The Clever Monkey and the Crocodile

A big crocodile lived in a wide, deep river. He had bumpy dark green scales and a wide, flat snout. He liked to rest quietly in the warm mud all day.

On the riverbank, a little monkey lived in the trees. He loved to swing and eat sweet fruit. But he had eaten so much that the trees were almost bare.

One morning, Mrs. Crocodile looked up at the monkey. She wanted something very special to eat. "I want that monkey's heart!" she cried. Splash, splash, splash went her big tears.

Mr. Crocodile woke up and listened to his wife. He thought and thought for a whole hour. At last, he smiled his toothy smile. He had a plan!

The crocodile swam to the bank below the monkey's tree. "Come with me, dear monkey!" he called up. "The trees on the other side are full of wonderful fruit!"

"But how will I cross the wide river?" asked the monkey. "Jump on my back!" said the crocodile. "I will carry you!" The happy monkey jumped right down.

Halfway across the river, cold water crept up around the monkey's feet. The crocodile was sinking! "Ha ha!" he laughed. "My wife wants your heart, little monkey!"

But the monkey thought fast. "Wait!" he said with a grin. "I never carry my heart inside me. My heart is safe in that fig tree on the far bank!"

The foolish crocodile believed every word. He swam all the way to the far bank. The monkey leapt off and swung up into the big fig tree.

Safe in the branches, the monkey laughed and laughed. "No creature keeps its heart in a tree!" he called down. "Many thanks for the ride!"

The crocodile swam slowly home, feeling very foolish. Splash, splash, splash went the water around him. Mrs. Crocodile dried her eyes, and the two went quietly to sleep.

The monkey sat in the fig tree, eating sweet, ripe figs. He was full and safe and very happy. A clever mind is the best gift of all.