Nino had only been in this world for a few days. His mother had gone missing shortly after his birth, and the caretakers at the sanctuary hadn’t found her yet. Thankfully, they found Nino alone near a tree trunk just in time. But that day, for reasons he didn’t understand, everything seemed to go wrong.
It had rained the night before, and the ground was damp and muddy. Nino was gently placed in the soft straw bedding that usually brought comfort, but a sudden gust of wind blew away his cover. When he rolled over in his sleep, he landed on the muddy ground.
The other baby monkeys were a little older and full of energy. They jumped and climbed around, playing tag in the trees. Nino tried to sit up and watch them. He squeaked softly, hoping someone would come play with him — but no one noticed. They were too busy with their games.
One of the bigger babies accidentally kicked dust toward Nino, who blinked sadly and curled back into a ball. His little belly rumbled. The milk feeding was delayed that morning because the caregivers were rushing to fix the shelter that had blown over in the storm. So Nino lay there — cold, hungry, and alone — on a dirty patch of ground.
He didn’t cry loudly or throw a tantrum. He just sighed and closed his eyes, sleeping quietly in disappointment.
But someone was watching.
From across the enclosure, an older female monkey named Taya — a gentle soul who had once been orphaned herself — noticed Nino lying alone. She slowly walked over, crouched beside him, and touched his back with her hand. Nino opened his eyes just a little. Taya began grooming his fur, carefully brushing away the dirt and calming his tiny body.
Soon, a caretaker returned with a warm bottle of milk. She was surprised to see Taya caring for the newborn.
“Oh, Taya,” she smiled, “You’re always looking out for the little ones, aren’t you?”
She gently picked up Nino, wrapped him in a dry cloth, and fed him slowly while Taya watched protectively from the side.
That night, Nino slept warm and safe in a cozy corner, no longer on the dirty ground. Taya curled up near him, and for the first time that day, his face relaxed into a peaceful smile.
Even unlucky days can end with a bit of love and kindness.
