The Monkey and the Crocodile

On the bank of a wide river grew a tall jamun tree, heavy with sweet purple fruit, and in its branches lived a cheerful monkey. One day a crocodile came swimming by and rested in the shade, and the kind monkey tossed him down some of the sweet ripe fruit. The crocodile had never tasted anything so good.

After that the crocodile came every single day, and the two became the best of friends, talking and laughing while the monkey shared his fruit. And each day the monkey sent extra fruit home for the crocodile’s wife.

But the crocodile’s wife, munching all those sweet jamuns, had a wicked thought. “If this fruit is so sweet,” she said, “then the heart of the monkey who eats it all day long must be the sweetest, most delicious thing of all. I simply must eat that monkey’s heart. Bring it to me.”

The crocodile was horrified. The monkey was his dearest friend! But his wife nagged and nagged, and at last, miserably, he gave in. The next day he said to the monkey, “Dear friend, my wife has invited you to our home for dinner. Climb onto my back and I will carry you across the river.” Delighted, the monkey hopped on, and off they swam.

But halfway across the deep, wide water, the crocodile could not keep the secret, and he blurted out the whole dreadful plan. The monkey’s heart pounded, but his face stayed calm, for he was thinking very fast.

“Oh, my poor friend,” said the monkey lightly, “why ever didn’t you tell me sooner? We monkeys never carry our hearts about with us. It’s far too precious. I’ve left mine hanging safely back in the jamun tree. Quick, take me back, and I’ll fetch it for your wife at once.”

The foolish crocodile believed every word, and turned and swam back to the bank. And the very moment they touched the shore, the monkey sprang up into his tree, high and safe. “You silly creature,” he called down. “No one keeps their heart in a tree. And no true friend would ever hand a friend over to be eaten. Go home. Our friendship is finished.”