It started out as just another playful day at the farm. The sun was shining, birds chirping, and the animals were buzzing with energy. CUTIS, the kind-hearted farmer, was busy tending to the vegetables while his beloved companion—the cheeky baby monkey named Coco—was up to his usual tricks. Coco was known around the village for his adorable face, big curious eyes, and unstoppable energy. He loved to play games, especially harmless pranks on CUTIS and the other animals. But today, Coco’s prank went a little too far… and CUTIS wasn’t laughing.
A Morning of Mischief
That morning, CUTIS had laid out a row of fresh cabbages to sell at the local market. Each cabbage was hand-picked, fresh from his organic garden. CUTIS was incredibly proud of his produce and spent hours cleaning and preparing the crates. Meanwhile, Coco watched from the rooftop of the chicken coop, eyes sparkling with mischief. He was bored. CUTIS had been too busy to play with him lately, and Coco wanted attention.
So, he plotted.
Coco snuck into the tool shed and found some red paint. Where he learned to open jars and use a paintbrush, nobody knew—but this monkey was smart. Very smart. Quietly, he painted big red smiley faces on half of the cabbages. To him, it was hilarious! “Now the cabbages look happy!” he probably thought, giggling to himself.
But when CUTIS came back and saw the “happy cabbages,” he was stunned.
“What on earth happened here?” CUTIS exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. He picked one up, sniffed it, then noticed red paint smeared across his hands. “PAINT?!” he shouted. “COCO!!!”
Coco had already scrambled back to the roof, tail flicking with excitement, thinking CUTIS would be impressed.
He was not.
The Straw That Broke the Farmer’s Patience
CUTIS wasn’t just upset because of the ruined vegetables. Those cabbages were meant for the town’s weekend festival. He had worked so hard for days, prepping them. It wasn’t just about food—it was his reputation. Villagers respected him for his clean, natural produce. Now, with red paint soaked into half the crop, everything was ruined.
He looked up at Coco, who was still laughing and swinging on the weather vane.
“This is NOT funny, Coco!” CUTIS shouted. “You’ve gone too far this time!”
Coco stopped giggling. CUTIS never shouted like that. The baby monkey’s smile faded. He slowly climbed down from the coop and approached CUTIS, holding out a small flower as if to say, “I’m sorry.”
But CUTIS turned away.
“I can’t play with you right now,” he said firmly, wiping his hands. “You need to understand—some things are serious. You’ve made a big mess.”
Coco’s Sad Realization
Coco sat alone under the mango tree, watching CUTIS rewash the remaining good cabbages and scrub the crates. The farm was unusually quiet. Even the chickens didn’t cluck. It was as if everyone knew Coco had crossed a line.
For the first time in a long while, Coco felt ashamed. He wasn’t a bad monkey—just playful. But today, his joke had made CUTIS really angry. He didn’t like this feeling. No laughter. No hugs. No treats.
He missed CUTIS already.
As the sun began to set, Coco decided to make things right.
A Monkey’s Redemption
At dawn the next day, CUTIS stepped out of his cottage to fetch water. What he saw made his heart skip a beat.
The crates were perfectly cleaned. The remaining cabbages had been rearranged beautifully. But most impressively—Coco had gathered wildflowers and arranged them into small bouquets that he tied to each crate with long grass. Next to the crates, a wooden sign had been planted. It read, in shaky handwriting:
“SORRY. I RUIN. COCO LOVES CUTIS.”
CUTIS blinked. He looked around and saw Coco sitting quietly nearby, holding another flower with a small basket of berries he had gathered. The little monkey’s eyes were wide with hope.
CUTIS smiled at last. He walked over, took the flower, and knelt down beside Coco.
“You silly little monkey,” he whispered. “You sure know how to make a mess… but you also know how to make it right.”
Coco squeaked happily and threw his tiny arms around CUTIS’s neck. The two shared a warm embrace under the morning light.
The Town Still Laughed
Later that day, CUTIS brought the beautifully decorated crates to the town festival. While he couldn’t sell as many cabbages as planned, the bouquets won hearts. People smiled and chuckled when CUTIS explained what had happened.
“Painted cabbages?” one man laughed. “Only that monkey of yours!”
“Next year, let him design the booth!” another woman joked.
CUTIS smiled. “He might just be the next village artist.”
Coco, now wearing a little straw hat and helping hand out free flower bundles to the children, was back in the spotlight—but this time, for a good reason.
A Lesson Learned
From that day forward, CUTIS and Coco had a new understanding. Jokes are fun, but they come with responsibility. CUTIS made sure to give Coco more time and attention, and Coco learned to use his cleverness in more helpful ways—like guarding the carrot patch from nosy squirrels or alerting CUTIS when the goat escaped again (which happened more often than it should).
Though CUTIS was truly angry that day, it became one of their favorite stories to tell guests. Coco’s “painted cabbage prank” was legendary, and the sign he made was framed and hung in the farmhouse kitchen.
It read:
“SORRY. I RUIN. COCO LOVES CUTIS.”
Because sometimes, the best jokes are the ones that come with a little heart, a little trouble, and a whole lot of love.
THE END
