Loving life in the nighttime dream of a maturing brown capuchin, Gabriel surveyed the treetops as young, alluring females emerged. He had already scented himself for attraction and now grinned submissively for possible courtship. Like his father—the one who had fought for Gabriel’s mother and now kept them safe—he hoped to become a dominant male to one day protect his own troop. His mother barked behind him and shook his shoulders.
“Wake up! Gabriel! We’re in danger!”
Gabriel tossed his arms and turned his body. His tail remained curled around a branch. Not now, he thought inside his evanescing dream. Ritually, his mother poked him in the eyes.
“Wah wah wah,” his father sounded.
Andrea hissed. “I say we move out.”
Luis adjusted his perch. “The others went to see. Let’s wait for them.”
“We’re in danger,” Andrea insisted.
Gabriel rubbed his sensitive eyes and bit a finger. Booming fire-clouds erupted below.
Luis scratched his head. “I’ve seen this before. People are fighting each other.”
“We should go,” Andrea said. “The others can find us. I’ll trill through the forest.”
“We’re far enough away. If this gets any closer, then—yes. We’ll save ourselves.”
Andrea bared her teeth. “People are unpredictable. Anything can happen.”
“We can manage—for now. If we leave, let’s go as a troop, or not at all.”
Gabriel perched beside his parents on a thick branch that allowed for a full view of the incredible human civilization below. Architectural artists made a cityscape vibrant with superintelligent life.
Lines of fire intensified the darkness and disappeared with bright thunder.
The primate family watched, waited, and wondered. How long? How long? How long?
The returning capuchins filled leaf-cups with water from the tree hole and passed the drinks around. After everyone had a swallow, Leonardo said, “We think it’s over.”
Luis waved for more information.
Leonardo’s rare twin, Ernesto, straightened himself. “People hurt people, back and forth. That’s what we witnessed.”
“And they’re the smartest living things,” Leonardo added. “I don’t understand them.”
“If magnificent people hurt each other,” Andrea interjected, “how are we safe here?”
Gabriel tilted his head. “I wish we could sleep—I do—but that’s become impossible.”
“Tell us what you think,” Andrea said to her son. “Should we stay or go?”
Gabriel counted eleven faces eager for his response. He cleared his throat. “I’m trying to imagine what it’s like to be human, what they might be thinking.”
Andrea flattened her ears and raised her tail. “Do you want to live around people?”
Virginia, Daniela and Katherin all clasped their hands. Emily started drumming on Patricia’s back. The lovely Lucero smiled. Michel perched quietly with his leaf-cup in one hand and a stone tool in the other. All capuchins—including Gabriel’s dominant father—listened.
“You have to be human to really understand what’s happening.” Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “I say we travel as far away from people as possible. If they kill each other—ever—we won’t be safe around them.”
Luis and Andrea nodded.
Virginia, Daniela and Katherin looked around and together agreed with Gabriel.
Patricia now drummed Emily’s back. Both appeared to be forgetting their concerns.
Lucero had taken the stone from Michel’s hand. Their courtship would commence.
Luis raised his leaf-cup and invited all capuchins to follow.
Andrea offered the toast. “We protect our troop. Let’s get moving.”
They all drank, and Gabriel kept thinking:
…imagine all people—living well—without weapons—how that might work…
I appreciate your interest. Please feel free to share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.
Nicely done, John! A fine, delicate line you wove, showing the frazzled human condition through monkeys' eyes without blaming or naming. Excellent work. Thank you!
I really like how this turned out. The final line alludes to Lennon in a clever way too. I had fun clicking on the hyperlinks and learning more about these monkeys.