The peaceful early morning suddenly filled with the desperate cries of a tiny baby monkey.
Little Kiki had just awakened on his soft blanket, but there was no happy stretching or playful morning greeting today.
His little stomach was empty.
He was hungry.
Very hungry.
Kiki immediately looked around for the one person who always understood what his cries meant.
Mom.
But she wasn’t beside him.
Mom was only a few steps away, carefully preparing his fresh diaper and warm bottle of formula. She knew her little baby would soon wake up hungry, but Kiki had awakened earlier than expected.
A small whimper escaped his mouth.
No Mom.
He cried again.
Still no bottle.
Then Kiki decided this situation was officially an emergency.
“WAAAAAH!”
His sharp scream echoed through the room.
Mom immediately looked over.
“I’m here, baby! Your milk is coming.”
But Kiki didn’t understand “coming.”
He only understood one thing.
He wanted milk now!
The tiny monkey sat up and stretched both little arms toward Mom.
Tears gathered around his eyes as he watched her preparing the bottle.
Every second seemed painfully long.
Why was she taking so much time?
Couldn’t she see how hungry he was?
Kiki screamed again.
This time, his cry sounded almost like a desperate question.
“Mom! Is it milk time yet?”
Mom hurried toward him and gently lifted him into her arms.
“I know you’re hungry.”
Kiki immediately began searching.
He looked at Mom’s left hand.
No bottle.
Then her right hand.
Still no bottle!
His expression changed from hope to complete disappointment.
He cried even louder.
Mom’s heart ached seeing him so upset.
She cuddled him against her chest, but even her warm embrace couldn’t solve today’s biggest problem.
Only milk could do that.
Mom placed him safely back on the blanket and hurried to finish preparing his formula.
Kiki watched every movement.
When she picked up the bottle, his crying suddenly paused.
His eyes became enormous.
There it was.
Milk!
He stretched both arms forward desperately.
Mom tested the temperature carefully.
Kiki screamed again.
Waiting one more second seemed completely unacceptable.
Finally, Mom sat beside him and brought the bottle to his mouth.
Instant silence.
Kiki grabbed it with both tiny hands and began drinking eagerly.
Sip after sip disappeared.
His tense little body slowly relaxed.
The tears stopped.
His angry expression softened.
Within moments, the dramatic baby who had been screaming as though the world were ending looked completely peaceful.
Mom gently stroked his head.
“Was all that screaming really necessary?”
Kiki didn’t even look up.
He was far too busy drinking.
Mom laughed softly.
Soon, his little belly was comfortably full.
His drinking became slower.
His eyes grew heavy.
Finally, Kiki released the bottle and gave the smallest satisfied sigh.
Mom lifted him against her chest.
This time, he didn’t scream.
He simply curled into her arms and rested his head near her heartbeat.
Mom kissed his forehead.
Only minutes earlier, hunger had made his tiny world feel frightening and uncertain.
Now everything was right again.
Warm milk.
A full tummy.
Mom’s arms.
Safety.
As Kiki slowly fell asleep, his tiny fingers remained wrapped around Mom’s shirt.
Perhaps babies cannot say, “I’m hungry.”
They cannot understand why milk takes time to prepare.
So they cry with every bit of strength they have, trusting that someone will hear them.
And for little Kiki, no matter how loudly he had to call, Mom would always come.
Because sometimes the loudest cry from the smallest baby carries the simplest message:
“Mom, I need you.”
