Deep in the Jungle, so far beyond human reach that no man has ever been able to get half way there, there lives a troop of Chimpanzees. This troop was known for having the biggest, strongest chimpanzees in the jungle. Some even looked like gorillas. They always won the Jungle Championships for Banana Ball and could climb to the top of trees before all the other troops with ease, moving like the wind. 

One day the King of the troop, Kahn, had a child with his wife, Jade. Kahn looked down upon the child and proclaimed, “One day he will grow bigger and stronger than the other apes and rightfully take my place.” Jade gave him a puzzled look. She thought for a minute and then calmly told Kahn, “I don’t think he will be the biggest chimp but there is something special about him. I am sure he will achieve great things, I will name him Caesar.”

Everyone was so excited to see Caesar grow older; they all expected him to grow big and strong just like his father. As the years went by, it seemed as though Caesar would not be like his father. Caesar was short and not very athletic. Compared to the other chimps, Caesar seemed small and weak. This was the case not only in his troop but in the rest of the jungle as well. While the other chimps climbed like lightning, Caesar was more of a sloth.  

All of the younger chimps would pick Caesar last when they played Banana Ball at recess, and when it was time to race home or to the top of a tree Caesar would always come in last place. However, Caesar didn’t mind, he enjoyed playing games, but his real passion was creating new inventions. He may not have moved the fastest but he had the quickest mind.

While everyone else was always interested in who could climb the fastest, jump the highest, and who was the strongest, Caesar would think about why the sky is blue, how old the trees were, or what material would work the best in the next tool he made. Sometimes Caesar would be so deep in thought that he wouldn’t even notice what was going on around him. The other chimps would make jokes and laugh, saying “Caesar is on another planet,” or “He thought so hard he fried his brain.” Hearing his name would make Cesar snap back into reality and laugh. 

Caesar continued to grow up learning everything he could and making countless devices. Caesar’s dad would always scold him; “Why are you making a tool to get fruit from trees!? Can’t you climb up to get it yourself?” but Caesar did not mind. Caesar would always say, “Yeah, but this is more fun.” Even in school Caesar would get bored because he already knew everything about the trees from his own studies. Whenever he would ask a question the teacher would always reply, “We do not know that yet, sorry Caesar.” All of the other chimps would laugh, thinking it was a silly question.

One day, a large storm hit the jungle. It rattled the sky and shook the ground. At first the chimps did not think much of it. After all they had been through bigger storms before. As the storm progressed, it began to flood the jungle floor making the jungle a swamp. The younger chimps panicked jumping into the trees and climbing as fast as they could, gripping the branches so tight their knuckles were purple. The older chimps were climbing slowly, for they were not concerned. “Do not worry, we have been through floods before!” Kahn shouted to the troop. Caesar didn’t agree, he could remember seeing the end to the storm clouds before, and could not now.     

One day of rain turned into two and two into three. Now even the older chimps began to show signs of concern. “The water level is starting to rise faster!” yelled one of the elders his eyes wide with fear. All of the chimps climbed to the top as fast as they could, moving like ninjas through the trees. Soon, all of the chimps had climbed up into the treetops.

           

All of the chimps except Caesar, that is. While the other chimps were panicking and climbing to safety, Caesar was studying the progress of the water so he could tell how bad the flood would be. Caesar was also collecting a variety of materials, like vines, tree branches, roots, and floating logs. He was so caught up in his work so he missed all the commotion.

Amongst the canopy everyone was freaking out and trying to figure out what to do, and fighting for the top spot amongst the trees. All of a sudden, someone yelled “Where’s Caesar!?” It was his mother, Jade. She thought she had lost her son during all the panic. Everyone paused and looked around . . . but no one saw him.  One chimp climbed down from the treetops to look for him.    

“I found him! I found him!” the chimp exclaimed. “Everyone come look at what Caesar built!” All of the chimps rushed down from the treetops to look. There, sitting on top of the water, was Caesar. With a smile as big as the sun, Caesar said “Hey! I found a way to save the troop! Aren’t these things cool? I call them rafts.” One chimp replied, “Ha I don’t need that, I climb as high as I need to so I can escape the water.” 

Caesar laughed, almost falling off his raft. “Unless you can climb on air you better make a raft this storm isn’t stopping anytime soon.” The other chimp embarrassed. With a face as red as an apple he yelled “How do you know what is going to happen are you psychic!?”

“No but you can tell by looking at the clouds.” Caesar explained.