Early one bright morning in the jungle, Pupu the little monkey clung tightly to his mother’s arm. Today was supposed to be an exciting day—his mother had to travel to the nearby forest for a few days to help gather special fruits for the village. But Pupu wasn’t excited at all. In fact, his eyes were already watering as he realized the moment to say goodbye was getting closer.
“Don’t go, Mama,” Pupu whispered, his voice soft and trembling. He hugged her even tighter, his tiny arms wrapped around her like vines.
His mother gently stroked his head. “I’ll be back before you know it, sweetheart,” she said kindly. “You’ll stay with Grandma and help her, okay? She’ll make your favorite banana cakes.”
But nothing seemed to comfort Pupu. Everywhere his mother went, he followed—through the trees, to the river, and even while she packed her small bag. He didn’t want to play, eat, or nap. All he wanted was to hold on to Mama and never let go.
Finally, the time came. Other monkeys gathered around to wave goodbye. Pupu stood beside Grandma, his lip quivering. His mother leaned down and cupped his cheek. “You are brave, Pupu,” she said gently. “I will miss you so much. Will you be strong for me?”
Pupu nodded, though his heart felt heavy. He watched her disappear into the forest trail, her tail swaying with every step. A tear rolled down his cheek.
Grandma knelt beside him. “Let’s make a surprise for your mama when she gets back,” she said. “We can draw her a picture, or build her a welcome gift.”
That brightened Pupu’s eyes a little. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye—but maybe he could learn to be patient. After all, he knew his mama would come back. And when she did, he’d be the first one to run into her arms.
