The Shiny Mango Trap

A Happy Forest Morning

It was a bright and cheerful morning in the forest. The sun rose slowly in the sky and spread warm golden light everywhere. The tall trees looked fresh and green, and a cool breeze gently moved their leaves.

 

Birds sat happily on the branches and sang sweet songs. Their cheerful chirping filled the air. Nearby, a clear river flowed softly, making calm, gentle sounds as it moved over small stones.

 

High up in the trees, a group of young monkeys were already awake. They jumped from tree to tree and swung from branches using their long tails. They laughed loudly and played together, enjoying the beautiful morning.

 

After playing for some time, one monkey stopped and held his tummy. He smiled and said, I’m very hungry! Let’s find something tasty to eat. The other monkeys nodded happily, and their adventure began.

 

The Shiny Mangoes

As the monkeys moved closer to the riverbank, they suddenly stopped. All of them stared at the ground with wide eyes. None of them could believe what they were seeing.

 

Wow! shouted one monkey in excitement. So many mangoes!

 

The riverbank was covered with mangoes. They were big, round, and bright yellow. The sunlight fell on them, making them shine as if they were made of gold.

 

The mangoes were not scattered. They were neatly placed in one spot, almost like someone had arranged them carefully. The monkeys mouths watered as they looked at the delicious fruit.

 

One monkey clapped his hands and laughed happily. I have never seen mangoes shine like this before!, he said. The other monkeys nodded in excitement, already dreaming of sweet and juicy bites.

 

The Wise Old Monkey Speaks

High up on a thick tree branch sat an old monkey. His fur was grey, and his eyes were calm and thoughtful. He had lived in the forest for many, many years and had seen many good days and many dangerous ones too.

 

The old monkey looked down at the riverbank and watched the young monkeys closely. He did not feel happy like them. Instead, he looked carefully at the mangoes shining on the ground.

 

After thinking for a moment, he spoke in a gentle but firm voice. Be careful, my children, he said. Something does not feel right.

 

He pointed toward the mangoes and continued, Fruits do not shine like this unless someone has polished them. Mangoes do not grow on the ground so neatly. This could be a trap.

 

The young monkeys looked at him for a moment, but their excitement made them ignore his warning.

 

The Young Monkeys Ignore the Warning

The young monkeys laughed loudly at the old monkey’s words. Their tails twitched with excitement, and their eyes sparkled as they looked at the shiny yellow mangoes.

 

“You are always worried!” one monkey called out, giggling. There is nothing to be afraid of!, Another monkey added, We are hungry, and these mangoes look so delicious. Let’s eat them now!

 

Without paying any attention to the old monkey's warning, the young monkeys leapt from the branches one by one. Boing! Boing! They landed softly on the riverbank and ran straight toward the mangoes, their little hands reaching for the fruit.

 

High up on his branch, the old monkey watched quietly. He sighed and shook his head. He knew something bad might happen, but all he could do was stay calm and hope his young friends would be safe.

 

The Trap Closes

Suddenly—CLANG! CLANG! A loud noise echoed through the forest.

 

From the branches above, heavy cages dropped down and landed on the riverbank. The young monkeys jumped back in surprise, but it was too late. The cages closed tightly around them with a loud click.

 

The monkeys screamed in fright. “Help! Help!” they shouted, banging their tiny hands against the bars. Their hearts were pounding, and they realized they could not escape.

 

Oh no! We should have listened to the old monkey! cried one monkey, tears forming in his eyes. Another monkey whimpered, We were too excited and didn’t think. Now we are trapped!

 

The forest grew quiet except for the monkeys’ frightened cries. High up on his branch, the old monkey watched with a sad look. He knew it was time to act carefully to help his friends.

 

The Wise Monkey Helps

The old monkey stayed calm, even though he was worried about his young friends. He knew panicking would not help. Taking a deep breath, he leapt from branch to branch and ran through the forest as fast as he could.

 

He called out to the other animals of the forest. Help! My friends are trapped near the riverbank!, he shouted. Soon, the wise elephant, clever fox, and strong rabbits arrived, ready to help.

 

Working together, they carefully lifted the heavy cages one by one. The monkeys watched nervously, hoping they would be free soon. Finally, with a loud creak, the last cage opened, and the young monkeys tumbled out.

 

Overjoyed, they hugged the old monkey tightly. Thank you! Thank you for saving us!, they cried. We are so sorry we did not listen to you.

 

From that day on, the monkeys played happily in the forest, but they also remembered the wise old monkey’s words. They knew that being careful and listening to advice was just as important as having fun.

 

Moral

·      Listen to wise advice: Experienced elders often know what is safe and what is dangerous.

·      Think before you act: Don’t rush into something just because it looks fun or exciting.

·      Stay calm in emergencies: Panic doesn’t help, thinking carefully can save the day.

·      Work together in problems: Friends and family can help each other overcome difficulties.

·      Observation matters: Sometimes what looks tempting on the outside can hide danger.

·      Experience is valuable: Listening to those who have lived longer can teach important lessons.