Baby Ricky was usually cheerful, especially during snack time. But today, things were different. His tiny hand was wrapped in tape—one finger injured and now tightly secured to prevent further harm. That might’ve been fine, except that finger was his favorite one to suck for comfort.
When the caretaker handed him a soft banana, Ricky stared at it, confused. He tried to hold it with both hands, but the taped finger made it awkward. He fumbled, dropped it, picked it back up. Then, as he usually did, he instinctively tried to suck his finger while chewing—but it didn’t work.
Frustrated, Ricky let out a sharp cry, dropping the banana again. His little eyes looked around, hoping someone would understand. He crawled toward the caretaker, whimpering, then sat down with a pouty face and crossed his arms.
He wasn’t hurt by the banana—he was hurt in his feelings. Sucking his finger was his comfort, and now that it was taken away, even eating didn’t feel right.
The caretaker gently picked him up, cradled him, and whispered softly. She offered the banana again, this time mashing it and feeding him slowly with a spoon. Ricky accepted it, still sniffling between bites. It wasn’t the same, but he was hungry.
With a full tummy, he leaned back into the arms of love, still annoyed but comforted. His taped finger stood out like a little badge of trouble, but he was safe and healing.
Life as a baby monkey wasn’t always easy—but with care, even small troubles like a taped finger could pass.
Tomorrow, Ricky might be back to his playful self. But for now, he just needed extra hugs… and bananas that didn’t require finger-sucking.
