The jungle is loud with whoops and laughs. High above in the branches, the little monkey watched them swing.
The little monkey grabbed a vine and reached for the next one — but his short tail slipped, and he dropped straight down.
He sat in the leaves and pulled his tail close. The other monkeys called down from above.
He found a long vine and tied it around his waist. It stuck out behind him like a pretend tail. He reached for a branch — crack! — and tumbled sideways.
He peeked out from the bush, leaves stuck to his fur. The vine lay in two pieces. He thought about trying something stronger.
Near the river, he found a thick rope. He looped it around his waist and pulled hard — it held.
He reached up and lifted one foot, then the other. The rope creaked. He hung in the air. A breeze smelled of wet bark.
A gust of wind yanked the rope free! He dropped, bounced once, and landed right on a fallen log.
At the other end of the log, a small frog was trapped. Her legs paddled in the air. His short tail brushed her side as he reached down.
He lifted her onto the log. She hopped free and tapped his tail with her webbed foot.
He walked back to the monkeys, his short tail swishing against his legs. One of them reached over and touched the tip of his tail.
He swung his arm and grabbed the vine. His tail balanced him just right. He let out a loud whoop and launched forward!
