“The Chef & The Monkey”

Each day since the shipwreck the cruise ship chef found mysterious coconuts, tropical fruit, and large palm tree leaves filled with fresh water. Without them the chef would have died regaining consciousness and mobility after almost drowning. The cruise ship had capsized after a fatal storm at sea! The chef had recollection of nothing but screams and water followed by awaking on the beach. After regaining strength from another discovered delivery the chef decided to explore the island and look for other survivors assuming that’s what they’d be doing too and who’d left the items.

The chef walked carefully around the entire island’s beach not wanting to venture too far inward afraid of the rumored cannibalism and savage natives supposedly in the tropical area. At night there were even strange noises that caused the chef to awake and hide! As the sun set the chef heard the strange screaming and chattering again and hid in some shrubs near the beach. Rather than native cannibals the chef feared may be there too instead there was a small pack of monkeys. The chef noticed one monkey was apart from the group and seemed to be the one taking the brunt of any abuse. The chef felt bad for the monkey and noticed it was often left behind and looking even closer that it was crippled or injured. The monkeys continued their rough playing and fighting then finally moved on. That’s when the chef saw that last injured or crippled monkey stay behind and prepare another delivery, The chef wept while watching the monkey struggle to complete the task and try to catch back up with the pack. That’s when the chef pledged to be more resourceful and that would be a promise more easily fulfilled with items that the chef had found washed up along the shoreline from the cruise ship after the earlier walk!

That was the first night the chef would have a fire! The chef had even found some cooking items and other foods on the beach! The chef hoped that first fire would attract passing ships simultaneously hoping that it didn’t also draw any cannibals too or worse… instead. That’s when the chef heard a horrific screeching and saw that monkey laying just a bit further down the beach. It had been half beaten to death by the other monkeys! The monkey was crawling along the beach and the chef rushed to it. The monkey took one pitiful glance then lost consciousness. The chef realized the monkey had been hurt trying to be protective.

The chef picked up the monkey and began to care for it. The chef started nursing the monkey back to health and even helped scare off the other now curious monkeys with fire on a stick while trying to stop them from hurting it further and stealing the supplies discovered earlier. The next morning the monkey seemed to be improving. Although afraid of the chef the monkey saw the attempts at help the chef was returning. The chef noticed the monkey start struggling to get more fresh water and although it was heartbreaking to watch followed it to find what was small cluster of fresh water spots. The chef carried the monkey back along with another palm leaf full of water. The chef fed the monkey some of the canned cruise ship food and they both fell asleep on the beach.

The next morning they both awoke very ill. The chef was barely able to move and the monkey was the worst off of the two seemingly paralyzed. The canned food had been bad. The fire was still going though. The chef slept all day and that night then awoke to a group of sailors. The monkey was dead. However, other sailors said they had discovered the uncharted island because of the sickly monkey who’d waved the same stick the chef had used to defend it around as they were passing. The chef was saved and would never forget the monkey that was also a life saving best friend…