The Special Gift

“Yes, Poko. No, I don’t have anything in my pocket,” I say as one of the younger, more curious chimpanzees nudges my shirt.

It’s been almost two weeks now that I’ve been in Tanzania, exploring the rainforest and helping my parents research the chimps.

“Oh, Cheekie, how can you be so cheerful on this tropical, ugh, Valentine’s Day? Of course, how could a chubby, cute chimp like you care!” I say, mournful as I muse about my dreary Valentine’s Day. How can a holiday of sitting alone in the savanna, because your parents are both in their research offices, with only a hastily scribbled card and chocolate left behind and having only the chimps for company compare to our traditional Maine party? Argg . . . I wish we were having our awesome Valentine’s party with a ton of friends and relatives, lots of chocolate, and special, meaningful cards that took hours to make.

By now I’ve been thinking so many saddening thoughts that I begin to cry a little. When I start to sob in earnest, Cheekie, Poko, and then several others walk over to me, making sweet, sympathetic noises and petting me. Most of the chimps have come over to where I’m sitting, actually all except one, Dobe. Because of his rough and unsocial behavior, the younger ones steer clear of Dobe and even the adults are wary.

So when the big guy comes lumbering over, I am surprised. But when Dobe pushes to the front, cupping something in his calloused hands, and presents me with a torn off chunk of grapefruit, I’m astounded.

“You dear, thank you, Dobe,” I say with more tears shed in gratitude that the unsharing chimp would even give me or his fellow monkeys anything, much less his food.

As I look at the chewed-on, slightly overripe grapefruit, I begin to feel better about my day, which started out so dismally but ended up with the best Valentine’s gift I received. I look at my watch and get up to go as I think of the beautiful cards I will make for my parents.