Mang Gala Upas-The story of fasting monkeys

This is the story that Amma told us. Actually this she said was a
lesson or a poem in her school curriculum I don't remember what but we
enjoyed it every time it was told, like my 2 do now. I have improvised
adding my own details and updating it to the expectations of my kids'
likes and dislikes. I hope you kids like it too!!

Once Mamma Monkey told her 3 kids, Eldest, Middle and the naughtiest,
Youngest monkey, "Today is Kartik Ekadashi, a very auspicious day so I
want the three of you to fast."
Youngest immediately asked, "Mamma what is fasting?
"You should not eat anything, baby." Mamma replied.
"Yes," They said," now we can play!"

Out went the monkeys. They jumped from tree to tree, branch to branch
and at 1pm, lunch time, found themselves near an orchard which had all
kinds of fruit. Apples, bananas, oranges, chickoo, strawberry, and
watermelon… you name it and the fruit was there.

They were also feeling very hungry!!!

Youngest, drooled at the sight of the fruits. He wanted to eat but
how? Mamma has said "no eating!" What a big problem! How do you ignore
a growling tummy?

So he just sat staring at the fruits wishing he could eat them. The
Middle joined him.
The Eldest had an eye on Youngest and knew that trouble was brewing,
even he could hear his tummy growling but he had to set an example to
his brothers so no eating. He also sat staring at the fruit wondering
how they were going to spend the rest of the day without food!!

Youngest suddenly suggested," lets sit on the fencing of the garden."

Immediately Eldest said,"Hey Mamma has said no eating."

Middle said,"Yes 'yes!! No eating".

"But', objected Youngest, "we are just sitting on the fencing for
afterwards. Who said that we eat?"

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! Where are we eating? We will just be sitting."

Eldest said,"Okay since both of you say so we will sit on the fence."

So the monkeys sat on the fencing!!

After some time slowly Youngest stretched his hand in the direction of
bunch of bananas. He wanted to eat but how? Mamma has said "no
eating!" What a big problem! How do you ignore a growling tummy?

Immediately Eldest said,"Hey Mamma has said no eating."

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! No eating".

"But', objected Youngest, "I am just touching them for afterwards. Who
said that we eat?"

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! Where are we eating? We will just be touching."

Eldest said, "Okay since both of you say so, we will just touch them."

So the monkeys sat touching all the fruits!!

After sometime slowly Youngest stretched his hand in the direction of
bunch of bananas. He wanted to eat but how? Mamma has said "no
eating!" What a big problem! How do you ignore a growling tummy? He
plucked one banana.

Immediately Eldest said,"Hey Mamma has said no eating."

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! No eating".

"But', objected Youngest, "I am just plucking them to eat afterwards.
Who said that we eat now?"

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! Where are we eating? We will just be plucking."

Eldest said, "Okay since both of you say so, we will just pluck them."

So the monkeys plucked the bananas to eat afterwards!!

After sometime slowly Youngest stretched his hand and peeled the
bananas. He wanted to eat but how? Mamma has said "no eating!" What a
big problem! How do you ignore a growling tummy?

Immediately Eldest said,"Hey Mamma has said no eating."

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! No eating".

"But', objected Youngest, "I am just peeling to eat afterwards. Who
said that we eat now?"

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! Where are we eating? We will just be peel."

Eldest said, "Okay since both of you say so, we will just peel them."

So the monkeys peeled the bananas to eat afterwards!!

After sometime slowly Youngest stretched his hand and placed the
banana in his mouth. He wanted to eat but how? Mamma has said "no
eating!" What a big problem! How do you ignore a growling tummy?

Immediately Eldest said,"Hey Mamma has said no eating."

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! No eating".

"But', objected Youngest, "I am just putting it in my mouth to eat
afterwards. Who said that we eat now?"

Middle said, "Yes 'yes!! Where are we eating? We will just be putting
it in the mouth."

Eldest said, "Okay since both of you say so, we will just put them in
the mouth."