The Monkey and the Crocodile
SHORT STORY
The Monkey and the Crocodile
Once upon a time, there was a lazy crocodile. He lived by the sea. He came out of the sea and lay under a big mango tree during the day. A monkey always watched the crocodile sunning himself happily like that. One day, the monkey asked the crocodile why he had spent an idle life. The crocodile replied that nature provided him with food when he needed it. They became friends.
The tree produced a lot of sweet and juicy mangoes in the summer. The monkey plucked big, ripe mangoes and distributed them to his friend.
One day the crocodile said, "I thank you for the sweet and juicy mangoes. But my wife has never tasted such a sweet fruit in her life." Will you please give me one today so I can take it for her?"
"Of course, I'll pluck a nice mango for Mrs. Crocodile," said the monkey. He then gave the crocodile a big, yellow mango for his wife.
Naturally, the crocodile's wife liked the mango very much. She said to her husband, "Your monkey friend eats these mangoes every day. His heart must be very sweet. It must be more delicious than this mango. Bring me his heart tomorrow. I want to eat it."
The crocodile was highly upset. "The monkey is my good friend," he told his wife. "I love him dearly. I cannot kill him and bring his heart to you."
The crocodile's wife was headstrong. She wanted the monkey's heart at all costs. She kept asking him that evening to bring the monkey's heart, come what may.
The monkey was on the tree, waiting for him. When he saw the crocodile, he said, "Hello, friend, did Mrs. Crocodile like the mango?"
"Oh, yes," smiled the crocodile, “she liked it very much. She wants to see you and thank you personally. Please come and have lunch with us. I'll carry you home on my back."
The monkey was quite pleased to go. He rode on the back of the crocodile. When they were far into the sea, the crocodile sighed heavily.
“What's the matter, friend?" asked the monkey.
"I am very sad, my friend," said the crocodile. "I am taking you home because my wife wants to eat your heart. She thinks your heart must be sweeter than the mango."
The monkey remained silent for some time. Later, he said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I have left my heart on the mango tree. Let's go back and get my heart from the tree."
After hearing the monkey, the crocodile turned back immediately, and soon they were under the mango tree. The monkey jumped off the crocodile's back and climbed the tree quickly.
The crocodile said, "Please gather your heart, my friend, and come back."
The monkey sat on the topmost branch and grinned, "How can I pick up my heart from the mango tree? My heart was right here inside me all the time. Get out of my sight, you cruel crocodile. You are not my friend. Don't show me your ugly face again." He then picked up a ripe mango and began to enjoy it.
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