The Monkey and the Crocodile

There was a monkey who lived in a guava tree beside a river. He often gave guavas to a crocodile that passed underneath the tree. Soon, the two became good friends.

The crocodile took some guavas home for his wife. When she tasted the guavas, she found them very sweet. She thought, “If the guavas are so sweet, then the monkey’s heart must be even sweeter.” She demanded that her husband bring her the monkey’s heart to eat.

The crocodile did not want to harm his friend, but he was caught in a dilemma. He invited the monkey to ride on his back across the river, saying that he would take him to a feast. When they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile revealed his wife’s plan.

The clever monkey quickly said that he had left his heart in the guava tree and asked the crocodile to take him back.

As soon as they reached the tree, the monkey jumped onto a branch and escaped. He then told the crocodile that no one leaves their heart behind and made him realize that betraying a true friend was wrong.