At the Little Lotus Beauty Salon, the last thing anyone expected to see waddling through the door was a baby monkey clutching a fuzzy pink blanket. The tiny creature, named Miko, had slipped away from the wildlife sanctuary next door, drawn by the unfamiliar hum of hairdryers and the sweet smell of coconut shampoo drifting through the open window. When he peeked inside, he was instantly captivated. Bright lights, colorful bottles, and women laughing together—it was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Inside, a young woman named Lila was getting her hair styled for a special event. The moment Miko’s wide, curious eyes landed on her, he froze. To him, she looked like some kind of magical creature. Her long hair flowed like a waterfall, and the stylist’s comb made it shimmer under the salon lights. Miko tilted his head. Was she grooming herself? Was she being groomed by the taller human? Was this some kind of strange ritual?
Confused but fascinated, he shuffled closer, his tiny feet tapping gently on the tiled floor. The salon employees paused mid-snip. Lila slowly turned her head, meeting the monkey’s gaze. For a moment, everything seemed to stop—the dryers, the chatter, even the soft music playing in the background. Miko blinked twice, as if trying to process what beauty even meant.
Then, curiosity overcame hesitation. He tugged at a lock of Lila’s hair, letting it slip between his fingers. His puzzled expression made everyone laugh. It was as if he were thinking, Why is this human getting groomed when she doesn’t even have fur?
The stylist crouched down and showed Miko a small hand mirror. His reflection startled him, sending him scrambling behind Lila’s chair. A second later, he peeked out again, embarrassed but intrigued. The salon workers gently introduced him to brushes and hair rollers, which he inspected with deep suspicion before finally accepting a gentle tap on the head with a soft bristle brush.
