Baby monkey Jobi was usually the happiest little creature in the forest. With big bright eyes, soft brown fur, and endless curiosity, he spent most of his days climbing trees, chasing butterflies, and nibbling on sweet fruits. But one sunny morning, something happened that Jobi had never experienced before—a mistake that made his tiny heart thump with worry.
Jobi had been playing near the family’s breakfast table, a low wooden platform his mother used to prepare food. She had just finished washing a stack of plates and placed them neatly on the edge to dry. Jobi, fascinated by how shiny they looked in the sunlight, reached out with his little hands to touch one. It wobbled, spun for a moment, and before Jobi could catch it, the plate slipped from the table and crashed onto the floor with a loud CRACK!
Jobi froze. His tail curled tight around his leg, and his ears dropped flat. He stared at the shattered pieces scattered across the ground. He had never broken anything before. His little chest tightened, and his breath grew quick. Mama will be upset… I didn’t mean to… What do I do? he thought, panic rising inside him like a fast-moving river.
Instead of running away, Jobi crouched beside the broken pieces, feeling tears well up. He tried pushing the shards together, as if they might magically fix themselves. But the plate only looked more broken than before.
A gentle shadow fell over him. Jobi looked up to see Mama Monkey standing there quietly. She saw the mess, then saw Jobi’s trembling hands. Instead of anger, her face softened. She knelt and wrapped Jobi in her arms.
“It’s okay, little one,” she said softly. “Accidents happen.”
Jobi sniffed. “I didn’t mean to break it…”
“I know,” Mama replied. “What matters is that you’re honest and careful next time. Come, let’s clean it together.”
Relief washed over Jobi like warm sunlight. Side by side, they picked up the pieces safely and swept the floor. When they finished, Mama handed Jobi a small wooden bowl.
“Next time, use this one—it’s harder to break,” she said with a wink.
Jobi giggled, his panic melting away. He realized that mistakes didn’t have to be frightening when someone kind helped you learn from them.
From that day on, Jobi became extra careful around the kitchen. And though he still had his playful, curious spirit, he now knew that even broken plates could teach important lessons—like courage, honesty, and love.
