The Clever Monkey

There lived a clever monkey named Miko in the verdant middle of a large forest. He had fast hands, glossy brown fur, and mischievous sparkling eyes. Older animals loved Miko for his intelligence; all the younger animals loved his stories. He was also notorious, though, for being perhaps too inquisitive for his good.

Miko saw something odd one beautiful morning as he swung among the branches in search of ripe mangoes. Under a tree near the brink of the forest, where the river twisted like a silver ribbon, was a big wooden box. The box seemed unusually unnatural among the shrubs and limbs.

Miko’s eyes glistened with inquiry.

He said, “Hmmm… what’s this doing here?”

He dropped down to scrutinize it. Something sweet, like bananas, there smelled strong. There was a tiny hole in the box, and within he could see a banana calling him sedately. Miko reached in, snatched it, then tried to draw his hand out, but his clenched fist wouldn’t fit back through the hole.

“Oh no! ” Realizing he was hooked, Miko gasped.

He heard ruckling behind a bush just then. A hunter emerged grinning fiercely while carrying a net in his hand.

Said the hunter, “Well, well, what do we have here?”

Miko’s heart pounded. He tried pulling once more, but until he let go of the banana his hand wouldn’t come out. Suddenly wise, Miko let go of the banana, loosened his hand, and slid his hand free just as the hunter pounced forward. Miko jumped quickly, then scurried up the closest tree.

The hunter launched his net, but Miko was already gone, laughing breathlessly from branch to limb.

Greed is a trap, he said to himself. And occasionally, the smartest thing to do is let go.

He stopped only in the deep wilderness. Relaxing on a tall fig tree, he gazed out over the woodland.

But Miko’s problems were hardly gone.

Held under the Great Baobab Tree, the animals assembled for their regular council meeting the next day. Of them, the elephant Eldro was the oldest and smartest. Though he spoke gently, every syllable had weight.

“There is danger close to the river,” Eldro cautioned. People are building traps for us. We have to exercise great care.

Miko moved forward to relate his story.

“The traps play with our wants and are clever,” he remarked. “We have to alert the younger ones not to approach anything unusual.”

The animals nodded, but there was strong tension in the air. The jungle was no safer than it had been.

Miko sat with his parrot Tiko that evening as the golden sun started to drop behind the trees.

“What if the people just keep arriving?” Preening his feathers tensely, Tiko asked.

Then we will have to be smarter than them, Miko remarked with a determined smile.

That evening, he was in contemplation. He had to act as if somebody were about to occupy their house.

Miko started tracking the hunters from a distance during the next three days. He trailed them silently, hiding under vines and dense leaves. He observed their routines where they placed traps, where they came from, and how frequently they returned.

He even observed that the hunters had erected a little camp close to the river featuring food, supplies, and a big bamboo cage.

“They have something major in mind,” Miko thought.

Miko collected his friends, Tiko the parrot, Razu the raccoon, Bindi the deer, and a few intelligent squirrels one evening when the sky went orange.

“I have a scheme,” he said. But I will need all your assistance.

Leaning in, the animals listened closely as Miko presented his concept. They would cooperate, leveraging their skills to drive the hunters off.

Though the strategy carried danger, Miko was sure.

Just before daylight, the next morning, the operation started.

Flying over the hunters’ tent, Tiko imitated the call of a wild cat. The shocked hunters turned confusedly.

Razu and the squirrels crept into the camp and started untying ropes, unpacking backpacks, and strewing food all around. It seemed as though a stampede was approaching as Bindi and the other deer ruckled through the undergrowth loudly.

Miko, sporting a leaf crown for fun, ascended a tall tree and started tossing mangoes and coconuts toward the tent poles. Now terrified, the hunters staggered over their provisions. One of them dropped into the cage they had set aside for the animals; the door closed loudly behind him!

Another hunter cried, “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” trying to release his friend.

Disturbed by the uproar, a swarm of enraged bees entered the camp just then. Screaming, the hunters fled with flinging arms.

Miko whistled from the trees, and every animal withdrew, laughing and celebrating.

By midday, the camp was deserted. The guys had left.

The jungle exhaled easily once more. Eldro the elephant set another meeting.

“We honor Miko and his friends today,” he continued. “They have shown us that our house can be defended by bravery, cleverness, and harmony.”

The animals yelled. Though proud, Miko just grinned and stated, “We all did it together.” That’s important.

From that day on, the younger animals loved Miko for his bravery and humor rather than only listening to his stories. Renowned in the forest as The Clever Monkey, he outwitted the humans.

And they recalled Miko’s words: “Greed is a trap” anytime someone came across an unusual package or a lollipops laying awkwardly on their route. And occasionally the best thing to do is let go.

From “The Clever Monkey,” a short story with moral, what lessons might young people pick?

A great example of a moral short story for young readers that emphasizes the need for wise thinking, group projects, and the perils of avarice is “The Clever Monkey”. Little readers are shown in this story how fast thinking and unity can overcome even the toughest obstacles. It’s a component of the expanding collection of children’s stories with moral meant to develop character and impart important life lessons entertainingly and interestingly.

Parents and instructors who wish to motivate children via narrative will find considerable value in such short stories with moral. This moral story for kids will definitely make a lasting impact and help mold good behavior in daily life, regardless of your search for a bednight book or a classroom activity.