On an office building in the middle of the city, Maurice climbed a drain pipe 20 stories up before reaching his target. He knocked on a window and a woman grew a big smile before opening up. Coworkers surrounded her as she took from him a large bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolate. She read the note on top and everyone around let out a loud “Aww.”

Maurice stared at the woman, simply enjoying the look on her face. She was so in love, he could tell.

 

Back at his own office, Maurice was rewarded with some dried banana bites. He returned to a large, comfortable cage, where the rest of the utility monkeys rested. Before bed, he stared at Summer for a bit. For years, he was too afraid to make any advancements, and he was sure that she didn’t know of his feelings. About that, he wasn’t totally correct.

The next morning, Maurice was mustering up the courage to say something to her. He was going to spill it all and see how she felt. Just then, the cage opened and he received an assignment across town. He was handed another bouquet, another box of chocolates and another note; this one with a ring box attached. Summer would have to wait

Maurice eagerly searched the park for a woman in red. Every other color passed him by as he crawled on railings and peered over crowds. Finally, he was tapped by the man who ordered the message. He pointed to his fiancé, who was facing the other direction. Maurice knew what to do.

Behind him, Maurice leapt onto a tree, holding everything in one hand. The sun went down and the area emptied as onlookers made room for the proposal. Maurice climbed the branch that extended directly above the woman in red.

The man tapped his fiancé on her shoulder and she turned around, smiling. He pointed up at Maurice, who held out her flowers, chocolate and note. She looked up and put her hands over her mouth with emotion. When she looked down, her fiancé was on one knee, hands open. As if rehearsed, at the exact moment he knelt, Maurice dropped the ring box, which fell right on time, landing perfectly in place.

 

Maurice watched as the woman said yes, hugged the man, and received applause from the surrounding crowd, the sunset making the scene all the more romantic. All he could think about was Summer.

It was the dead of night when Maurice returned, and Summer had just returned from an assignment as well. He wanted to speak with her anyway, but she asked if he could wait until the morning.

Maurice awoke and immediately looked for Summer. She was outside the cage, being handed flowers already. He ran out of the cage and intercepted the bouquet and knelt down like the man he saw the night before. She looked at him and he recognized the face she was making. Summer was starting to smile as if one of the targets of his assignments. It seemed that his feelings were reciprocated.

Before grabbing the flowers, one of the larger monkeys came and picked up Summer. Maurice lunged for her as she was carried away. He stayed in position kneeling down until later that day when the human coordinator had another assignment for him. Maurice’s heart was broken, he sadly accepted the package and went on his way.

Many times over, Maurice delivered the highest quality service, and many people enjoyed his appearances.

Years later, Maurice was given an assignment like any other. This time, he was sent to a massive mansion on the outskirts of Big City. He climbed to the second floor where he saw a room clearly made for monkeys. Swings and trees were everywhere for climbing. He entered, distracted by the decor.

Maurice looked back down from the tall climbing posts to see his target. The monkey who took Summer was lazing about on the floor. Rage built up inside of him. The monkey clearly didn’t recognize him. Summer came up from the stairs and Maurice waited for her to acknowledge him. She passed by him and climbed a post. Maurice felt his heartbreak return tenfold.

With a job to do, Maurice knelt down before the large monkey. He looked at the bouquet for a moment before reaching for it. Upon accepting the gift, he began to withstand a barrage of deadly monkey fury. Within moments, he was unconscious, flowers and chocolate all over him. 

Summer came down the post to see what had happened. Maurice ignored her, climbing out of the window and into the street. 

Maurice returned to his job and freed all the other monkeys, having them follow him instead. They would choose their own assignments to deliver a message to any that dare disrespect the sanctity of love. He would protect romance as the leader of this group, as Monkey Love.