It started on a soft golden morning in the countryside, when the gentle mist still wrapped around the mango trees and the air smelled faintly of wet earth. CUTIS, the quick-thinking farmer known for his odd but ingenious ways, had noticed something in the past few days—Mom had been moving slower, sitting down more often, and holding her belly with a faint smile.
CUTIS wasn’t the only one who noticed. A little pair of curious brown eyes had been watching too—those of Lulu, the baby monkey he had rescued months ago. Lulu had a knack for understanding emotions in a way that surprised everyone. When Mom sighed, Lulu would tilt her head. When Mom rubbed her lower back, Lulu would clamber down from CUTIS’s shoulder and gently pat her arm.
One evening, CUTIS overheard Mom quietly telling a neighbor, “The baby will be here in a few months. I just hope I can manage all the work until then.” CUTIS’s heart tightened. He had grown up with a strong, hardworking mother who rarely asked for help, but he knew—pregnancy was no time to push herself to exhaustion.
That night, under the dim glow of the oil lamp, CUTIS came up with a plan. It wasn’t going to be an ordinary plan. It was going to be a secret mission—just between him and Lulu—to make sure Mom didn’t have to lift a finger more than necessary.
The Secret Morning Routine
The very next morning, CUTIS woke up before dawn. Instead of letting Mom prepare breakfast, he tiptoed to the kitchen, Lulu clinging to his shoulder like a small furry backpack. Lulu’s job was “ingredient manager.” She would hop onto the counter, pass CUTIS the eggs, onions, and herbs, and even taste-test the bananas to make sure they were perfectly ripe.
When Mom emerged from her room, expecting to start her day, she found a warm plate of rice porridge waiting on the table, steam curling into the cool morning air. CUTIS pretended to be casually sipping tea, while Lulu sat beside the bowl, looking very proud of herself.
“This… is nice,” Mom said slowly, clearly wondering how this had happened without her hearing a sound. CUTIS just grinned and shrugged.
Lightening the Load
Mom usually insisted on feeding the chickens, but CUTIS knew bending and carrying feed sacks wasn’t good for her now. So one afternoon, while Mom was resting, CUTIS slipped out to the shed and taught Lulu the art of “strategic feeding.”
It was chaos at first—Lulu spilled half the grain, chased a chicken in circles, and then climbed onto the coop roof just for fun. But by the third day, Lulu had mastered the routine. She would drag the feed scoop with surprising determination, sprinkle grain evenly, and then sit in the middle of the yard like a proud general inspecting her troops.
When Mom peeked outside and saw the chickens happily pecking away without her lifting a finger, she just shook her head, muttering, “How on earth…?”
The Mango Tree Mystery
One of Mom’s favorite things was fresh mango, but CUTIS knew she couldn’t climb the tree anymore. So he devised one of his most daring plans—he built a “mango pulley system” with an old bucket, some rope, and a branch that leaned conveniently over the yard.
While CUTIS steadied the bucket, Lulu would scamper up the tree, carefully pluck the ripest mangoes, and drop them inside. Then CUTIS would lower the bucket like a precious cargo delivery.
Mom started finding baskets of mangoes on the kitchen counter without having any clue who had picked them. “It’s like magic,” she whispered one day, smiling at the sweet fruit. CUTIS bit back a laugh while Lulu munched on her own mango in the corner.
The Most Unbelievable Night
The real test came one stormy evening. The wind was howling through the bamboo fence, and rain pounded on the roof. Mom had gone to bed early, but CUTIS noticed her door was slightly ajar. Inside, she was tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable.
Without a word, CUTIS slipped into the kitchen, warmed some milk with honey, and brought it to her. Lulu padded in behind him, carrying a small bunch of jasmine flowers she had picked earlier. CUTIS placed the cup on the nightstand while Lulu gently laid the flowers near Mom’s pillow.
Mom’s eyes softened. “You two…” she began, but CUTIS just motioned for her to rest.
Their Secret Gets Discovered
Weeks went by, and CUTIS and Lulu’s secret mission became a daily rhythm—cleaning, cooking, fetching water, even quietly repairing the old fence while Mom was napping.
But secrets have a way of slipping out. One sunny morning, Mom woke up earlier than usual. She stepped outside just in time to see Lulu lowering a bucket of freshly picked mangoes from the tree, while CUTIS stood below giving her a thumbs-up.
Mom froze. Then she burst into laughter, holding her belly. “So this is the magic I’ve been wondering about!”
CUTIS scratched his head, trying to act innocent, but Lulu ruined it by running over and hugging Mom’s leg.
Mom crouched down, kissed Lulu’s head, and looked at CUTIS. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“Yes, we did,” CUTIS replied simply. “You’ve always taken care of everyone. Now it’s your turn to be taken care of.”
The Baby Arrives
Months later, when the day finally came, the whole family’s life shifted. Mom cradled a tiny, squirming baby in her arms, her face glowing despite her exhaustion. CUTIS stood nearby, proud and relieved, while Lulu peeked over the edge of the bed, curious about this new little human.
From that day on, Lulu seemed to adopt the baby as her own. She would sit quietly beside the crib, keep flies away with her tail, and even fetch Mom’s water bottle when she needed it.
And though the secret mission was no longer a secret, the spirit behind it never faded. CUTIS and Lulu kept finding little ways to help—whether it was fixing the baby’s blanket in the middle of the night or making sure Mom’s tea was always warm.
The Unbelievable Bond
Looking back, CUTIS realized something: it wasn’t just about helping with chores or easing the burden. It was about love, loyalty, and the quiet, everyday acts that make life feel safe and full.
The bond between CUTIS, Lulu, Mom, and the new baby became something almost magical—born not out of grand gestures, but from the small, secret kindnesses that add up over time.
Even years later, Mom would tell the story to visitors, laughing as she described how she woke up to mysterious mangoes, fed chickens she hadn’t actually fed, and found jasmine flowers by her pillow. “It was the most unbelievable thing,” she’d say. “My son and a little monkey taking care of me in secret.”
And CUTIS, sitting in the corner with Lulu perched on his shoulder, would just smile, knowing that sometimes the most extraordinary acts of love happen quietly—without the need for recognition, only the wish to see someone you care about happy and safe.
