The Great Banana Hide-and-Seek

Deep in the heart of the sunny savanna, Big G the giraffe and little Pip the monkey were the best of friends. Pip had a tiny belly but a huge craving for the biggest, brightest yellow banana in the jungle.

There was just one problem: the banana was hanging from the very top of a towering palm tree.

"I can't reach it, G!" Pip squeaked, hopping up and down.

"Don't worry, buddy. I've got you covered," Big G smiled. With his long, elegant neck, Big G reached right up into the green leaves, gently snipped the stem with his teeth, and lowered it down. Pip caught it in his furry little paws/

"Hooray! Thank you!" Pip cheered, hugging the giant fruit.

But just as Pip was about to take a big, delicious bite—THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The ground began to shake. The bushes rustled. Out popped Eddie, a playful little elephant cub with a very long trunk and an even bigger appetite. Eddie loved snacks, and his trunk was already sniffing the air. Snort, snort! He smelled that sweet banana!

"Uh-oh," whispered Pip. "Eddie is going to want a bite, and this banana is just big enough for us!"

"Quick!" Big G whispered down. "Time for the High-Low Hide!"

Eddie trundled over, his big ears flopping. "Hey guys! What's that delicious smell?" he asked, waving his trunk around Big G's knees.

While Eddie was busy sniffing the grass, Pip scrambled up Big G’s spotted neck like it was a furry fire escape. Climb, climb, climb! Pip zipped all the way to the top and plopped down right between Big G’s ears. He held the banana high up into the blue sky.

Eddie looked up, squinting his big eyes. "Hey, did that banana just fly away?"

Big G giggled, which made his whole neck wiggle. Pip had to hold on tight to Big G's ears so he wouldn't slide down!

Eddie looped his trunk around in circles, totally confused, until he got distracted by a shiny butterfly and ambled off into the bushes to play.

Pip slid down to the ground, laughing. "We did it!"

Big G knelt down so they were eye-to-eye. Pip peeled the giant banana, split it right down the middle, and shared the sweet prize with his best friend.