Chamroeun and Luna were full of energy that morning. The sun was warm, the grass was soft, and the yard seemed like a playground just for them. But there was one rule everyone in the household knew—stay away from Mommy Chicken’s nest.
Of course, Chamroeun was the first to forget.
He tiptoed toward the wooden corner where the big hen sat protectively over her eggs. Luna called out a tiny warning squeak, but curiosity pulled her in too. Together, the two baby monkeys crouched low, inching closer, whispering monkey giggles as they imagined what might hatch from those eggs.
Suddenly—POOF! The hen flapped her wings violently, letting out a loud, furious cluck that echoed across the yard. Her feathers puffed up like a warrior in battle. She lunged forward with sharp pecks aimed at their tiny legs.
Luna screamed and jumped backward, falling into a pile of dried leaves. Chamroeun spun around, arms waving, then scrambled up onto a low branch to escape the angry bird. Their little hearts raced, eyes wide with shock.
From the tree, Chamroeun peeked down, still breathing heavily. “Why is she always so mad?” he seemed to think.
Mommy Chicken returned to her nest, still muttering clucks of disapproval under her breath.
Later, Luna and Chamroeun reunited behind the garden bush, both looking a little scratched but still mischievously smiling. They weren’t mad at the chicken—they understood. She was a mommy too, just like theirs, and she was just protecting her babies.
But still… next time, they might bring her a banana before sneaking near her nest again.
