The afternoon sun slanted through the wooden slats of the porch, casting warm stripes of light across the small, quiet yard. CUTIS, a clever but stubborn golden retriever, had been pacing near the table for the past ten minutes. His eyes were locked on one particular object—Mom’s phone.
Mom had left it on the table while she was busy tending to the vegetable garden. For most dogs, a phone would mean nothing. But CUTIS wasn’t “most dogs.” He had seen enough to know that the phone was important—it held videos of him, his favorite monkey friend Lulu, and countless moments that Mom loved to watch and laugh at.
Today, CUTIS was determined. He planted himself right in front of the table, wagging his tail slowly but keeping his eyes sharp, like a guard on duty. Every time Lulu the baby monkey tried to distract him—swinging from the bamboo railing, tossing him a leaf, or tugging at his ear—he refused to move.
“Woof,” he barked softly, as if telling Lulu, I’m not leaving until I watch that phone.
Lulu tilted her head. She didn’t really understand what was so fascinating about the black rectangle, but she knew CUTIS well enough to tell when he was being stubborn. She hopped over, landing beside him.
“You really want to watch that thing?” Lulu’s curious eyes seemed to ask. CUTIS just gave a short huff and glanced back at the phone again.
The problem was, Mom didn’t like them touching her phone. She was afraid Lulu might press random buttons or CUTIS might knock it off the table. But CUTIS didn’t want to touch it—he just wanted Mom to open it and play the videos. Still, he couldn’t exactly explain that in human language.
Lulu, however, had her own ideas.
The Monkey Messenger
While CUTIS stayed put, guarding the table like a soldier, Lulu scampered off toward the garden. She found Mom crouched among the tomato plants, wearing her wide-brimmed hat and humming a tune. Without hesitation, Lulu tugged at Mom’s sleeve.
Mom looked down. “What is it, Lulu?”
The baby monkey pointed one tiny finger toward the porch. CUTIS’s golden fur glimmered in the sunlight as he sat perfectly still, eyes glued to the table. Lulu made a little squeak, imitating CUTIS’s “serious” face.
Mom chuckled. “Is CUTIS waiting for something?”
Lulu nodded vigorously, then mimed pressing a phone screen with her finger.
Mom frowned slightly. “The phone? Oh no… what’s he up to this time?”
Without waiting for Mom’s decision, Lulu grabbed her hand and pulled. She was surprisingly strong for her size, and in moments, Mom was following her toward the porch.
CUTIS’s Plan Revealed
When they arrived, CUTIS’s tail wagged in big arcs. His eyes lit up at the sight of Mom, but he didn’t leap around like usual. Instead, he slowly glanced at the phone and then back at Mom. It was almost comical—like a polite request in dog language.
Mom put her hands on her hips. “You’ve been guarding my phone this whole time?”
CUTIS gave a short, hopeful bark.
Lulu chattered and pointed at the phone again, this time making a “play” motion, mimicking what she had seen Mom do countless times.
It clicked. Mom sighed but smiled. “Alright, you two. But only if you promise not to knock it down.”
She picked up the phone, opened the gallery, and sure enough—CUTIS’s ears perked the moment she scrolled to the folder labeled “CUTIS & Lulu.” It was full of videos of them playing fetch, sharing snacks, and having their silly adventures.
Mom tapped on one video. CUTIS’s gaze locked on the screen, tail thumping softly against the floor. Lulu climbed onto the arm of the chair, leaning close so she could see too.
An Unexpected Twist
The first video played: CUTIS and Lulu running through the grass, Lulu perched on his back like a tiny jockey. CUTIS gave a happy grunt. The second video showed them both sneaking into the kitchen, stealing a banana from the counter. Lulu squealed with delight at her own mischievous past.
Then came the third video—one CUTIS didn’t remember.
It was from last week. The camera, seemingly placed on a shelf, caught something unusual: CUTIS sitting by the garden fence, ears pricked. Lulu was standing in front of him, chattering softly, pointing toward the gate. A few moments later, a stranger’s hand reached through the fence, trying to grab a basket of vegetables Mom had left there.
In the video, CUTIS lunged forward, barking loudly. Lulu leapt toward the hand, screeching so fiercely that the stranger quickly pulled back and ran away. The two of them then sat by the gate together, keeping watch until Mom returned.
Mom froze as she watched. “I… I didn’t even know this happened.”
She turned to CUTIS and Lulu, her expression shifting from surprise to deep gratitude. “You two… you protected the garden—and me—without me even knowing.”
CUTIS gave a small bark, almost embarrassed. Lulu reached out and patted Mom’s arm like she was saying, It was nothing.
The Ending No One Expected
Mom replayed the video, this time recording it with a new caption: “My brave little heroes.” She uploaded it to her social media, thinking a few friends might see it.
Within hours, the video exploded with views. People all over the country shared it, amazed at the loyalty and teamwork between the dog and the baby monkey. Comments poured in:
- “I’ve never seen anything like this—best friends protecting their home!”
- “CUTIS and Lulu deserve medals!”
- “That monkey is braver than most people I know.”
Soon, local reporters contacted Mom for an interview. CUTIS and Lulu sat proudly in the yard as a small TV crew arrived, filming them while Mom told the story. CUTIS got extra treats, and Lulu was spoiled with a pile of ripe bananas.
But the most unbelievable part came a week later. A package arrived in the mail—inside was a golden medal with both a paw print and a monkey silhouette engraved on it, sent by an animal welfare organization. Alongside it was a donation to help Mom expand the garden and build a better fence.
CUTIS wore the medal proudly for a whole day before deciding it was safer to keep it in the living room display. Lulu, meanwhile, kept pointing at it every time visitors came, making sure everyone knew she had earned it too.
From then on, whenever CUTIS insisted on watching the phone, Mom didn’t question him. She knew it wasn’t just about the videos—it was about the memories, the bond they shared, and the day they became heroes together.
And as for Lulu? Well, she still “told” Mom about everything. But now, when CUTIS wanted something, he didn’t just sit and stare—he sent Lulu as his personal messenger. It worked every single time.
