The Great Simian Stand-Off

Lessons from the Laughter

As the shadows lengthened and the sky turned a deep, bruised purple, the two friends finally slipped back into the familiar territory of their home forest. The giant leaves of the banana trees brushed against their shoulders like old friends welcoming them back.

They found a comfortable clearing beneath a massive canopy, far away from the dangers of the high peaks. Silas immediately went to work gathering standard, completely non-magical fruit, tossing a large yellow bundle into Barnaby’s lap.

“To a successful expedition,” Silas said proudly, taking a huge bite out of his own breakfast.

“To never going up there again,” Barnaby corrected, peeling his fruit with practiced ease.

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, watching the fireflies begin to spark in the deepening twilight. The terrifying chase, the cliffside confrontation, and the ridiculous faces they had pulled already felt like a distant dream.

Barnaby looked over at Silas, who had a bit of fruit mush stuck to his chin. Without warning, Barnaby flashed his upper gums again, mimicking the face from the cliff.

Silas choked on his food, spraying a mouthful of fruit across the grass as he burst into another fit of roaring laughter.

“Don’t start again!” Silas wheezed, covering his face. “My stomach can’t take any more.”

“Just making sure you remember the technique,” Barnaby grinned, finally relaxing completely into the safety of the night. “You never know when we might need to scare off another monster with the power of being completely ridiculous.”