Did You Say Something?

Once upon a time there was this cute, very little monkey named Nod. Nod spend most of his time in the trees, swinging and eating bananas like most monkeys do. But then again, Nod was definitely not like most monkeys. Nod was special.

Nod didn't quite fit in with the other monkeys his age. But Nod didn't seem to mind. He liked to be unique. But at the same time, if truth be told, he was much smaller than the other monkeys. They didn't really intend to run over him or just ignore him, but it happened.

Nod enjoyed daydreaming. He would get totally lost in his thoughts about someday becoming a little human boy. He'd often seen little boys when they would come to visit with their parents. He wanted to play with them. They would point at him and smile and giggle. He could hear them making conversations with their families. They often said that the monkeys were their favorites and this made Nod very happy.

Nod would make every opportunity to get as close to the boys as possible and make them laugh. He tried so hard to ask them to take him home with them. They didn't seem to understand his words, though. "Maybe," he thought, "if I could just learn to speak like them..."

Now, at the same exact time, on the other side of town, there lived a small boy named Ben. Ben was like Nod in many ways. He didn't have many friends that came to play with him and he spent most of his time looking out of his big, bedroom window at other children playing in his neighborhood. But instead of being sad about his situation, Ben liked to make stories up in his head and draw pictures of those stories.

Ben had been born "different" and unique. His legs didn't work. He was very fragile. He had a special chair that he rode in. He would pretend that he was King Ben when his parents took him out on errands and visits. He would also pretend that his wheelchair was his throne as he was pushed about.

Ben's birthday was coming up and one of his dreams was going to soon be fulfilled. His parents were taking him to the zoo. He could hardly contain the excitement he felt. He loved animals, he wrote stories about them, and his walls were covered in the pictures he had drawn of them. His favorite animals were monkeys, though.

The little boy loved monkeys because they danced in the trees and swung about like acrobats in the air. They could even use their feet to hold bananas and such. Monkeys were delightful to Ben and he wished so hard that he could be a monkey.

Little did Ben know, that only weeks before, his parents had read in the newspaper of a tiny monkey born in the zoo that was having a terrible time adjusting to the other monkeys there. The zoo had placed an advertisement for his adoption. They had contacted the zoo and this little monkey would soon become Ben's playmate. It was going to be a wonderful surprise for him.

The birth day finally came. On the drive to the zoo, Ben noticed a present. He wanted to open it, but his parents told him it would have to wait until after he saw the animals.

At the zoo, Ben and his parents saw pink flamingos, macaws, and many other species of birds. Next they saw the fish, the snakes, the frogs, the turtles. There were hippos, giraffes, and a petting zoo with rabbits and baby goats, which was an amazing experience. But the best was saved for the very last...the monkeys!

And, oh were those rascals happy to see Ben, too! They put on a show for the crowd. Every child was laughing and having the best time. Ben noticed a tiny monkey left standing after the others had settled down. He was still giving everyone a giant smile and waving. It was though he was trying to talk to anybody that would listen.

Ben's mother pulled out the birthday present for him to open. He didn't notice, but his father had slipped off away from them. He did that sometimes to get snacks. He hurriedly opened it. It was clothes, but way too small for him. A cute plaid, blue shirt and short set. He was confused but didn't want to appear ungrateful and couldn't understand why his mother giggled a bit.

Suddenly, his father appeared carrying something that didn't look to be snacks. It was that tiny little monkey! His dad said, "Ben, this is a little fellow they call Nod, and we are going to take him home to be part of our family." Ben's parents burst into the Happy Birthday song and Nod jumped into Ben's arms.

Nod couldn't believe that his dream was coming true! His very own little boy. And Ben dressed him in his new clothes, too. Ben thought to himself that he was the luckiest boy alive.

On the ride home from the zoo, Ben's parents were mesmerized by the constant chatter they heard from those two. They even said to one another that Ben and Nod must have their own language. And surely they did!

Ben spoke to Nod. Nod replied. Nod spoke to Ben and Ben replied. Ben suddenly could speak in Monkey language and Nod could speak in human language. They "heard" each other and it was a perfect translation. All Ben's parents heard was noise and chatter with no translation being possible. But they were happen for them, just the same.

You see, when you hear with your heart, no translation is necessary. You just "get each other!" So, be like Ben and Nod and keep hoping to find that special someone who hears what you have to say and learn to listen with your heart, too...