The Monkey and the Shark

Once upon a time, in a warm blue lagoon surrounded by a lush island forest, lived a clever monkey. He spent his days swinging from tree to tree, munching on ripe fruits, and teasing the waves with his reflection. The lagoon, deep and calm, was home to a sly old shark who always lurked beneath the surface, watching the monkey with hungry eyes.

One day, the shark swam up to the edge of the lagoon and called out in a smooth, deep voice, “Oh, wise monkey! I’ve heard of your kindness and your sweet fruits. Won’t you toss me one from your tree? I’ve never tasted the fruits of the land.”

The monkey, proud of his generosity, plucked the ripest mango and threw it down. The shark caught it in his jaws and devoured it, licking his lips. “Delicious!” the shark said, “But you know what would be even sweeter? To share more fruits with my king in the deep sea. He is sick and needs the sweetness to heal. If you come with me to the coral palace, you will be rewarded with treasures beyond your dreams.”

The monkey hesitated. He had never left his trees or touched the water for long. But the promise of adventure and treasures tempted him. The shark added, “Climb on my back. I will carry you safely. No harm will come to you, I swear on the waves.”

Trusting the shark’s smooth words, the monkey climbed onto the shark’s slippery back, holding tightly as they slipped beneath the surface. The water was clearer than the monkey had ever imagined. Schools of rainbow fish darted by, and coral gardens waved in the currents. The monkey marveled at the underwater world, forgetting his fear.

But halfway to the palace, the shark spoke again, his voice darker this time. “Oh, dear monkey. I must tell you the truth now. My king does not want your fruits. He needs a monkey’s heart to cure his illness.”

The monkey froze. His heart thundered louder than the shark’s tail swishing through the water. Quick-witted as ever, he did not panic. Instead, he laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me before? I would have gladly brought my heart. But you see, I left it hanging in the tree with my other treasures. Monkeys do not carry their hearts inside; we keep them safe. Take me back, and I will fetch it for you.”

The shark, never suspecting a trick, turned around and swam back to the shore. As soon as they reached the sandy bank, the monkey leapt from the shark’s back and scrambled up his tallest tree.

Safe among the branches, the monkey shouted down, “Foolish shark! Did you really believe I would carry my heart outside my body? You have your ocean, I have my trees. We both should stick to our worlds.”

Ashamed and hungry, the shark sank beneath the waves, never again daring to trust a creature of the land. And the monkey, wiser than before, learned never to trust smooth talkers with sharp teeth.

From that day on, the monkey continued to watch the ocean from his high branches, tossing fruits to the fish but never again trusting a shark’s promise. And the shark, in the deep dark water, dreamed of the sweet mango he once tasted—his only taste of the land he could never reach.