It was a bright and cheerful morning when little monkey Cubis traveled with his dad to visit their hometown in the countryside. The air was fresh, birds were singing, and Cubis was full of excitement. Everything looked new and interesting—there were big trees, strange flowers, and tiny frogs hopping along the path.
But in his excitement, Cubis forgot one very important rule—don’t wander off alone. While Dad was talking with some neighbors, Cubis spotted a group of colorful butterflies fluttering near the rice field. “Wow! So pretty!” he squealed, chasing after them without thinking.
He ran farther and farther until the voices behind him faded. When he finally stopped, he looked around—and realized he didn’t recognize anything. The trees looked taller, the path looked strange, and there was no sign of Dad anywhere. Cubis’s heart began to race. “Dad?!” he called out, his voice trembling. But no answer came.
Back at the house, Dad turned around and saw that Cubis was gone. Panic filled his chest. “Cubis! Where are you?” he shouted, rushing through the fields. Neighbors quickly joined the search, calling his name and looking under every bush and behind every tree. Everyone was worried—the sun was starting to set, and the forest could be dangerous at night.
Meanwhile, poor Cubis sat under a big tree, hugging his knees. “I just wanted to see the butterflies,” he whispered sadly. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he wished he had stayed close to Dad.
Just then, he heard a familiar voice calling his name in the distance. “Cubis! Where are you, son?” It was Dad! Cubis jumped up and ran as fast as he could, crying, “Dad! I’m here!”
When they finally reunited, Dad scooped him up in a tight hug. “Don’t ever wander off again, okay?” he said gently. Cubis nodded, sniffling. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
That night, as they walked home hand in hand, Cubis learned an important lesson—sometimes, adventure can wait, but staying close to the ones who love you is what truly matters.
