soon.
As Dad turned the corner, he suddenly froze.
There, standing near the shed, was a tall figure wearing his shirt and hat.
Dad blinked once.
He blinked twice.
“Who… who’s there?” he called out, his voice suddenly much higher than usual.
CUTIS shook with laughter but stayed hidden.
The figure didn’t move.
Dad took one cautious step forward. Then another. The wind blew gently, making the shirt flutter. To Dad, it looked like the figure was breathing.
That was it.
Dad yelped, dropped his cup, and turned around so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet. “AAAAH!” he shouted, sprinting toward the house like his life depended on it.
From behind the barrel, CUTIS burst into uncontrollable laughter. He rolled on the ground, clutching his stomach, his tail slapping the dirt wildly. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to catch his breath.
Dad slammed the door behind him and leaned against it, panting. “What on earth was that?!” he gasped.
A few seconds later, silence.
Then… giggling.
Dad slowly opened the door and peeked outside. What he saw made him pause, then sigh, then laugh louder than he had in a long time. CUTIS was dancing around the fake figure, pointing at it proudly, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“CUTIS!” Dad exclaimed. “You little trickster!”
CUTIS ran toward him, still laughing, and jumped into Dad’s arms. Dad pretended to scold him, shaking his head, but he couldn’t stop smiling.
“You nearly scared ten years off my life,” Dad said, laughing. “I thought a ghost had moved into our yard!”
CUTIS patted Dad’s chest gently, as if to say, Mission accomplished.
But CUTIS wasn’t done yet.
Later that afternoon, Dad decided to take a nap, exhausted from the morning’s excitement. CUTIS watched quietly from the corner of the room, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Another idea was forming.
Very carefully, CUTIS took Dad’s slippers and placed them neatly beside the bed—but facing the wrong direction. Then he tied a soft ribbon between the bed leg and the door handle, low enough that Dad wouldn’t notice when he stood up. CUTIS hid behind the curtain, holding his breath.
Dad woke up, stretched, and yawned. “What a day,” he murmured, standing up and heading for the door.
Step.
Tug.
Dad stumbled forward, arms flailing. “Hey—whoa—!”
He caught himself just in time, heart racing.
Then he heard it again.
That giggle.
Dad turned slowly and saw CUTIS peeking out from behind the curtain, eyes wide and innocent… for about half a second. Then both of them burst out laughing.
“You are unbelievable,” Dad said, laughing so hard he had to sit back down. “Absolutely unbelievable.”
CUTIS climbed onto Dad’s lap and hugged him tightly. In that moment, all the panic, all the surprises, and all the laughter came together into something warm and beautiful. CUTIS hadn’t just created a prank—he had created joy.
As the sun began to set, Dad and CUTIS sat outside, sharing fruit and watching the sky turn orange and pink. Dad ruffled CUTIS’s fur gently.
“You know,” Dad said softly, “you really did give me more laughter today.”
CUTIS smiled, leaning against him, completely satisfied.
From that day on, Dad learned an important lesson: when CUTIS is quiet, smiling, and suspiciously busy… a surprise is definitely coming. And even if it starts with panic and running away, it always ends with laughter, love, and unforgettable memories 😂❤️
