The afternoon sun burned gently through the forest canopy. A group of monkeys was playing near the rocky hillside, where fallen leaves covered the ground and the air was filled with the sounds of chirping birds. Among them were two young monkeys — one a little bigger and stronger, the other smaller, more fragile, and curious about everything.
The big baby monkey, full of energy, liked to climb higher and jump farther. He often teased the little one, pulling his tail or taking his fruit. The smaller baby never fought back; he only looked up with wide, innocent eyes, as if asking for kindness.
But that day, something unfortunate happened.
Play Turns Dangerous
The two babies were climbing over a large rock near the forest path. The big monkey reached the top first and looked down proudly, chest puffed out. The smaller one struggled, slipping a few times as he tried to follow. His tiny hands trembled as he held onto the edge, trying to pull himself up.
The big baby looked down, watching. Instead of helping, he began to play rough — pushing the little one’s hand, laughing in his childish way. The smaller baby squeaked in fear, calling out for help. But the big one thought it was fun. He didn’t understand the danger.
Suddenly, the big baby monkey gave a hard push with both hands.
The little one lost his grip.
He fell backward, his small body tumbling down the side of the rock. The fall wasn’t far, but at the bottom lay a sharp stone. The baby hit his head hard against it before rolling onto the ground.
The Cry of Pain
The silence broke with a sharp, painful cry. The little baby monkey screamed, clutching his head. His small hands covered his face, and his body curled up in shock. The other monkeys nearby stopped what they were doing and turned toward the sound.
The big baby froze at the top of the rock. His face changed from playful pride to sudden fear. He climbed down quickly, moving toward the smaller one, who was still crying loudly. A thin line of red marked the little monkey’s head where it had struck the rock.
The sound of his cries echoed through the forest. It was a sound filled with pain, confusion, and fear.
The Mother’s Panic
The mother monkey rushed from the nearby tree. When she saw her baby lying on the ground, she screamed — a high, trembling sound that showed both fear and anger. She ran to him, lifting the tiny body into her arms.
The injured baby clung weakly to her chest, his eyes half-closed, still crying softly. The mother touched his wound gently, licking the blood away with her tongue, trying to calm him.
The big baby monkey sat nearby, shaking. He didn’t understand what he had done. His playful game had turned into something terrible. The mother looked up at him, her eyes full of warning. She gave a loud, sharp cry — not of hatred, but of discipline and fear.
The big one lowered his head, pressing his hands together, frightened and guilty.
A Sad Afternoon
For a long while, the mother held her baby close, rocking gently. The other monkeys gathered around quietly, watching. No one played anymore. The forest seemed silent except for the soft whimpers of the injured baby.
The big baby monkey slowly moved closer, wanting to see if the smaller one was okay. The mother didn’t let him come too near, but she didn’t attack him either. She only gave him a deep look — a silent lesson that would stay with him.
The smaller baby began to calm down after a while, his cries turning into soft breathing. He pressed tightly against his mother’s chest, finding safety in her warmth.
Learning from Pain
As the sun began to set, the light turned golden across the trees. The big baby monkey sat alone on a branch, watching the mother care for her injured child. He looked down at his hands — the same hands that had pushed. His eyes blinked slowly, filled with regret.
He didn’t understand everything, but he felt the sadness.
The little baby, now resting, made faint sounds in his mother’s arms. His head still hurt, but he was alive. The forest, once filled with play, had become quiet — a place of reflection.
That day, both young monkeys learned something — one about the pain of harm, the other about the weight of carelessness.
In the wild, lessons often come with tears.
