Banners on the Windy Cliff
High on the cliff of Lanka, bright banners fluttered in the salty wind. Flap, flap went the red cloth. Little King Rama stood by his cozy tent and looked out. Across the wide, glittering blue ocean sat a sparkling city of shining stones. In the golden garden far away, sweet Queen Tara waited for her friends. King Rama wanted to reach her and bring her home. Beside him, many little monkey friends sat together. They rubbed their sleepy eyes. The ocean looked very big, and the waves went swish, wash, swish. How could little monkeys cross such deep water? Rama smiled with a warm, brave face. He straightened his tiny golden crown and tapped his soft chest. He believed they could do something special together. His monkey friends leaned in close to listen. Rama looked down at the swirling blue water.
A Great Big Jump
King Rama wiggled his toes on the warm cliff grass. He wanted to leap across the big blue sea. One, two, three, and hop! Rama jumped high into the breezy air. His little red cape fluttered behind him. But the ocean was much too wide for one jump. Splash! Rama landed gently in the shallow shore water. The cool water tickled his soft furry tummy. His friends gasped, then let out soft chuckles. Rama laughed too, shaking his wet paws. He climbed back onto the sunny sand. Jumping alone would not work today. The monkey army gathered around their kind king. They sat in a neat circle and scratched their furry chins. They needed a better idea to reach the jeweled city. Rama patted his friends softly on their heads. Little Nila picked up a smooth round stone.
Stones in the Sea
Little Nila held the round gray stone high. "We can build a bridge!" Nila squeaked happily. All the monkey friends clapped their furry hands. King Rama smiled and rolled a big stone to the water's edge. Plop went the first rock into the gentle waves. Plop went another! Every little monkey helped. Big monkeys rolled heavy boulders. Tiny monkeys carried small smooth pebbles. Tap, tap, tap went their busy paws. Together, they made a long path of stepping stones across the ocean. The floating stones bobbed gently in the bright blue water. King Rama walked carefully along the new path. Step, step, step went his little feet. The monkey army cheered from behind him. They had worked as one big, loving team. The ocean did not seem too big anymore. The last stone settled into place with a happy click.
