Kiki the Tiger Monkey Part two

“Kiki, this is Geryon and Hazis, King Flinchkin’s youngest nephews,” announced the owl, one frosty morning.  "As you can see they are twins, but each has quite different traits and personalities. Geryon is shy whilst Hazis can be a little rambunctious at times. Flinchkin has asked me to tutor them in speaking different languages so I have decided to include them in our lessons.”

“That sounds like a great idea, Mr Owl,” responded Kiki.

“Geryon this is Kiki, youngest son of Seechan and Vliddlevark.”

“Hi…Kiki,” muttered Geryon timidly.

“How’s it going!” replied Kiki extending his hand in friendship but Geryon stepped back a few paces and stared down at his own feet.

“Kiki, this is Hazis.”

“You’re from the scraggly trees ain’t ya,” gibed Hazis.

“Yes...nice to meet you Hazis.”

“Uncle Flinchkin says I shouldn’t shake your hand else I might get scraggle-di-tus.”

“What’s scraggleditus?”

“It comes from touching something that has lived in all the filth you get in scraggly branches.”

“That’s enough Hazis!” growled the owl “If you can’t say something nice then you shouldn’t say anything at all. Now apologize and greet Kiki properly.”

Hazis folded his arms and protruded his bottom lip (pouting defiantly), until threatened with a timeout from the owl. He muttered something under his breathe and reluctantly shook hands with Kiki, who was not in the habit of holding grudges.

The owl told Kiki to help Geryon and Hazis with their studies and over the course of several sessions the twins slowly started getting used to grasping languages other than that of Spider Monkey. Throughout the day there would be certain breaks for lunch, snacks or a bit of free-time, if the trio had behaved and proved themselves worthy. During these breaks, Kiki would take Geryon with him to aid in “greeting duties” for practice but Hazis would stay behind and feast on nuts and seasonal fruit.

“Eight hours a day is more than enough time to waste studying,” Hazis would say “you guys go without me. It’ll just mean more nuts and fruit for me.”

“I do wish you would join us, Hazis.” Kiki had often encouraged “You wouldn’t have to do any greeting, just be there to keep us company.”

“Two’s company,   three’s a crowd. I’ll be right here on my own…honest.”

One day Geryon woke up with an awful cold and had to stay home, which gave Kiki the chance to spend a little one on one quality time with Hazis. After much pleading and promises of sharing his lunch with him Kiki convinced Hazis to accompany him to the Greeting Place.

“It gets lonely out there all by lonesome, Hazis,” said Kiki “And it is always good to have someone nearby in case there is any trouble. You are a much faster runner and may I say a much stronger monkey than I am.”

“Oh, okay then…just this once and only because my stupid brother is not here to hold your hand. Don’t start thinking I am going to this on a regular basis.”

“Thank you, Hazis. I really appreciated it and I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time there.”

“Yeah, like whatever.”

The mid afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of palms and ferns as Kiki guided an unenthusiastic Hazis along the windy track that led toward the south-western boarder of the Spider Monkey Realm. They came at last to a sizeable clearing where Kiki pointed toward a pile of large rocks that had been deposited when the edge of a nearby bank had slipped away.

“This is my podium,” affirmed Kiki proudly “Upon which I do my greetings.”

“Is that right,” responded Hazis in a disinterested tone, then yawned.

“So far I have greeted over two thousand creatures. That must be some sort of record, I’m sure.”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“Would you like to have a go? At greeting, that is.”

“Do I have to?”

“Of course not…I just thought you might like to join in the fun. You get to meet a lot of new friends. It’s amazing how much a smile and a wave can perk up a weary traveller.”

“Not everyone likes to be harassed when they are worn out. I know I wouldn’t.”

“Just give it a try. Mr. Owl often says that <I>“the only way to experience experience is to experience it.”</I> In other words don’t knock what you haven’t tried.”

“Fine, whatever, if it’ll shut you up.”

“You won’t regret it…trust me Hazis.”

Kiki smiled gently then ran and leaped up on top of the rock-pile podium, then reached down, seized Hazis’ left wrist and hauled him up. They sat side by side in silence, scanning their surrounds and enjoying a cooling breeze that cascaded through their fur. Screeching birds sounded in the far distance and straining his ears Kiki could hear the sound of the babbling river.  All around was the constant shrill of cicadas.

“So where are all these visitors of yours?” grumbled Hazis after a few moments of in activity.

“Patience, Hazis. Some days there are little or no visitors, other days there are plenty. It varies.”

“You never told me about that before...so what happens if no one shows up?”

“Not much anyone can do about that. We can’t make creatures visit. It’s really just a matter of being at the right place at the right time. A sort of fools luck for want of a better expression.”

“And what do you do whilst you wait?”

“Just sit here and watch the world go by…think, rest my eyes sometimes. It gives one the chance to find some inner peace.”

“We shouldn’t really stay here too long you know. Owl will be angry if we are late back from lunch you know.”

“He knows you’re with me and in good hands and he knows that I never out stay my rest period…have you ever known me to be late back?”

“No….but I suppose there is always a first time for everything and…”

Hazis sentence was abruptly cut short as something rustled in the bushed to the east of them.

“Our first customer!” announced Kiki “I’ll welcome this one, so you can get the idea…that’s if you don’t mind.”

“Be my guest.”

The rustling became louder and with it came the snapping of braches and the sound of a rapid footfall. Kiki could hear laboured panting as the noises approached toward them. Seconds later something broke through the brambles and came charging toward them.

“Help me!” cried the creature.

Kiki recognised it immediately to be that of a squirrel monkey; terrified and wounded and running for its very life.
To be continued