Jungle Family

Deep in the heart of the jungle, where the trees stretched high and the rivers sang their songs, lived a little monkey named Bobo. Bobo was curious and full of energy, but he often felt different from the other monkeys.

"You must grow strong to lead our troop one day!" the elder monkeys told him. "You must find a mate and have little monkeys of your own."

But Bobo didn’t feel that was his purpose. Instead of spending all his time with the other monkeys, he loved helping the animals of the jungle—feeding the old parrot whose wings had grown weak, playing with the orphaned tiger cub, and singing to the lonely night owl who had no flock.

One day, an old tortoise named Tooty watched Bobo as he shared his bananas with a family of mice.

"Bobo, why do you not stay with your own kind?" Tooty asked.

Bobo thought for a moment and then said, "Because everyone in the jungle is my family, not just the monkeys. The tiger cub has no mother, so I care for him. The owl is alone, so I keep him company. Isn’t love meant for all?"

Tooty smiled. "Ah, little one, you have the heart of wisdom. Many think family is only those who look like them, but true family is found in love, not in blood. Just as the sun shines on all creatures, love is meant to be shared with all."

But not every animal in the jungle thought like Bobo.

There was a sleek, sly jackal named Loopy. Loopy did not like to share. He took food from the smaller animals, kept his waterhole to himself, and only looked out for his own needs.

One day, Bobo found Loopy whining beside a thorn bush. "Oh, my paw! I stepped on a sharp thorn, and it hurts terribly!" Loopy cried.

Bobo rushed to help, but Loopy snapped, "Go away! I don’t need anyone’s help. I take care of myself!"

"But Loopy," Bobo said gently, "you're part of my family. I want to help you."

"I don’t need family," Loopy huffed, limping away.

Days passed, and Loopy grew weaker. His paw became swollen, and he could no longer hunt or steal from others. He watched from the shadows as Bobo cared for the other animals—feeding the old parrot, bringing water to the mice, cuddling the tiger cub when it was cold.

Loopy felt something strange in his heart. He had spent his life taking, but no one had ever loved him the way Bobo loved the others.

Finally, too weak to walk, Loopy swallowed his pride and called out, "Bobo... will you still help me?"

Bobo ran to him, gently pulling the thorn from his paw and cleaning the wound. He shared his bananas and let Loopy rest beside him in the shade.

"Why are you helping me?" Loopy asked.

"Because I already loved you," Bobo said simply. "You were always part of my family. You just didn’t know it yet."

Loopy’s eyes filled with tears. He had spent his life chasing food and power, but now he realized that true happiness was found in love. From that day on, he stopped stealing, stopped hoarding, and instead shared what he had with others.

That night, as Bobo rested on a tree branch, he looked out at the jungle. The tiger cub curled up beside him, the old parrot nestled near, and even Loopy, the once-greedy jackal, now slept peacefully at his side.

Bobo smiled. His family had grown once more.

So Be It!