The Monkey and the Crocodile
A monkey lived in a jamun tree beside a wide river. The tree was full of sweet purple fruit.
One day a crocodile swam up to the tree. The monkey threw him some jamuns. “Delicious!” said the crocodile. Soon they became good friends.
Every day the crocodile came to visit, and every day he took some jamuns home for his wife.
But his wife was greedy. “If the fruit is this sweet,” she said, “the monkey’s heart must be even sweeter. Bring me his heart!”
The crocodile did not want to hurt his friend, but he agreed. “Come to my home for dinner,” he told the monkey. “Sit on my back and I will carry you across the river.”
In the middle of the river, the crocodile said, “I am sorry, friend. My wife wants to eat your heart.”
The monkey thought fast. “Oh dear! I keep my heart up in the jamun tree. Take me back and I will fetch it.”
The foolish crocodile swam back. The monkey leapt up into the tree, safe at last. “A heart cannot live in a tree,” he laughed. “And a true friend never tricks a friend. Goodbye!”
