Irresistable Offer From An Old Tiger

Once upon a time, deep in the jungle, there lived an old tiger whose hunting days had mostly turned into napping days. His knees popped when it rained, and his roaring sounded more like a dusty cough.

One sunny afternoon, he spotted a little monkey clinging tightly to a tree trunk, looking terribly energetic and delightfully plump. The old tiger’s stomach let out a loud rumble, but looking up at the high branches, he knew his climbing days were long gone.

He decided to use strategy instead of speed. Creeping to the base of the tree, he put on his most charming, harmless grandpa smile and looked up.

"Hey there, little one!" the old tiger wheezed, trying to make his voice sound smooth. "You look tired from all that climbing. Tell you what—if you come down, I will give you some chocolates!"

The little monkey paused, gripping the bark. He looked at the tiger's bright orange stripes, then at the tiger’s very sharp—if slightly worn—teeth.

"Chocolates?" the little monkey chattered skeptically. "Since when do tigers carry candy in the jungle?"

"Oh, it's a new jungle initiative," the old tiger improvised quickly, shuffling his paws. "Dark chocolate. Very healthy. Great for your fur! But you have to come down to the bottom branch to get it. My arms can't reach that high."

The little monkey twitched his tail, thoroughly amused by the old-timer's desperate attempt.

"That sounds delicious," the monkey said, shimmying a few feet higher up the tree instead. "But I think I'll pass. My mom told me never to take candy from a stranger—especially one whose stomach is growling louder than a thunderstorm!"

With a cheeky laugh, the little monkey plucked a wild fig and dropped it right on the old tiger's nose.

The old tiger sighed, his knees giving a loud crack as he sat back down on the grass, realizing that luring the new generation of jungle kids was going to take a lot more than a fake sweet tooth.