Winsley the Two-headed Monkey

Chapter 4: Winsley goes to school



Marigold, Ella and Winsley were sleeping in their nest among a tree. Winsley was the first to wake rubbing his blurry eyes. He looks around seeing all of his new friends still nestled in their beds. He was always the first awake, and last to bed. He enjoyed his life, eating and playing with his new friends.

His ears twitched as he heard voices from the hall. He ran over to the clear barrier. It was Greta, he recognized this voice. She was saying his name, a name that he had become familiar with over the years. He sat and watched her talk to another person he was unfamiliar with. Each time his name was spoken his ear twitched again.


“Is it time already?” Greta asked another woman in a lab coat.

“Yes, Winsley has finally come of age to start learning on our computer programs. We are deciding to start him a few weeks younger to help him adapt faster to the new program. We plan on learning a lot from him, and hopefully he will learn from us as well.”

“Wasn’t Marigold top in her class?” Greta asked the stranger.

“She was, which is why we have been so eager to get Winsley into our program. We expect that she has already started teaching him. So we want to study how their language transfers through the mother to the child. Its an exciting time that is for sure.” The woman in the lab coat flicked her long black hair behind her shoulder and smiled at Greta.

“When are you planning to start him in his schooling?” Greta asked. “As you know he has a friend who might be curious about how the education system works for them. Do you know if he will be allowed to join and watch? .”

“Well… normally we don’t have outside distractions for a few weeks while they learn the program. But I suppose if he does really well we can reward him with a visitor, we could start with his mother as a distraction, so he can watch her. As children tend to learn a lot from their parents.”

Greta nodded her head. “Makes sense, I suppose I will pass a note to the admin so the little boy will understand why his friend will be unavailable for a few weeks. After all we don’t need him worrying.”

With that Greta walked away, and the woman in the lab coat with long black hair glanced at the plastic barrier, her eyes meeting Winsley. She smiled and gave a gentle wave.

Winsley jumped at the new encounter, and quickly ran back to his nest and hid behind his mother who was still fast asleep holding little Ella in her arms. He cautiously peeked out from behind her and noticed the lady in the lab coat was gone.

Winsley was pretty smart, but he had heard a word he had never heard before “School”. What is this school, and why was his name included? He couldn’t help but wonder what it meant. It was almost time for breakfast! This made him forget all about what had happened. As his tummy rumbled from hunger.

Two men came in with a huge box, inside this box was a large amount of bananas and other fruits. Winsley and the other monkeys would dance around the feeder’s feet until they set this box down. It was almost a ritual every morning; two men come in carrying a box. Two men would leave the box, and the Elder Monkeys would have first pick and then the rest of the food was distributed.

This happened several times a day, and it was always a lot of fun. Sometimes he would get his favorite. Other times he would get Papaya, or Mango, but like all the other Monkeys his favorite was the Banana.

After he ate, he went and played with the other Monkeys, who accepted him into their group. Often he would go from one group to another, because now he had so many friends. They all wanted to play with him. Often he would lose track of time, playing with the other Monkeys, that it would seem like he had just eaten. Even though his tummy would always rumble when the next batch of food was delivered.

It was a weekend, so the visitors didn’t come and they spent most of their time jumping from tree to tree. While the barriers remained up, and they would come up with many games that also included drawing on the ground with sticks, and throwing rocks.

Some of the older Monkeys would hold onto their meal, and put it in a pile and throw a handful of rocks on it that would allow other monkeys to take their food. It was an interesting habit. But Winsley saw no reason to give up his delicious meal because sticks and rocks told him to.
Time had passed, which seemed like a blink of an eye. The sun was already going down. Last meal had been served for the day. He was tired, but not at the same time. He wanted to keep playing with his friends, but they had all returned to their families and their nest. Curling up in their beds and preparing for the Monday’s visitors with a full night’s sleep.

Winsley laid in his bed, and turned his attention to his sister. Who was chasing her tail, and spinning around until she fell over. Then drew lines in the dirt, and spun around again. He yawned watching her spin around, bored by this attempt of amusement. So he watched his mother, who sat there. Extending her hand to help Ella up every time she fell over. This too didn’t interest Winsley that much. So he laid back, looking at the trees letting his mind think about all the playing, and fun he had that day.

Winsley’s eyes widened as thoughts of the two humans talking outside his cage in the early morning hours. He jumped up, remembering that they kept talking about him. He ran over to his mother, and pulled on her extended arm meant for Ella, who laid there on the dirt confused watching her brother.

Marigold turned her attention to Winsley, who began to gesture with his hands. “Humans… talk… school.. Winsley” he signed to his mother. Who pulled her hand away, to gesture back. “Its okay, school fun… many yummy treats” Marigold rubbed her tummy, and pretended to put food in her mouth. She then pointed at Winsley, and then her head. “You.. learn”

Winsley was still very confused, why would they take him away and give him treats? Learn? What does he need to learn? He talks to others, he knows his family, he has human friend who gives him cold treats. Why must he leave? This made him both very scared and excited at the same time. Treats? Lots? So much fruit? He imagined rolling around in a bunch of bananas, and apples. Throwing them in the air, and endless supply.

Marigold turned her attention to Ella who was still laying in the dirt and offered a hand to help her up. Ella took her mothers hand and stood to her feet. Upon doing so, she closed her fist and bopped Winsley on the head. Knocking him out of his day dream. He jumped a bit startled.

Ella gestured with her hands, “You learn, you get treats.” She then chattered towards her brother.

Winsley began to understand, but he was still confused on how he was to learn from humans. So he pondered and walked towards the nest, and laid back in his bed. He thought to himself, that his version of school would be better. Lots of treats and fun. Maybe learn a new game? His mind kept him up as he thought about all the possibilities. Would there be others with him? Was it that long haired woman who would be teaching him.

Ella and Marigold managed to curl up and fall asleep completely unnoticed by Winsley who was deep in thought. His heart was racing, there was no way he could sleep. He laid in the quiet exhibit tossing and turning trying to fall asleep. But no matter what he did, he could not fall asleep.

Hours passed by, very slowly to Winsley. Still worrying about this school that he was to learn. He had so many questions, but no real answers. Morning had finally come, Winsley had been asleep for what appeared to me a few moments. Before the lady with the long hair was standing over him.

“There you are Winsley, come with me” she patted her shoulder. Gesturing to the tired monkey. Who without even thinking closed his eyes again, only feeling his body lift into the air as he is held. The motions of the human walk, and then being placed on a soft warm pillow. He stayed asleep.

“Looks like you are going to be an afternoon student, she whispered to the sleeping monkey.” as the lady with long hair turned and left the room, letting him sleep in peace.

Winsley stirred gently in his sleep, his thoughts still on his new school.. What it was like, then he realized he was asleep.. As quickly as his mind made the connection he jumped from his bed with a huge burst of energy he only then realized he was in a white room. With a large window, and a weird box with a tray. The room was very lit, and he was alone in the room. He climbed down off of the pillow, and began to examine the big block in front of him. At first he touched the stand, nothing happened.

He then touched the white parts, again nothing happened. He looked at the tray, tilting his head as he goes to sniff it his hand hits the black part of the screen and it makes a noise. This startles him, and he jumps.

The door opens and the woman in the lab coat with black hair enters the room. She brings her hands to her chest, and signals Hello. She approaches Winsley slowly, and sits down next to him. She gestures to Winsley once again. “I am Raina, I am going to teach you”

Winsley stands there and blinks, very confused at the new Gestures, He tries to copy her but fails. “Winsley, I am Raina.. I am going to teach you. You learn.” she speaks and gestures at the same time. She points at the screen, and pressed on it. Then a noise in the tray appears. Which she reaches for and then takes the treat out and eats one.

“You try it Winsley” she rubs her tummy.

Winsley watches her closely, she eats a treat. Where was his?

Raina points at the screen this time taking his hand in hers, she gently pushes it against the screen. Treats once again fall into the tray. Winsley is started and pulls his hand away from her. Then to one of the treats in the tray. He takes one and eats it.

“Very good Winsley!” Raina said encouragingly. “Can you do that again?” She points at the screen, taking his hand in hers, and gently touches the screen. Again more treats pop out.

This time Winsley uses his other hand to get the treats, still watching Raina over the screen. So she reaches for his hand again, making him touch the flat surface of a screen. Ejecting more treats into the tray. “Isn’t that easy?”

He then looks at the screen, Raising his hand to it, he presses the screen. More treats fall into the tray. He starts to understand. The more he pushes the screen the more he gets treats. After enjoying a nice handful of treats, the human sitting next to him smiles.

“Alright, now we will teach you Banana.. Find the Banana.” Two images appear on the screen. One is yellow and and long. The other is orange and round. Winsley eyes the color shapes realizing that he loves Banana. He presses the button, and more treats fall into the tray.

“Winsley, what color is banana” The shapes on the screen turn into a solid block of two different colors. One is yellow, and the other is Red. “Banana, color”

Winsley takes a few moments, looking at the colors. He is confused, neither look like a banana. What is color? Banana has two… his eyes widen and he reaches up and selects the yellow block.

“Yes, Winsley Banana is yellow!” she writes something down on a note pad. “Very good Winsley!” Raina smiles, “You are so smart!” she gently pets Winsley’s shoulder giving him praise.

The lesions continue, as he begins to learn his colors. Occasionally when he presses a button no treats fall out. Which helps him realize that the answer was wrong, he works with Raina for several hours. Then Raina stands to her feet, “Alright Winsley its time to go home. I am sure your family misses you!” She gestures family to winsley, and then taps her shoulder for him to climb.

Winsley not ready to leave yet wanting more treats, keeps pressing on the screen but no matter where he presses nothing happens. “Aww.. honey its off, its always good you want to do more. You can come back tomorrow” she speaks softly towards Winsley. “I am glad you had so much fun!” she wiggles a hand, revealing she was holding onto a treat.

Winsley notices the gesture and climbs up onto her shoulder, eyeing the treat. Before its placed within his range to eat.

The two of them leave the room, and head back to his exhibit. Where his mother, and sister eagerly wait for him to return. Winsley super excited jumps off of her the minute the door is open and runs over to his mom and sister. Raina closes the door and watches from the plastic barrier their interaction. She smiles seeing them chatter, and communicate, with new words and shapes.



Morale: Schools can teach you many things, even if your nervous you will be rewarded in many ways. As you learn to express yourself, try new things, and be better able to understand the world around you. Never stop learning, and you will get a infinite amount of rewards.