The early morning air was fresh and cool after a heavy rain had soaked the land overnight. The soft patter of water droplets falling from the leaves still echoed through the jungle, and a gentle mist hung in the air, making everything feel peaceful. But the peace was short-lived. Water had gathered along the dirt road outside their home, creating a small, muddy flood. Their mother, always attentive and quick to take care of things, began to dig a small trench to help the water drain out.
Jerry, only two months old, was already awake and moving around in his clumsy way. His tiny body, still so small and fragile, made him look even tinier against the backdrop of the wet, muddy ground. He spotted his mom working hard, her hands busily clearing the mud to create a path for the water. His little heart raced as he watched her. There was something about the sight of his mother digging away that made him feel uncertain, maybe even scared.
Without a second thought, Jerry darted toward her, his little legs moving as fast as they could on the slippery ground. His tiny hands reached out to grab onto the safest place he could find: his mom’s leg. He clung tightly, his face pressed against her warm fur, finding comfort in her closeness. She glanced down at him, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You’re okay, Jerry,” she whispered, but she had work to do. Gently, she lifted him and placed him down nearby, giving him a reassuring pat before going back to her task.
But for little Jerry, that small separation was enough to break his heart. He sat there, his wide eyes filling with tears as he watched his mom’s back turn away. He started to moan softly, his voice trembling with the beginnings of a cry. His tiny arms stretched out toward her, and his whole body shook with the weight of his sadness. “Mommy,” he whimpered, his little voice barely above a whisper.
Janna, Jerry’s older sister, was perched nearby on a low tree branch. At just a few months older than Jerry, Janna had already taken on a protective role with her baby brother. She watched the scene unfold with her wise, knowing eyes. She could see how upset Jerry was, and something stirred inside her—an instinct, perhaps, to protect, just like their mother did.
Without hesitation, Janna hopped down from the branch and padded over to Jerry. She was still small, but compared to Jerry, she was already much bigger and stronger. Gently, she bent down and scooped him up in her arms, cradling him close to her chest the way their mom did. Jerry’s crying slowed as soon as he felt the warmth of Janna’s body against his own. His tiny hands gripped her fur, and he let out a soft, relieved sigh.
Janna pressed her chin gently against Jerry’s head, the way their mother often did when comforting him. She stood there, holding him close, her small chest puffed out as if to say, “I’ve got you, Jerry. You’re safe with me.” The rainwater that still lingered on the ground wet their feet, but neither of them noticed. In that moment, Janna was no longer just his sister—she was his protector, his world.
Their mother, glancing back for just a moment, saw Janna holding Jerry close and smiled to herself. She continued her work, confident that her two little ones were safe and sound. The morning moved forward slowly, with the world around them still damp and quiet, but there, in the center of it all, Janna and Jerry found comfort in each other.
As the sun began to break through the clouds, casting a soft golden light over the scene, Janna sat down in the dry patch of grass, still holding Jerry close to her chest. Jerry, no longer upset, snuggled deeper into Janna’s embrace, his tiny body relaxing into hers. The rain might have passed, but in Janna’s arms, Jerry felt like he was safe from any storm that might come.
