The sun shone over the quiet lake, its surface shimmering in the afternoon light. The trees around the water swayed gently in the breeze, but the peacefulness was suddenly broken by a faint, desperate cry.
“Eeeh! Eeeh!”
A tiny baby monkey struggled inside an old plastic oil bottle, half-submerged in the water near the edge of the lake. His tiny hands and feet kicked helplessly, but the slippery walls of the bottle wouldn’t let him climb out. His little face peeked through the opening, eyes wide with fear.
Nearby, his older sibling stood on the shore, crying and jumping anxiously. He didn’t know how to help! Every time he reached toward the bottle, it floated further away.
The baby monkey inside the bottle squeaked louder, his tiny body shivering. Water started to seep inside—he was getting wet and cold!
Suddenly, a loud splash—his mother had jumped into the lake! She swam swiftly, her eyes locked on her trapped baby. With strong, desperate hands, she grabbed the slippery bottle and tried to pull it to shore. But it was stuck in some weeds!
The older sibling cried louder, hopping frantically on the shore.
Mom bit and pulled at the bottle, shaking it with all her strength. At last, the baby monkey tumbled out! She grabbed him quickly and swam back to the land, holding him close.
The moment she reached the shore, she hugged her wet, shivering baby tightly. The older sibling joined them, wrapping his little arms around his rescued brother.
The baby monkey moaned weakly, clinging to his mom’s fur. He was safe.
But the mother monkey’s eyes were filled with worry—she would never let her baby near the lake again.
