It was a calm afternoon in the village, the kind where the wind moves lazily through the coconut trees and the scent of fresh rice fills the air. CUTIS, the cheerful and mischievous young monkey, had been playing in the courtyard all morning. His laughter echoed as he swung from the bamboo poles, chased butterflies, and tried to sneak mangoes from the kitchen window.
But that peaceful day took a sudden turn.
CUTIS had been racing up a tall guava tree, determined to beat the baby monkey, Lu, in their “who-can-climb-the-highest” game. Just as CUTIS reached for a branch, it cracked under his weight. He tumbled down, landing hard on his side. A sharp yelp escaped him, and he clutched his arm in pain.
Inside the house, Mom—heavily pregnant but still sharp-eared—heard the cry. She rushed out, her hands instinctively cradling her belly. Lu, sensing something wrong, scampered down the tree faster than she ever had before. Both reached CUTIS at the same time.
“CUTIS! What happened?” Mom’s voice was a mixture of worry and command. She knelt down slowly, her belly making her movements cautious but her eyes scanning him for injuries. Lu crouched beside CUTIS, pressing her tiny hands to his cheek, as if to say, I’m here. Don’t be scared.
CUTIS tried to be brave, but the pain in his arm and the shock of the fall left him trembling. Tears welled up in his big brown eyes. Mom carefully ran her fingers along his arm, checking for breaks. “It’s not broken,” she finally sighed in relief, “but it’s bruised badly.”
She guided CUTIS inside, one arm steadying him while the other supported her belly. Lu followed closely, her little tail curling around CUTIS’s leg as if to anchor him.
The Recovery Plan
Mom’s maternal instincts kicked in immediately. She prepared a soft bedding spot in the corner of the living room, piling folded blankets into a cozy nest. CUTIS was placed gently there, and Lu curled up beside him.
“Rest, little one,” Mom said softly, brushing his hair away from his forehead.
But Mom knew that just telling CUTIS to rest wouldn’t be enough—he was too restless by nature. She decided to make his recovery days feel special. Every morning, she prepared warm rice porridge with honey, feeding him slowly to make sure he ate. Lu, who usually darted away at meal times, now stayed beside CUTIS, offering him guava slices or gently patting his arm to cheer him up.
When CUTIS tried to stand too soon, Mom’s voice was firm but loving: “You need to heal. Think of it as training for when the baby comes—you’ll have to be the big brother who teaches patience.” That made CUTIS pause. The idea of being a “big brother” gave him a sense of importance.
Little Acts of Care
Over the next few days, CUTIS began to notice all the ways Mom and Lu were looking after him.
- Fresh fruit delivery: Every morning, Lu would trot outside and return with her cheeks full of bananas or rambutans, placing them proudly at CUTIS’s side.
- Gentle cleaning: Mom would soak a soft cloth in warm water and dab CUTIS’s bruises, humming a lullaby while she worked.
- Story time: In the afternoons, Mom sat with CUTIS, telling him old village tales about clever monkeys who overcame challenges. Lu listened too, though she usually curled up and dozed halfway through.
Sometimes, CUTIS would catch Lu watching him with wide, concerned eyes. It was unusual—Lu was normally the playful troublemaker—but during his recovery, she seemed to take on the role of little nurse.
A Quiet Bond
One evening, a gentle rain began to fall, pattering on the roof. CUTIS lay on his blankets, his arm feeling much better, while Mom sat nearby, knitting tiny baby clothes. Lu was curled up against CUTIS’s chest, her small hands gripping his fur.
CUTIS broke the silence. “Mom… why are you and Lu being so nice to me? I just fell—it’s not a big deal.”
Mom looked at him and smiled softly. “When someone you love gets hurt, it is a big deal. And love is shown in small acts—like bringing fruit, telling stories, or just sitting beside you. Someday, you’ll understand when you take care of someone else.”
Lu squeaked in agreement, nuzzling CUTIS’s chin.
The Turning Point
By the fifth day, CUTIS’s energy was returning. He could move his arm without wincing, and the purple bruise had faded to a faint yellow. But instead of rushing back to climbing trees, he surprised Mom.
“I’ll help you today,” he announced one morning, carefully carrying a basket of vegetables from the market stall to the kitchen. Mom raised an eyebrow—this was not the CUTIS who used to sneak the ripest mango for himself.
In the afternoon, when Lu wanted to play chase, CUTIS stopped her from running too fast. “Be careful,” he warned. “You don’t want to fall like I did.” Lu tilted her head, as if realizing she was hearing her own advice mirrored back.
The Big Lesson
One week after the fall, Mom sat with CUTIS on the porch as the sun dipped low over the fields. Her belly was round, and CUTIS rested his head against it, feeling the baby’s tiny movements.
“You’ve healed well,” Mom said, stroking his hair. “But what matters more is how you’ve grown here.” She tapped his chest gently, over his heart.
CUTIS thought about the past week—the care, the patience, the love he had received. “I think… I want to take care of others the way you and Lu took care of me,” he said quietly.
Mom’s smile was warm, proud. “That’s what family is for. We look after each other, especially in hard times. Remember that when the baby arrives—your little brother or sister will need you.”
A New Chapter
The very next day, CUTIS surprised everyone again. He climbed halfway up the guava tree—not to race or show off, but to pick the ripest fruit for Mom. He carried it down carefully, placed it in her hands, and said, “This is for you. For everything.”
Mom hugged him as best as she could with her growing belly, and Lu squealed happily, hopping around them. CUTIS realized that while his arm had healed, something else had changed too—his heart felt fuller.
He understood now that accidents weren’t just about pain; they could also open doors to deeper connections, moments of care, and lessons about love.
And as the first stars blinked into the night sky, CUTIS sat with Mom and Lu, knowing that soon, their little family would grow. He was ready—not just to play and laugh, but to protect and nurture, just as they had done for him.
Because sometimes, the most important healing isn’t just for the body—it’s for the soul.
