In the dense jungle, Rozy, a strong and independent monkey, was perched on her favorite branch, watching the world go by. Her eyes were sharp, always alert, and no one dared to challenge her.
But today, something was different. A little abandoned monkey had wandered into Rozy’s territory. She could tell that the young one was lost—its eyes wide with fear, its fur matted with dirt.
The little monkey trembled, looking around, unsure of where to go.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” Rozy barked from above, her voice firm and unyielding.
The abandoned monkey looked up, startled. “I-I don’t have anywhere else to go,” it whimpered. “Please, can I stay here?”
Rozy’s eyes narrowed. “This is my space. You don’t belong here.”
The little monkey lowered its head, its tiny heart racing. “Please… I just need a place to stay. I’m scared and alone.”
Rozy didn’t soften. She had always been tough, and she didn’t trust anyone easily. “I’ve worked hard to keep this spot safe. You can’t just walk in and expect me to share it with you.”
But as Rozy looked down at the abandoned monkey’s sad face, something inside her stirred. She thought about her own childhood—how hard it had been, how alone she’d felt when she was a baby monkey, lost in the vast jungle.
For a long moment, the two monkeys stared at each other. Then Rozy sighed and hopped down from her branch, landing softly beside the abandoned monkey.
“Listen,” Rozy said, her voice softer now. “I won’t let you stay here, but…”
The abandoned monkey’s eyes filled with hope.
Rozy looked away for a moment before continuing, “But I’ll help you find a safe place to stay. I’ll take you to the elder monkeys. They’ll know what to do.”
The little monkey’s eyes brightened. “You will?”
Rozy nodded, a hint of warmth in her voice. “Just because I won’t let you stay here doesn’t mean I won’t help you. You’re not alone in this jungle. We take care of each other.”
And so, Rozy led the abandoned monkey to a safer part of the jungle, where it could find a new home among the older monkeys.
