The Monkey and His Ten Trees
In a lush jungle, there lived a clever monkey named Miko. Miko wasn’t just any monkey; he owned ten beautiful fruit trees spread across a small hill. These trees bore the sweetest mangoes, juiciest guavas, and ripest bananas anyone in the jungle had ever seen.
One day, as Miko swung from tree to tree, a parrot flew by and chirped, “Miko, why don’t you share some of your fruits? There are animals in the jungle who are hungry.”
Miko frowned and puffed out his chest. “I worked hard to protect these trees. Why should I share?” he replied.
The parrot tilted its head and said, “You don’t eat all the fruits yourself, do you? Sharing will make your trees more valuable. Animals will help protect them from danger if you let them enjoy the fruits too.”
Miko thought about it but shook his head. “No, no. These are mine!”
Days turned into weeks. The fruits ripened and fell to the ground. Since Miko couldn’t eat them all, they began to rot. Other animals stopped visiting the area because Miko wouldn’t let anyone near his trees.
Then one day, Miko noticed something terrible. Insects had infested one of his favorite trees, and its leaves were turning brown. The more he looked, the more problems he found on his trees. He felt helpless.
Just then, a wise tortoise ambled by. “What’s wrong, Miko?” the tortoise asked.
“My trees are dying! I don’t know what to do,” Miko said, almost in tears.
The tortoise smiled gently. “Trees thrive when life around them thrives. Birds, bees, and animals help trees grow by spreading seeds and keeping pests away. If you want to save your trees, invite others to enjoy them too.”
Realizing his mistake, Miko called out to all the animals in the jungle. “Come, everyone! Enjoy my fruits and help me protect my trees.”
The animals returned, eating fruits, spreading seeds, and chasing away harmful insects. Birds built nests in the branches, and squirrels stored nuts in the roots.
Soon, Miko’s trees were healthier than ever, and the monkey wasn’t lonely anymore. He swung happily from tree to tree, sharing his bounty with everyone.
From then on, Miko learned that sharing wasn’t just kind—it was also the best way to protect and grow what he loved.