There was once a monkey called Monty who lived on an island that was largely inhabited by other monkeys. The most important scientists on the planet had figured out that climate change would affect this island very badly, almost sinking it completely.

So each of the monkeys decided to build a house on the highest part of the island to protect themselves from the floods on the day the disaster would come. Monty had designed his house to withstand a very big flood, and this required very big rocks.

All the monkeys built their houses in just one day, and then spent the rest of their time playing cards and enjoying their new homes. They all laughed at Monty, because while they had already built their houses, Monty had only drawn some plans. But Monty was convinced that his house could survive any flood and although it might take a long time to build, it was worth the wait.

So Monty moved only one big stone a day, which meant that his house took shape very slowly and the other monkeys continued to laugh at him. But Monty didn’t care, and went on building his house stone by stone.

After a few months, when the other monkeys had got tired of playing cards, Monty finished his house and very proudly threw a big party to which he invited all the monkeys on the island.

But on the very day of the party, the sea level rose without warning and all the monkeys hid in their houses in fright. But Monty declared: “Monkeys of the island! I have prepared for this flood, and you all have a place in my new home. Whilst you were laughing at me, I was building a house that would protect us all from this great flood. Come in and you will find your rooms at the end of the corridor.” All the monkeys were amazed and went into the house.

And that was how Monty and all the monkeys watched the big flood destroy all the other houses except Monty’s. Then the island monkeys understood that Monty was the most intelligent of them all, as well as the kindest-hearted and most generous, for he had wanted to save them all from the flood without expecting anything in return.

THE END