The nursery was filled with the playful chatter of baby monkeys, but Sovanny stood out—not for playing, but for refusing to play. He sat in the center of the room, arms crossed, face puffed with frustration. His eyes followed Mom as she moved from one baby to the next, helping, feeding, and cuddling.
But not him.
“Eeeek!” Sovanny suddenly let out a loud shriek, tossing his tiny toy banana across the floor. Heads turned. Even the birds outside seemed to pause.
Mom looked over gently, “Sovanny, sweetie, what’s wrong?”
But Sovanny was already stomping—yes, stomping—his tiny feet, spinning in a circle, and then plopping dramatically on the soft mat. He thumped his hands on the floor and rolled onto his back, shouting in his monkey way, “LOOK AT ME!”
The other babies watched curiously. Some giggled. Some got nervous. But Sovanny? He didn’t care. He was on a mission: get Mom’s full attention now.
Mom sighed softly and walked over. “Are you done being my little drama king yet?”
He looked up with big watery eyes, lips trembling, still pouting. She reached out to pick him up, but he turned his back dramatically, like a tiny actor on stage.
“Okay, okay,” Mom chuckled. “I get it. You want Mom time.”
She sat beside him, pulling him gently onto her lap. Immediately, the tantrum melted. Sovanny nuzzled into her chest, letting out soft, contented sniffs. His tiny arms wrapped around her, and his tail twitched happily.
Mom stroked his head, whispering, “You could’ve just asked nicely.”
But for Sovanny, being a little dramatic was just his way of saying “I love you” and “Don’t forget about me.”
And in that moment, he had exactly what he wanted—Mom, all to himself.
