It was a bright and cheerful morning when Mama monkey seemed to be in an especially playful mood. She sat under the mango tree, gently grooming her little son, Tong Tong, but her mouth just wouldn’t stop moving!
“Haha, Tong Tong, look at your messy hair! Who did you fight with in your dreams?” Mama chuckled as she pulled a tiny leaf from his fur. Tong Tong looked up at her with his big round eyes, blinking slowly, still half asleep.
“Mamaaa… no more talking,” Tong Tong whined, burying his face into her belly. But Mama wasn’t done. She giggled and poked his belly, “Ohhh, you lazy little boy! Still want to sleep when the sun is already so high? Come come, let’s go find banana!”
Tong Tong groaned, his little arms flailing, but Mama monkey picked him up playfully. “Haha, do you know what you did last night? You tried to eat your own foot in your sleep!” she laughed.
Tong Tong’s ears twitched. He didn’t know whether to laugh or pout. His tiny hands reached for her mouth as if trying to stop her from talking. “Noooo more funny story, Mama!”
But Mama was just warming up. “Oh? What? You don’t want to hear how you tried to chase a frog yesterday and fell into a puddle?”
Tong Tong blushed and covered his face. Mama laughed so loud that even the other monkeys turned to watch. “You’re so shy now! But Mama love her silly boy!” she sang, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Eventually, Tong Tong surrendered and started giggling too. He wrapped his arms around her neck and whispered, “Okay Mama… tell one more story.”
With joy in her eyes, Mama nodded. “That’s my boy! Now listen closely, this is the tale of the monkey who wanted to fly!”
And under the mango tree, their laughter continued—Mama’s voice full of love, and Tong Tong’s heart full of happiness.