Poor little Tourtour was having an especially emotional morning.
Mommy had just taken care of her bath, and afterward she disappeared through the doorway for a short while. To Mommy, it was only a few minutes. But to tiny Tourtour, those minutes felt incredibly long.
The little baby monkey sat quietly near the door.
He didn’t play.
He didn’t explore.
He simply waited.
His tiny eyes stayed fixed on the doorway, hoping Mommy would appear again.
“Eee…”
Tourtour made a soft little cry.
Nothing.
He looked toward the hallway.
Still no Mommy.
His expression became sadder.
“Eeeee…”
The little monkey shifted closer to the door and sat there patiently. His tiny hands rested in front of him while he continued staring at the place where Mommy had disappeared.
He missed her terribly.
Every little sound from the other room made his head lift.
Was that Mommy?
No.
Tourtour lowered his head again.
Mommy had only stepped away after making sure he was clean, warm, and comfortable, but Tourtour didn’t understand why she wasn’t beside him. He simply knew that the person he trusted most wasn’t within sight.
After several minutes, he began crying more loudly.
“Eeee! Eeee!”
His cries echoed through the room.
Then Mommy heard him.
“Tourtour? I’m coming, sweetheart!”
The moment Tourtour recognized her voice, his head suddenly lifted.
His sad expression changed.
He looked toward the doorway with wide eyes.
Mommy appeared.
Tourtour immediately reached both tiny hands toward her.
“Oh, my poor baby,” Mommy whispered. “Were you waiting here for me?”
Tourtour answered with a loud, emotional cry.
Mommy carefully came close and reassured him, keeping him safely away from the doorway and any hazards.
“I’m right here.”
Tourtour leaned toward her.
Mommy gently stayed beside him and offered her hand. The tiny monkey grabbed her finger tightly, as though making sure she wouldn’t disappear again.
“You missed Mommy, didn’t you?”
Tourtour made a tiny whimper.
Mommy smiled sympathetically.
“I know. I only went away for a little while.”
Tourtour continued holding her finger.
His sad little face slowly relaxed.
Mommy gently stroked his head and stayed with him until he felt secure again.
“You don’t have to sit sadly by the door,” she whispered. “If you can’t see Mommy, you can stay somewhere safe and wait.”
Tourtour looked up at her.
This time, his eyes were calm.
He had finally found what he had been waiting for.
Mommy.
After his bath, he had wanted nothing more than her familiar voice and comforting presence. His quiet waiting had turned into an emotional little cry, but now the sadness was disappearing.
Mommy gently settled him into his comfortable resting area.
“Are you feeling better now?”
Tourtour gave a tiny happy sound.
Then he leaned against her.
The lonely little baby who had been sitting sadly by the door was finally peaceful again.
Mommy smiled and whispered, “I know you missed me, little Tourtour. But Mommy always comes back.”
Tourtour slowly closed his eyes.
His bath was over, his fur was clean, and the person he had been waiting for was finally beside him.
And as he drifted into a peaceful rest, Tourtour seemed to understand one comforting thing:
Even when Mommy goes away for a little while, she will come back.
