It was supposed to be a strict day of rest for little Ri Ri. He had woken up with a raspy cough and a warm forehead, so Dad wrapped him in a blanket of soft green leaves and ordered him to stay inside the cozy tree hollow. But outside, the bright sunshine and the noisy chirps of his friends at the nearby banana grove were far too tempting.
Ri Ri decided to put his mischievous mind to work. Hearing Dad approaching with a handful of bitter herbal berries, Ri Ri quickly closed his eyes, let out a feeble, dramatic cough, and curled up tight.
“Rest well, little one,” Dad whispered softly, placing the berries by his side before heading out to gather fresh coconut water.
The moment Dad’s tail disappeared behind the thick vines, Ri Ri sprang to life! Throwing off the leaves, he zipped out the back of the hollow, swinging effortlessly from vine to vine toward the river swings. He splashed in the water, giggled with the toucans, and completely forgot about his sore throat.
Suddenly, a loud snap echoed through the jungle! Ri Ri froze. Looking up, he saw Dad standing on a branch, holding two coconuts, with an expression that was half-worried and half-furious.
“Ri Ri!” Dad gasped, his stern voice echoing across the clearing.
Realizing he was caught red-handed, Ri Ri let out a guilty squeak, scrambled back up the tree, and dashed straight into his bed, pulling the leaves all the way over his nose. When Dad walked into the hollow, Ri Ri offered a tiny, sheepish grin. Dad shook his head with a gentle sigh, cuddled up beside his playful little troublemaker, and made sure he stayed tucked in for the rest of the day!
