Benjamin Monkey

Jamie listened at the foot of the stairs.  All was still quiet. She put on her dry sneakers by the hearth, and took the baby blanket from Benjamin’s bed.  Jamie wished she had a jacket for him.  When he felt cold he let her know by curling in a ball in her lap.  She tucked him in her jacket and he wiggled to peek out.  The only place she could sit in the sun was on the stone steps that led to fields still strewn with winter debris.

Outside, Benjamin sniffed the spring air.  He leapt like he once did in Josie’s house when he found shiny green living room drapes to climb.  Shredding them was his downfall.  That happened when he still hoped he would find the real Rainforest his Mother talked about in her “Freedom Stories”.  Now he would want to bring Jamie on any search for the real Rainforest.  She believed he must be free to climb the corner logs to the high rafters.

Excitement reverberated from Benjamin’s depths.  His chirps and chatter increased with each jump.  These rafters were made from big logs, too big to swing by his tail.  Jamie said that he could swing on bushes with many branches.  “When leaves come out you can hide, and run from the rafters to bushes and back!”

Benjamin and Jamie would make great plans for the lively changes of spring and summer.  When they swayed on the porch the monkey sensed her happiness.  He pretended to scowl if she started to tickle him.  After dancing all around, Jamie sat on the stone steps to catch her breath.  Jamie stroked Benji’s tired body.  When his tail wrapped around her arm it felt like a snake.  She despised slithering snakes, but she did not mind Benjamin holding on to her.  She appreciated his secure grip.  This was the first time her tiny pet was loose outside. He welcomed his new signs of trust, and Jamie vowed, “I will protect you, Benji.”

Contented, Jamie stared at the clouds forming close to the horizon.  Lying on his back, Benjamin looked up and smiled at her.  Suddenly, their happiness ceased.  Jamie squinted when she thought she saw two large red tailed hawks soaring overhead.  The huge birds circled. She knew how fast they dive after prey in the fields.  Jamie froze and held her breath.  It seemed forever before she could jump up to take another look.

Sudden fear for her monkey’s safety, made the frightened girl grip her arms tightly around Benjamin.  Confused he swiftly pulled away, scooted across the porch and climbed rapidly to the top rafter.  He yelled with his little mouth puckered. “Oooouf, Ouf, Oooouf!”

It seemed to Jamie that Benjamin would never stop.  High above her he hunched himself way down in his shoulders.  Beneath him, Jamie sat down on the hard porch floor with her legs crossed.  “Benji, I’m sorry I scared you. I was afraid huge  hawks would swoop down and grab you.”  Then very gently Jamie coaxed, “Come on.  It’s OK.  Come on down.  I love you.  It’s OK, Benji.” 

Jamie waited, not moving a muscle.  Along with her scare, a breeze came up to give her goose bumps.  At last when Benjamin saw a smaller log across the rafters he climbed over to it and began to swing back and forth by his tail.  His Mother had told him stories about the Rainforest when she had fun in jungle trees.  Now he had no idea where she went after she left the Fine Medical School Lab.  He missed her on dreary dark nights, especially during heavy thunderstorms. 

Jamie was like a new Mother, always giving her monkey attention and care.  Finally, he started to chirp and grin.  Sitting beneath Benji, Jamie smiled, heaved a sigh of relief and tapped her fingers on the logs.  She sat still, waiting so long that when she got up her legs were numb.  Wiggling her feet and knees she leaned against the logs on the corner of the porch to wait for Benji to come back to her.