Long ago, on the beautiful island of Roti in East Nusa Tenggara, there lived a kind grandmother and her cheerful little granddaughter. They lived a simple life in a small house made of woven palm leaves, surrounded by green hills and golden fields.
Each day, they worked together in their vegetable garden. The grandmother would bring their harvest to the village market, while the granddaughter helped with chores at home. They didn’t have much, but they loved and cared for each other deeply.
One bright morning, as birds chirped in the trees and the sun peeked over the hills, the grandmother prepared to leave for the market.
Before going, she reminded her granddaughter,
“Please cook some rice for our lunch, my dear. But remember, only use one grain of rice. That’s all we need.”
The girl blinked in surprise. “Just one grain, Grandma? That can’t be enough for both of us.”
The grandmother smiled gently. “Just trust me. Do as I say.”
Then she walked down the path to the market with a woven basket on her head.
Left alone, the girl stared at the small bowl of rice and frowned. “Only one grain? But I’m really hungry… Grandma will be hungry too.”
Ignoring her grandmother’s instructions, the girl scooped up two full handfuls of rice and put them into the pot. She added water and placed it over the fire.
At first, everything seemed fine. But soon, steam started hissing from the pot. Then came bubbling sounds… and suddenly, the rice began to grow!
“Oh no!” she gasped.
The rice swelled, spilled over the pot, and poured onto the floor. In moments, the kitchen was flooded with warm, sticky rice porridge. It flowed like a river, rising up the walls and spilling into every corner.
When the grandmother returned from the market and saw the mess, she was shocked and furious.
“What have you done?” she cried.
“I told you to cook just one grain!”
“I’m sorry, Grandma!” the girl sobbed. “I thought it wouldn’t be enough!”
But the grandmother, blinded by anger, picked up a wooden stick and scolded the girl harshly.
She struck her once, twice—
The little girl cried and pleaded, but the grandmother’s rage had taken over.
Then… something strange happened.
The girl’s body began to change—
Her hands and feet shrank and turned dark, her face grew small and furry, and a long tail appeared behind her. She had turned into a monkey!
The monkey let out a soft cry and quickly climbed a nearby tree. The grandmother dropped the stick in shock.
From the branches above, the monkey spoke with a trembling voice,
“Grandmother… I’m no longer your granddaughter. I’m a monkey now. I cannot live with you anymore.”
“Please forgive me!” the grandmother cried. Tears streamed down her face. “I didn’t mean to hurt you… come back to me!”
But it was too late.
The monkey gave her one last, sorrowful look… and disappeared into the forest canopy, never to return.
From that day on, the grandmother lived in deep sorrow, always missing the girl she had once loved so dearly.
And so, the people of Roti Island tell this story to their children.
They believe that no child should be hit, not even in anger—because who knows? That child might turn into a monkey and vanish forever.🌴
The moral message of the story is:
"Listen with trust, and guide with love."
More specifically, the story teaches:
🌾 Obedience and Trust — The granddaughter was asked to follow a simple instruction, but her doubt and impatience led to unexpected consequences. It reminds us that sometimes, elders may know more than we realize, and trust is an important value in a relationship.
💔 Control Anger with Compassion — The grandmother’s harsh reaction caused her to lose someone she loved. The story teaches us that anger, especially when uncontrolled, can damage relationships permanently. It's a powerful reminder to discipline with kindness and patience.
🧒🐒 Respect for Children — The folklore also highlights a cultural belief in Roti Island about treating children with care and respect, avoiding physical punishment. It's a gentle way to remind people not to act out of rage, especially toward the young and innocent.
🌿 Regret and Forgiveness — Once something is done in anger, it cannot always be undone. This story also carries a message about the importance of thinking before acting and the pain that can come from unkind choices.
