A Bongo in the Congo

            by Owen Hillis

 

 

Deep in a jungle

far from you or me

is a clearing which holds

a single tree.

 

In the top of this tree

high up off the ground,

two little monkeys were

laying around.

 

These monkeys lived together

'cuz they were brothers,

and they always hung out

around each other.

 

The first monkey brother's

name was Rind,

all the animals liked him

'cuz he was kind.

The second little monkey

was not a cool dude,

his name was Peel

and he was really rude.

 

One morning a bird

came flying past.

“Do you have any seeds?”

the monkeys were asked.

 

Peel looked up

from his leafy nest

and yelled “No! They're mine,

'cuz they're the best!”

 

The bird was angry

and about to go

when Rind swung over

saying “Hey, you know...

 

 

 

“I don't have seeds

but I have two pears,

and if you're hungry for something

I'd be happy to share!”

 

The bird was thrilled,

and he took a bite,

“Hey kid,” the bird said.

“You're alright!”

 

The bird ate a pear

and Rind ate the second

they were sweeter than

either of them had reckoned.

 

The bird gave a chirp

and flew back to the sky

as Peel started laughing,

quite surprised.

 

Peel just said “Man,

you sure are dumb!

Don't you know two pears

are more than one?

If you'd kept your mouth shut

you'd have had a treat.

Now you only have half

as much to eat.”

 

But Rind just smiled

and ate his pear

as Peel went back to

grooming his hair.

 

Well it wasn't much

longer after that

until another visitor

stopped for a chat.

 

 

 

 

Peel was eating

bugs from his hair

when a jaguar way down

below met his glare.

"I'm sorry to bother you,

my good sir,

but I noticed you up there

fixing your fur.

 

I've got a thorn in my paw

and I can't pull it free!

Can you please help me out?"

he asked desperately

 

Peel acted busy,

like he had a plan.

"Nope, I'm busy.

So get lost! Scram!"

 

The jaguar turned

with a tear in his eye

just as Rind was dropping

in from the sky.

 

"Come here," Rind said.

"And let me see,

we've got nimble fingers

so I can pull it free."

With a tug of the wrist

and a short little yelp

the thorn was gone.

"Wow! Thanks for the help!"

 

The jaguar grinned and ran

back to the ferns.

Peel pointed at Rind

"Boy, you just don't learn!

 

"You have to be more

careful what you do,

 Jaguars get hungry,

you were on the menu!"

 

"Peel," Rind said.

"He needed our care."

"He'd have eaten you first!"

"You're not being fair."

 

The monkeys argued

for a little while

until a lizard below

interrupted with a smile:

"Hello up there!

I'm building a house.

Are there any leaves

you want to throw out?"

 

This time Peel had

had enough

"No, but here's some

other stupid stuff!"

 

Peel started throwing

sticks and twigs

'till Rind told him,

among other things,

 

"Alright Peel, you

need to cool down.

Go sit in your nest,"

He said with a frown.

 

"I'll see what our freind

needs help about,

but be by yourself,

'cuz you need to chill out."

Peel stormed off,

but he threw a rock

into the forest

scaring a bird flock

 

Unfortunately

for the monkeys and us

the rock collided

with a rhinocerous!

 

The rhino ROARED

and charged at the tree.

Causing both monkeys

and the lizard to flee.

 

Peel and Rind jumped

over a hedge

but then stopped quickly

at a giant cliff's edge!

 

"Oh no!" Peel cried.

"We're gonna die!"

But just then the bird

came flying by.

"Well hey there, Rind.

You need a lift?

I haven't repayed you

for your tasty gift!"

 

"Yes please!" Rind said

"But my brother has to come."

"Okay," said the bird.

"But I think he's dumb."

 

The two scared monkeys

climbed on the bird's back

as the rhino charged forward,

ready to attack.

 

The bird dropped them off

and they turned around

as the rhino leapt way up

off the ground.

 

The monkeys started running

as the rhino jumped

and landed right behind them

with a massive WHUMP!

They ran for a while

till they came to a stop

because they saw the

jaguar perched atop:

 

a low hanging branch

looking in dismay.

"Jaguar!" Rind called.

"Make this rhino go away!"

 

"Well I don't see how,

but listen here.

Climb on my back,

you've got nothing to fear!

 

"Before you do though,

let me just say,

that I wouldn't mind the

rhino snatching Peel away."

 

The two hopped on

and rode without a peep

'til the kitty got tired

and needed to sleep.

They couldn't see the rhino,

but they knew it was behind

'cuz the rumble of it's feet

was heard by Peel and Rind.

 

They looked all around,

unsure of what to do

when suddenly they spotted

a lizard they knew.

 

It turns out that the lizard

had built a big fort

out of sticks and leaves

and others items of the sort.

 

Peel called up and

pleaded with the guy

"Hey! Let us in!

We're gonna die!"

 

The lizard looked down

and said "Well, hi there.

Was it you who hit that rhino?

It gave me quite a scare!"

"Yes," said Rind.

"It was he."

"Hm," said the lizard

"Now you want help from me?

 

"If I recall, you

wouldn't give me leaves

to build my house,

so first say 'please'."

 

"Please!" said Peel.

"Won't you let us in?"

"Now say you're sorry,

or that rhino will win."

 

Peel made a face,

but he tried his best

"Alright! I'm sorry!"

he finally confessed.

 

"Alright!" Said the lizard

and he let them inside

just before the rhino

would have gotten their hides.

"Well" said Rind,

"I hope you learned

to be nice once in a while"

As Peel's stomach churned.

 

"You're right," said Peel.

"And I have to say:

I'll be a lot nicer

starting today."

 

So this is where our

monkey story ends.

It never hurts

to make a few friends.