Jula, younger and more timid, squealed in distress. Sovanny had wrapped both arms around her and was holding her down, refusing to let her go. The other young monkeys paused their games, sensing the tension. Jula tried to squirm away, but Sovanny, giggling and showing off, held tighter.
That’s when Jula’s mother—Mama Sona—intervened.
With a sharp and urgent hoot, Sona rushed over from the grooming area. Her eyes were locked on Sovanny, and her tail flicked rapidly, a clear sign of warning. She stood tall on her back legs, puffed out her chest, and gave another loud bark-like call—a mother’s command that every monkey in the troop understood: “Let her go.”
But Sovanny didn’t listen.
Instead, he looked up with a smirk, clearly proud of the attention he was getting. He held onto Jula even tighter, treating the situation like a game. Sona’s calls grew louder. She stomped on the ground, bared her teeth slightly, and charged forward just enough to signal she meant business.
Still—Sovanny didn’t care.
He turned his back on Sona, dragging poor Jula along as if it was just another jungle prank. Some of the other mothers began to gather. They were watching Sona closely. If she attacked, others might join in. The tension was thick.
But Sona didn’t act out of anger. She crouched down to Jula’s eye level and let out a low, calming call. Jula reached out with her little hands, whimpering softly. That’s when Sovanny’s playful mask started to slip. He looked confused, and maybe… just a little unsure of himself.
Then, Mama Kiri—Sovanny’s own mother—arrived.
She had been watching from a distance, and now, she stepped in. Without making a sound, she walked straight to Sovanny and slapped her tail firmly against the ground beside him. That was no warning—that was a final command.
Sovanny froze. He looked at Kiri, then at Sona, then at the frightened Jula. Slowly, he loosened his grip.
Jula scampered into her mother’s arms, shaking. Sona held her tightly, giving Sovanny one last, furious glare before walking away.
Sovanny sat there quietly, ears tilted back, no longer smiling. Kiri didn’t scold him with noise. She simply sat next to him, silently reminding him of the line he had crossed.
The whole troop resumed their day, but the energy had shifted.
That moment taught everyone something important—about respect, boundaries, and a mother’s warning that should never be ignored.
