Other stories
The sun rises above the Amazon rainforest and the huge, evergreen trees allow rays of light to pass between their leaves and paint the forest floor in dappled shadows. In one of the taller trees, little monkey Dora is waking up. Dora is a pretty little monkey with brown hair and a long tail. She wishes that she could sleep some more, but there is no time to lose. Today is the day of the big party.
Monkeys will come from far and wide to attend the party, even from neighbouring countries such as Peru and Bolivia. The big party, held in the Brazilian part of the Amazon Rainforest, is always a very big success. There is music and dancing, and often a monkey will find a mate and fall in love.
Dora is very excited because this year she has been asked to help the older monkeys of the community with the organizing of the party. This is a very great responsibility and there is no time to lose.
Dora arrives at the meeting early and is very pleased to see her friend Tinga. Tinga is an indigenous name meaning ‘of white colour’. This is the perfect name for Dora’s friend as he has white hair and green eyes. Tinga is a very rare and shy monkey, but when he sees Dora his eyes light up with joy.
The other monkeys often laugh at Tinga’s strange white hair and green eyes, but Dora does not like such jokes. She thinks that her friend is very handsome, even though her heart belongs to another monkey called Paco. Paco is a big, strong monkey with thick, black hair who lives in the forest on the very edge of Bolivia.
Dora first met Paco at the big party the previous year. They danced together only once but Dora knew then that her heart belonged to him. She also remembers that Paco was arrogant, and that he did not pay her very much attention. He had said that Dora was too young, and that she was always lost in her own fantasy world.
Despite all of this, Dora is looking forward to seeing Paco again, and such thoughts make her even more excited about the party.
Chief Ubirajara, a very big and very brave monkey, calls the meeting to order and begins to hand out tasks to the assembled monkeys. Eventually it is Dora’s turn to be given her special task for the day, but the little monkey is so lost in her own thoughts that she does not hear Chief Ubirajara’s instructions.
‘…Dora! Dora! Have you been listening to a word I have said to you? You are always lost in your fantasy world, even today when there is so much work to be done.’
Dora is startled and stammers her reply. ‘I… I am very sorry, Chief Ubirajara. Could you please repeat what it is you would like me to do today.’
Chief Ubirajara is a little impatient with young Dora but he understands that she is still young and that she is also very excited about the party.
‘You must find for us the most beautiful and delicious cupuaçu and açai berries and the finest Brazil nuts for our feast tonight.’
Chief Ubirajara claps his hands and smiles at the eager faces gathered in the forest clearing. ‘Now that everyone knows what to do, let’s get to work!’
And so the monkeys part company, each one determined to fulfil their task in preparation for the big party.
Dora very much likes the idea of being in charge of finding the food for the feast. She loves to explore the forest, jumping from branch to branch between the tall trees. She also loves to look at the beautiful plants and rich wildlife that fill her beloved forest.
‘I am the best person to chose for a job such as this,’ thinks Dora, as she sets off on her journey, determined to climb the tallest trees in order to find the most purple açais and sweetest cupuaçus.
After many hours of hard work, Dora’s bag is filled with a rich bounty of fruits and nuts. She thinks how proud Chief Ubirajara will be when he sees what a good job she has done. This thought makes the little monkey very happy as she hoists the bag onto her shoulders and heads for home.
When Dora is halfway home, her thoughts are interrupted by a strange sound in the forest. She looks all about her but
