Monkey and the Man

Hey! Hey! Hello everyone, my name is Papio. I live here in this very jungle, I was grown up here, I am never bored of jumping from one tree to another, in search of food. My father, my hero, always wanted to be the leader of our community, but he couldn’t, as he had a broken leg. He didn’t move faster than the other, who were participating in the race of leadership. Unfortunately, he died a year back, from then me and my mom live together, on a very old tree, which was discovered by my grandfather, many more years back. My mother used to tell me that, the tree which we are on would give as many fruits as our whole family could consume and remaining was left for the flying community. But now we don’t even get enough for us both to eat.

From my childhood, I was on this tree, my father would go out, come after sometime—with fruits different from the tree, which we are living on. And when my father expired, and from about six months back, the fruits of this tree were not sufficient to us, then I realized that, it is the time for me to go out and bring fruits and some eatables for me and my mom—who is becoming old.

My father was over caring, he always saved me like a bird in the nest, never let me out. Seven summers gone after my birth—one after my father’s death. I am still treated as a kid by my mother. She eats a bit and leaves everything to me, that is available from the tree. But I know, I am grown up and I have some responsibilities to do. I accept and understand my mom’s fear that, I am very new to the world, new to this forest, due to my father’s pampering, I never had a chance to look into this world. But I assured my mom to be careful and I will be back with something soon.

I am not that perfect in managing my body of the edge of the branch, I cannot hang myself on a tree with my tail rolled the branch. My hands are too small to grip, and make quick jumps. But I am good at memorizing. I could still remember the way, my father took me along with, after my loud weep.

I ended up in a barren land, after jumping over a few trees. The place filled with rocks and red soil, reminded me of the day, when me and my father moved out of the house for food and water. From there to left there would be a place between thick shade of trees, there is pond for fresh water.

I got down the tree to walk over the red soil and reach to other side of the barren land. On the soil, I noticed a few kids from the rabbit community, learning to dig into the soil.

It is a very sunny day today, the sun burning at its maximum rate, exhausting. Before I took a left turn there, I made short, quick right turn—jumping on to the heavily rooted tree, to turn my way towards the fruit tree. When reached the tree, which I required, I ate a few of them for taste. Then I jumped on to the other tree, just beside it for better fruits.

When I was busy in collecting the fruits, for the first time in my life, I saw a very odd creature. I was afraid and hid myself behind the dense leaves of the tree, on which I am.

The body structure of the creature was same as me, but it walked on two lower limbs and upper limbs, swinging besides. I observed it from behind the leaves, it walked with stability, though the body parts looked the same as us, it has no hair on upper limbs and face. Its body was not visible, it is covered with some sort of material—which I am noticing for the first time.

But the feeling and expression were same, I sensed its weak body, sweat all over the body, slowly the steps misplaced between the rocks. I guessed that it has exhausted its energy to the sun. I wanted to help it.

I don’t know, I didn’t think of anything but, I wanted to help it reach the water pond. I quickly jumped down from the tree and reached ground. Within no time, I am in front of it, it took time to gather its energy and notice me. I made some gestures, I know that they are absolutely new to it, but quickly ran in the direction towards the water pond.

The creature came behind me, it understood the intention of mine. ‘This a very intelligent animal’, I thought to myself and went quick. We finally reached the pond; it bent down on knees and took water into palms and drank.

The drinking style was too totally different from us, when I closely observed, it has hair only on the chin, and on the head—not like us, all over the body. It lied down, just beside the pond, spreading its limbs. While this, I took a turn away from the pond, searching for any of the fruit trees around.

I was hit with a hard material on my head, I could feel the hell like pain in my head. My eyes were closing, my head lost senses, I could only remind of my mom, waiting for me. I, against my strength, took a turn around and noticed the creature with a big stone in hand, with my blood stains on it.

Papio died of heavy bleeding, the creature quickly removed the skin over

Papio’s body and filled it with water.

Yes, Papio was monkey. And the intelligent creature was us, the human. The monkey, wanted to help the exhausted man, to the pond. But the man thought in another way.

“This time monkey showed the way to water, what about in the future? I need to carry some water along.” This thought in man’s mind, killed the monkey for skin.