Tiny Kiki and her brother Toto stood at the edge of the small river, their little toes curling into the wet sand. The water looked deep and scary. Their mother had told them that today was the day they would learn to swim, but neither of them felt ready.
“I don’t want to go in!” Kiki whined, gripping a branch tightly.
Toto, trying to act brave, dipped his fingers in the water. “It’s just water, Kiki! Don’t be a baby!” he teased.
Before Kiki could argue, their mother gently nudged them both forward. “You must learn, or you will never know how to cross the river safely,” she said firmly.
Toto took a deep breath and jumped in first. SPLASH! His arms flailed, his little head barely staying above the water. Panic filled his eyes as he struggled to float.
Kiki gasped in fear but had no time to react before her mother gently pushed her in too. She shrieked, kicking wildly, water splashing everywhere!
Both baby monkeys spluttered and gasped. Their mother stood nearby, watching calmly. “Use your hands and feet to paddle!” she instructed.
It was tough. Toto sank once but managed to push himself back up. Kiki kept gulping water, feeling helpless. Tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t want to disappoint her mom.
After a few minutes, they slowly started to get the rhythm. Their movements became steadier, their fear fading bit by bit.
Finally, they reached the riverbank, exhausted but proud. Their mother smiled. “See? You’re stronger than you think.”
Kiki and Toto hugged each other, realizing that today, they had learned more than just swimming—they had learned to be brave. 🐵💦
