All day, I noticed Cici acting strangely. She kept running back and forth between the play corner and the small food basket, grabbing tiny pieces of banana and clutching them tightly in her little hands. At first, I thought she was just being mischievous, trying to sneak snacks when no one was watching. Cici has always been the playful, curious one, so I assumed she was simply being greedy or naughty again.
But when I saw her push Mimi aside a few times, I mistakenly believed she was being rough. I scolded her lightly and moved Mimi to sit beside me. Cici looked up with her big round eyes, confused and hurt, but I still didn’t understand what she was trying to do. She quietly walked away and continued picking up tiny fruit pieces from the basket.
It wasn’t until I followed her quietly that everything became clear—painfully clear. Instead of hiding food for herself, Cici was placing the soft banana pieces right next to Baby Mimi’s sleeping mat. Mimi, still very young and unable to peel or break fruit properly, often waits for help during snack time. And Cici, with her gentle little heart, had been trying to take care of her.
When Mimi woke up, Cici hurried over and nudged the banana toward her. She didn’t eat a single piece herself. She simply sat there, patiently watching Mimi enjoy the small bites she had worked so hard to collect. At that moment, I felt a deep pang in my chest. I had misunderstood everything. Cici wasn’t being selfish—she was being loving, protective, and mature in the sweetest way.
I walked over, lifted Cici gently, and apologized to her. She leaned into my shoulder as if she knew I finally understood. Moments like this remind me how pure and sincere baby monkeys can be. They love in ways we don’t always see, and sometimes, we only realize it after we’ve judged them too quickly.