It was a bright afternoon on the family farm, and Dad had just finished preparing a delicious lunch. The table was filled with warm rice, fresh vegetables from the garden, grilled fish, and sweet watermelon for dessert. Usually, CUTIS was the first to race home when lunchtime arrived, but today was different.
Dad looked at the clock and smiled. “CUTIS should be here any minute.”
Five minutes passed. Then ten. Soon half an hour had gone by, but there was still no sign of CUTIS.
Dad stepped outside and called, “CUTIS! Lunch is ready!”
Only the gentle breeze answered.
Growing worried, Dad searched around the vegetable garden, the chicken coop, and the fish pond. He even asked the neighbors if they had seen CUTIS, but everyone shook their heads. No one knew where the cheerful little monkey had gone.
Dad’s imagination began to run wild. Had CUTIS gotten lost? Was he hurt? Or had something unexpected happened?
Just as Dad was about to organize a bigger search, he noticed tiny footprints leading toward the old orchard behind the farm.
Following the trail, Dad soon heard soft laughter.
There was CUTIS, kneeling beside a frightened baby goat that had become tangled in thick vines near a fallen tree. CUTIS had spent the entire morning carefully cutting away the vines with a small gardening tool while comforting the scared little animal.
“It’s okay,” CUTIS whispered. “You’ll be free soon.”
Dad watched quietly as CUTIS finally untangled the baby goat. The grateful little animal happily bounced around before running back to its mother.
“CUTIS!” Dad called with relief.
CUTIS looked surprised. “Dad! I’m sorry I missed lunch. I couldn’t leave the baby goat alone.”
Dad smiled warmly and wrapped CUTIS in a big hug. “Lunch can always wait. Helping someone in need was the right thing to do.”
Together they walked home, where the meal was still waiting on the table. As they shared lunch, Dad praised CUTIS for showing kindness, patience, and responsibility.
That afternoon, Dad realized he hadn’t lost CUTIS at all. Instead, he had discovered just how big his child’s heart had grown, proving that true heroes often miss lunch because they are busy helping others.
