The Monkey and the Crocodile Fairy Tale

On the bank of a river grew a big fig tree, and in it lived a kind monkey. Every day she tossed sweet figs to a crocodile who swam in the river, and the two became friends.

The crocodile took some of the figs home to his wife. But his wife was jealous and greedy. "How sweet the heart of a monkey who eats figs every day must be! Bring me her heart," she demanded.

The crocodile agreed, though he did not want to. He said to the monkey, "My friend, my wife invites you to visit us. Climb on my back and I will carry you across the river." The monkey happily climbed onto his back.

In the middle of the river the crocodile confessed. "Forgive me, my friend. My wife wants to eat your heart."

The monkey was frightened, but she kept her head. "Why didn't you tell me before? I left my heart in the fig tree. Let's go back and I will fetch it," she said. The foolish crocodile swam back to the bank.

As soon as they reached the shore, the monkey sprang up into the tree in one leap. "Silly creature, who keeps a heart in a tree? Whoever betrays a friend is no longer my friend," she said. The ashamed crocodile swam away without a word.