The topiwalla was exhausted. After a long and hard day walking through the long, winding streets of the village in the heat trying to sell his many beautiful hats to people wherever he went.  He was exhausted and very thirsty.

Fortunately he spotted a group of large mature trees offering some welcome shade and decided to take a rest under its cooling branches.

He took off the large basket of hats from his head and placed it under the tree next to him. He took a seat next to it with his back against the trunk of the largest tree and took out some water he kept in his basket in a small matlo (clay pot) and took a sip in great appreciation and joy.

Slowly his eyelids closed and he peacefully drifted off in to a blissful sleep.

Some hours later he woke refreshed and feeling great and to the loud sound of cheeky chatter.  His eyes traced the chatter and found the route back to a group of excited monkeys in the trees.

The monkeys were always inquisitive and cheeky so it was always wise to be weary of their antics. Because of this the topiwalla decided to be on his way off to sell his lovely hats through the village.

He reached out to pick up his basket of hats but was shocked to see the basket was completely empty. He searched with his eyes all over to find his hats but could not see them anywhere… until he looked up into the trees. Prancing around the branches above him were the monkeys dancing and playing with the topiwallas hats which made them look surprisingly smart. But he had to get them back!

In surprise and amazement the topiwalla shouted out to the cheeky monkeys “ Hey bring back my hats you brats” whilst waving his hands.

In reaction the monkeys turned to him and waved back continuing their cheeky and very loud chatter.

This upset the topiwalla even more and he shook his fist at them screaming “I will get you silly monkeys”

Again the monkeys all mirrored him by shaking their fists back at him.

In a rage the topiwalla picked up a small pebble and threw it at the biggest and cheekiest monkey. “I will ring your naughty neck silly monkey, give me back my hats”

Instantly the monkeys all retaliated by throwing down fruits from the trees, just as the topiwalla had thrown the small pebble.

In that moment the topiwalla had an amazing realization. The monkeys had copied everything he had done exactly, which gave him a great idea.

The topiwalla grabbed his own hat of the top off his head, raised his hand and shook it at all the monkeys and in one swift move he through it to the ground.

Following him the monkeys copied exactly what he did – grabbed their hats, raised their arms, shook the hats into the air and then threw all of the hats to the ground.

Like a flash the topiwalla ran around below the tree and picked up all the hats, dusted them off, put them all in his basket and ran off back to the village.

“Hahaha silly monkey see, monkey do – I have all my hats now!” the topiwalla said as he skipped promptly back to the village.