It was the first time anyone had seen A Tong become so angry. The small baby monkey sat on the table, his tiny pacifier missing from his hands. At first, he looked around in confusion, eyes wide, lips trembling as if trying to understand where his comfort had gone. He reached forward, then pulled back, realizing it was truly gone.
Suddenly, frustration exploded.
A Tong let out a sharp cry and threw his little body forward onto the table. His hands slapped the surface, his head lowered, and his whole body tensed with emotion he could not control. It was not just anger. It was fear, shock, and helplessness mixed together. The pacifier was not a toy to him. It was safety. It was calm. Without it, the world felt too loud.
He screamed again, louder this time, kicking his feet and pushing himself against the table as if demanding the pacifier return immediately. His face turned red, eyes filled with tears that spilled down without stopping. This was his first tantrum, raw and honest, born from a need he could not explain.
Everyone nearby froze, surprised by the strength of his reaction. A Tong was usually gentle and quiet. Seeing him throw himself like that showed how deeply he depended on that small object. Babies do not know how to wait. They only know how to feel.
After a moment, gentle hands approached. The pacifier was brought back slowly, not rushed, not forced. A Tong saw it and cried one last desperate cry before grabbing it tightly. The moment it touched his mouth, everything changed.
His body relaxed. The screams stopped. His breathing slowed. He lay still on the table, pacifier held firmly, eyes wet but calm again. The storm passed as quickly as it came.
That day, A Tong taught an important lesson. Even the smallest hearts feel big emotions. Anger is not bad behavior—it is a cry for comfort. And when comfort returns, peace follows.
