Shariffa Keshavjee - Momo Makes a Mess

Contents

Momo Has a Bath
Mum Becomes Cross
Momo Hides
Momo Helps Geno	Want to Know More?
Company Profile

Once upon a time in Kenya, there lived a little monkey called Momo, rescued by two children named Geno and Alid.

One Saturday morning, Momo started scratching himself a lot. Children, your monkey has fleas, said Mum. Give him a bath. Give the monkey a bath, grinned Alid. What fun!

Heres a basin, said Geno. She set a karai on the kitchen floor.

Lets see if the waters too hot. Alid tested it with the back of his hand. It was nice and warm.

The children put Momo in slowly. He wriggled and complained, Hoo! Hoo!

They began to rub him gently, but Momo squirmed even harder. Suddenly, he leapt right out of the karai and hid under the table.

Geno and Alid tried to get him, but it was not easy to catch the slippery monkey. Momo sprang up to the sink, spilling dishwater onto the floor. When the spoons clattered into the karai, Momo screeched and climbed up the nearest shelf.

Hoo! Hoo! shrieked Momo, delighted to play a new game.

The children scrambled to catch the wet monkey, but Momo ran up and down gleefully, jumping all over the place. What a noise they all made!

Then Mum came in. Stop this minute! I want that monkey out of the house and in the orphanage. I wish the mechanic would fix the car. Clean up this mess now.

She turned and left the kitchen.

Frightened by Mums voice, Momo sat on Genos shoulder. He pulled at her ear for comfort.

Alid started to mop up the water, while Geno tidied up. Mums really cross, she whispered.

The next day, Mum handed Geno a broom. You two sweep and tidy up the veranda.

I like to sweep, sweep, sweep, sang Geno.

Momo sat on her shoulder as she worked. Suddenly, he jumped off and started to swing about on the veranda ledge. He grabbed Alids small spade and ran.

Come here, you silly thing, shouted Alid. He chased after him. Momo! Where are you? The children looked everywhere.

Geno spotted him hiding in the bushes. There you are, you little rascal!

She tried to grab him, but Momo sprang up and ran along the veranda wall. CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! He knocked over Mums flowerpots and jumped to a spot high up on the wall. The veranda was littered with broken flowerpots and soil.

Mum heard everything. What a mess! My plants are ruined, she complained. Your monkey has to go. Do you know how dangerous this is?

She phoned the orphanage straight away.

Hello? Is this the animal orphanage? I have a baby monkey here that the children rescued and brought home. I want to bring it to you immediately.

Mum frowned as she listened to the voice at the other end of the phone. Then she said, Oh no! We cant bring him until the end of the month? All right, we will wait until the regular keeper is there. But believe me, I will be there exactly at the end of the month! Thank you.

Goody! Momo can be with us for a while, Geno whispered. She picked up pieces of a broken pot.

Now calm, Momo sat on Genos shoulder and then knelt beside her, handing her the pieces one at a time. he cocked his head at her and she cocked hers back. She had a friend!