Musings of a Gentler Time

Many years ago, I took a monkey puppet to a 5-year-old Sunday school class.  The puppet was about 3’ long with a goofy little monkey face and long arms that could go around my neck.   As we began to sing a song, I pretended not to notice that Monkey jiggled, almost dancing to the music.  He opened his mouth wide and stuck out his tongue at everyone in the class.  The kids laughed and pointed as they reported the misconduct of the puppet.

I acted shocked as I looked at the puppet in my hand and asked Monkey if it was true he had stuck out his tongue at the children.  He shook his head no.  This stirred the group even more as they screamed that he was telling a story.  I explained to Monkey in front of everyone that he should never stick out his tongue at anyone or tell a lie.  Monkey nodded in agreement, the music started again, and everything was fine until … he did it again.

Over and over, Monkey committed the same act, which sent the entire class into a frenzy.

I’m unsure how much the children learned, but Monkey was a definite hit. Monkey and I were invited to visit Children’s Church, Sunday School, Mission Friends, and Vacation Bible School, and finally, we were booked at the local library.

The Sunday before we visited the library, Monkey and I entertained the five-year-old class again.  I was perched on a chair that was so short that I was almost at eye level with the kids sitting on the rug.  A little boy was standing in the back.  He had a huge black cowboy hat and a frown that would have backed down John Wayne himself.  I invited the Lil’ Pardner to join the group, but he stood his ground and gave me an eat-dirt-and-die look.  We started the music, and I pulled the Monkey puppet onto my lap.  About a minute later, Lil’ Pardner sat down on the rug.  As Monkey began his inappropriate behavior, I noticed the big black hat with the little boy under it scooting closer and closer to the front of the group. I thought, “he’s starting to enjoy the class.”

I will always blame myself for letting Monkey stick out his tongue at Lil’ Pardner!

Faster than a gazelle, Lil’ Pardner jumped to his feet and socked Monkey squarely in the face sending paralyzing pain through my hand.  At that point, every child was standing and crying.  You see, I couldn’t lift my hand nor pull it out of the puppet.  From the children’s perspective, Monkey was lying on my lap, dead as a doornail with his offensive tongue hanging to the side.

I’m sorry to say that it was Monkey’s last performance, and all future bookings were canceled!

(Excerpt from a collection of life stories, “I Will Sing to Them Again in Heaven” by Delane Melton)

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