At just 5 months old, baby monkey Harry had already developed a quirky habit to comfort himself during stressful moments. His tiny frame was still wet from the bath, and he sat on the floor of the room, shivering slightly in the cool air. His mom had just finished washing him, leaving him to dry while she quickly stepped out to gather his towel and fresh diaper. Harry wasn’t used to being alone for even a short while, and the emptiness of the room seemed to make him anxious. He glanced toward the door, expecting his mom to return at any moment, but the longer she was gone, the more stressed he became.
Harry’s big brown eyes darted around the room, his body fidgeting with nervous energy. With no comforting presence, he did what he always did when the world felt overwhelming—he curled up, grabbing his tiny toes with one hand while his thumb went straight to his mouth. It was his coping mechanism, a way to feel safe while waiting for the warm embrace of his mom. Sucking on his thumb gave him a sense of comfort, while his other hand grasped at his tiny feet, bringing his toes close to his mouth too, trying to calm down in his own little way.
He looked quite the sight—his fur still damp, bits of it sticking up in awkward directions from the water, his thumb and toes both in his mouth as he rocked gently back and forth. His tiny body trembled with frustration, confused as to why his mom had left him alone. Though he was no longer crying, his lips quivered around his thumb, letting out small, pitiful sounds as if he was quietly calling for her.
The room felt too big for little Harry, and without his mom there to hold him, every second stretched out like an eternity. His mind raced, filled with the worry that she might never come back. His baby instincts told him to cry, but instead, he latched even tighter onto his thumb, sucking harder, while his toes wiggled helplessly between his tiny fingers.
In his mind, only his mom could bring him peace, and until she returned, nothing else mattered. He kicked his legs out weakly, the stress evident in every movement of his small body. He couldn’t understand why his mom had to leave, and all he wanted was her warm, protective arms around him again.
After what felt like forever, Harry’s eyes darted toward the door again. His ears perked up as he heard the soft footsteps of his mom coming back into the room. In that instant, his tiny heart leapt with relief. His thumb popped out of his mouth, and he stretched his arms wide, eager for the comfort only she could provide. The sight of her walking toward him with a soft smile on her face was enough to melt away all his anxieties.
“Don’t worry, little one, mommy’s here,” she cooed, bending down to wrap him in the towel she had brought with her. Harry immediately clung to her, burying his wet face into her chest, his little body relaxing as he nuzzled into the warmth of her embrace. His thumb dropped out of his mouth, and his toes no longer needed to be gripped in his tiny fists. All was right again in Harry’s world.
As she dried him off, his mom couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of him—a little ball of stress just moments ago, now content and peaceful in her arms. Harry, though only 5 months old, had already shown how deeply attached he was to her, needing her presence more than anything else. She gently rubbed his fur dry, her fingers running through his soft coat, and he leaned into her touch, knowing that as long as she was around, he had nothing to fear.
Harry may have had his moments of stress, sucking on his thumb and toes to soothe himself, but the minute his mom was back by his side, all the worry melted away. Wrapped snugly in her care, the little monkey was once again calm, safe, and loved.
