The garden was quiet—too quiet for baby A Tong.
He had just woken up from his nap, his fur slightly messy and eyes still blinking the sleep away. But something felt wrong.
Where was Mom?
He looked to the left. No one.
To the right. Still no one.
Suddenly, panic bubbled up in his tiny chest.
“MAMA?!” he screamed, his voice echoing off the trees.
He took a few steps, then more—his little legs wobbling but determined.
“MAMAAAAA!!” he cried again, louder this time. His voice cracked, a mix of fear and frustration. He walked in circles, looking behind trees, under bushes, and even up at the sky.
His tail twitched anxiously. Tears welled in his big eyes.
He was trying to be brave—but he was just a baby.
The other monkeys paused their play, watching A Tong’s emotional search.
“Is he okay?” whispered Dam.
“I think he lost his mom!” said Emma.
Finally, just as A Tong let out another heartbreaking cry, a familiar shape came running from behind the mango tree.
It was Mom—holding a half-peeled banana and looking just as worried.
“A Tong! I was only gone for a second!” she said, scooping him up.
A Tong wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her chest, still sobbing softly.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” she whispered, rocking him gently. “I should’ve told you where I was going.”
A Tong didn’t answer—just held on tighter.
Sometimes, even the strongest little monkeys need a reminder that love is never far away… even when it feels like the whole world went quiet.
