Mom gently placed Dorn on a cozy cushion in the shady corner, hoping he would sit quietly and entertain himself for a while. Maybe he could play with his toys, nibble on a snack, or watch the other monkeys from a distance. But the moment Mom stepped back, Dorn’s big round eyes locked onto her, and his little hands immediately reached out.
He let out a small whimper at first, but when Mom didn’t come back right away, the whimper turned into a loud, determined cry. His little voice was clear: “No! You’re not going anywhere without me!”
Mom tried to reassure him from a short distance. “It’s okay, Dorn, I’m right here,” she cooed, smiling. But Dorn wasn’t buying it. He scooted forward, arms raised high, making sure she knew he expected to be picked up now.
When Mom tried to encourage him to play with a colorful ball, Dorn simply pushed it aside. She handed him a tasty treat, thinking it might distract him, but he ignored it completely. His focus was on one thing—staying close to Mom.
The moment she stepped just a few more feet away, Dorn made his move. With surprising speed for such a small monkey, he crawled right after her, his determined little face showing just how serious he was. When he reached her leg, he wrapped his arms tightly around it, refusing to let go.
Mom sighed softly, torn between needing a break and feeling touched by his devotion. “Oh, Dorn… you really don’t like being alone, do you?” she said, gently lifting him up. Dorn instantly settled into her arms, his crying stopping almost immediately. He snuggled in close, his tiny hands gripping her fur as if to make sure she wouldn’t try that “sit alone” idea again.
For the rest of the afternoon, wherever Mom went, Dorn went too. If she sat, he sat on her lap. If she walked, he clung to her side. If she bent down to pick something up, Dorn adjusted his grip to stay with her. His stubborn little heart wouldn’t allow any separation.
