Story Corner:Why baboon’s behind is bare

Once upon a time, in the magical land of far far away, all animals lived in harmony, under mighty King Lion. Ostriches, squirrels, elephants, all wild animals- big and small were submissive to King Lion. And the birds too. King Lion would in return rule over the land in justice. He would ensure that all animals helped and respected each other. Peace could have prevailed in far far away, if it wasn’t for the naughty baboon. Baboon’s ill-disciplined tricks were no longer funny for the rest of the animals. “I am starting to hate this hairy monkey. I can’t take his lousy tricks and sarcastic laughter,” lamented Elephant. When Baboon found elephant struggling to pick a mango with his trunk, he said he would use his climbing gift to help. While elephant trusted and waited patiently, baboon ate the fruit. He never minded about the fact that elephant was really hungry. Meanwhile, baboon tricked all animals as revenge for mistaking his identity for an ordinary monkey. “My tricks will only stop when you refer to me as baboon, not any ordinary monkey,” Baboon insulted elephant. On different occasions, baboon insulted and made other animals a laughing stock with his tricks. The peak was when baboon tricked the king. “Your majesty, these rocks are about to collapse yet I don’t have enough energy to hold them high,” lamented Baboon. Because he was loyal, King Lion resorted to holding up the rocks, so they couldn’t harm any of his subjects. He didn’t know that the rocks were strong and it was one of baboon’s deceptions. Baboon wanted to hide his recent ill-behavior from Lion by keeping him in one place. Animals came to Lion’s rescue soon, but the king had already fallen to Baboon’s haughty tricks. “We have to do something about Baboon,” the said Squirrel.“I have a suggestion,” responded Elephant. The animals took to elephant’s plan to trick the baboon. Ostrich laid an egg which Snake took up high on a mountain. “My egg, my best egg,” lamented Ostrich. As usual, Baboon quickly pretended to help and so he ascended the mountain. “What a heavy egg snake! Since you have no arms, can I help you carry it,” suggested Baboon. Snake welcomed Baboon’s idea but kept extending the egg to the edge of the mountain. In an instant, Baboon had grabbed the egg but he was stumbling off the mountain. By the time he got down, Baboon’s behind was hairless and he was seriously injured from the fall due to all the rubbing on the ground. All animals jubilated because they had finally tricked baboon. “Any more tricks baboon?” asked King Lion. From then on, every baboon has a bare bottom and he is not tricky anymore. Meanwhile, no animal or human ever mistakes baboons for monkeys because of the bare bottom.