The Story of the Monkeys and the Cap-Seller, an old Indian tale, told by Vikram Singh, remembered crudely by Paige Rexrode

The cap seller was walking home after a long-unsuccessful day in the village. He was tired, and lay down beneath a tree to rest his weary bones and soon fell asleep. When he awoke, he found all his caps had disappeared. He heard chatter above him and saw that the tree was filled with monkeys wearing his caps. Exhausted and frustrated, he threw his own cap to the ground. The monkeys, seeing him to this, threw their own caps down to the ground at his feet. He collected his returned caps and continued home where he told his son what had happened with his caps and the monkeys.

Many years later, the cap sellers son was walking home with his own collection of caps. He layed down to rest beneath a tree and again, fell asleep. When he woke, his caps were gone, and he knowlingly looked up into a tree full of cap-wearing monkeys. Ah, he said to himself, I remember when my father lost his caps to the monkeys, who were stupid enough to copy him when he threw his cap down in exhaustion and frustration. Quite pleased with himself, he threw his own cap to the ground. But the monkeys too had learned, and one monkey who refused to fall for the wise ploy that had tricked his own father so many years ago ran down the tree and stole the last cap.