The Teasing Monkey And A Close Call

The monkey had a bad habit of teasing others. He thought he was the king of the canopy, convinced that no one could reach him way up high. One afternoon, a tiger padded quietly beneath the branches.

"Hey, slow poke! Nice stripes, did you get those from a fence?" the monkey hooted, swinging by his tail.

The tiger stopped and looked up. "I'm trying to hunt, little monkey. Please be quiet and show some respect," the tiger growled.

But the monkey just laughed, thinking he was perfectly safe. Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat. With a powerful leap and sharp claws, the tiger began to scramble up the trunk! The monkey trembled with fear; there were no other trees nearby to jump to.

The tiger reached the branch and let out a mighty roar. He didn't eat the monkey, but he gave him a look that made the monkey’s fur stand on end. "Next time," the tiger whispered, "remember that everyone has a hidden talent. My talent is climbing."

From that day on, the monkey was the most polite animal in the jungle.