It was a calm afternoon in the monkey shelter, with a light breeze brushing through the trees. Most of the baby monkeys were playing or resting, but little Lyka had other plans—and lots of emotion to express.
She had just finished a long cuddle with her mom. Warm, cozy, and safe, Lyka nestled in her mother’s arms like a tiny bundle of fluff. But as soon as her mom gently tried to put her down on the soft blanket to rest, Lyka’s reaction was instant and dramatic.
She let out a high-pitched scream, loud enough to startle the other babies nearby. Her tiny hands reached up desperately, and her face scrunched into an emotional pout. The moment her feet touched the ground, Lyka threw herself into a tiny tantrum—rolling, kicking, and crying like the world was ending.
It wasn’t that anything was wrong. She simply didn’t want to be put down. Lyka wanted more cuddles, more warmth, more of her mom’s touch.
Her mom paused and looked at her lovingly. With a sigh, she gently nudged Lyka to settle, but Lyka wasn’t ready to calm down. She crawled back to her mother’s leg, clung tightly, and looked up with watery eyes.
Seeing her baby so determined, the mother monkey gave in. She lifted Lyka back up into her arms, and immediately, the crying stopped. Lyka snuggled in happily, giving a few final sniffles before resting her head on mom’s chest.
Peace returned to the shelter, and once again, Lyka was content—exactly where she wanted to be.
