In the quiet backyard under the shade of a mango tree, baby monkeys Chamroeun and Minea were playing. But suddenly, the play turned rough — Minea, moody and jealous, started pushing Chamroeun hard, trying to take away his favorite cloth.
Chamroeun squealed, stumbling back in fear. That was when Daddy stepped in.
“Stop it, Minea!” he said firmly, rushing forward. His voice was not angry — just urgent, worried. Chamroeun had nearly fallen on the sharp brick edge.
But as Dad reached out to separate them, Minea, in her flustered state, thought she was being punished unfairly. She tried to hold her ground, but Daddy gently pushed her away to keep Chamroeun safe. In that moment of chaos, Minea lost her balance.
She slipped.
Her tiny body hit the soft dirt floor with a small thump. Her eyes went wide with shock. She didn’t cry at first — just sat there stunned, looking up at Daddy with disbelief. Then the tears came. Loud. Sudden. Heartbreaking.
Daddy rushed to her side. “Minea! Oh, baby—I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He picked her up quickly, checking her little hands, brushing the dust off her fur.
But Minea turned her face away, hurt not just from the fall, but from feeling rejected.
Chamroeun, now calm, came closer and gently touched Minea’s arm. The tension melted. Daddy pulled both babies close, holding them tight.
“I love you both,” he whispered. “No fighting, okay?”
That night, Minea curled beside Daddy, still a little sore but much calmer. She now knew that Daddy’s love wasn’t just about protection — it was about being fair, even when it hurts.
And in her dreams, she and Chamroeun played together without a single push.
