As a child my favorite book was the adventures of Poppy. Poppy was a doll who miraculously came to life, becoming a tiny girl about 8 inches tall. She became a loving and caring companion to the young heroine of the story, who coincidently, was just my age.
How this idea captivated me; the thought of having such a special, unusual friend. The idea captured my imagination, and I wished I could have a “Poppy” too. I made wishes on “The first star I see tonight,” wishes on wishbones and wishes on top of the first two wishes.
How great it would be to have a little Poppy. I could have such a good time making things for her: a little bed out of a matchbook case, tiny pillows from scraps of fabric and miniature blankets out of bits of wool.
She could eat a Cheerio or two for breakfast with an eye dropper full of milk, a sandwich I would make for her, constructed of two cornflakes with a peanut butter and grape jam filling for lunch, and a postage sized pizza for dinner.
I could use maple tree seed pods (which we used to call “Polly noses”) as spoons, and find all sorts of ways to fashion ordinary objects into useful tools for an 8 inch person. And she could come everywhere with me. She would be very comfortable in my fanny pack.
I never did figure out how to get a real life “Poppy” of my own, but I found the next best thing.
We all know that monkeys are the closest relatives to humans, right?
I discovered a monkey so small that it is called a “finger monkey.” Full grown, it fits into a human hand and hangs onto a finger with it’s paws.
These monkeys are the tiniest living primates in the world.
Will they be available as pets some day? Will they be able to acclimate to our climate after living in the rain forests of South America? Could they be trained, housetrained, and no-bite trained? I don’t know, but now I can dream of another small creature to nurture, teach and befriend.
I can just see him, swinging from lampshades, scurrying into the pantry seeking snacks, and commandeering a pot holder for his bed.
He’d probably learn to do cartwheels and somersaults. All the neighborhood children would line up to see him. He’d be a bigger hit than Clifford the Big Red Dog. A greater hero than Rin Tin Tin. More curious and smarter than Curious George.
There’s no end to the projects we could plan. When can I have a finger monkey?
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "SMALL SECRET FRIEND" (48)
Hi Ronnie. Thank you for visiting my blog today. It was lovely to meet you. That monkey is so cute!!! I have never seen anything like it.
Have a great weekend.
Florence x
What a sweet little thing.. I do not think I have ever seen such a small monkey as this before… Nature is always full of surprises… Love and Blessings sent your way ~Sue
Thanks Ronnie for liking my post and now I found your wonderful blog. What a cute and lovely monkey, and poppy is also very cute and lovely. Your blog is like a whiff of fresh air.
so sweet! I am really glad you visited my blog so I could find yours 🙂
Thanks, Mimo; I enjoy yours very much.Your photos are beautiful.
Ronnie
Hi Ronnie,
Thanks for coming over to my blog and “liking” my post. : I came to visit yours…and I’m so glad I did! Thank you so much for sharing your story…it was lovely…I always loved dolls…but seeing an Alfred Hitchcock Presents back in the 50’s definitely turned me off from wanting a doll to come to life. The episode was really scary…a little girl plays with her doll under the covers…and you see two bodies moving…won’t tell you the chilling ending…perhaps you will want to see it. My older sister and I held hands to comfort each other as we walked away from watching the show that night.
That is far too scary for me: I’d never sleep again.
Ronnie
I thought after Sparky you did not want anything that you had to care for. I will start a search fora monkey for my wonderful friend who is also the very best cook!!
Catherine-Gaye
I hope you’re not implying that I can find a recipe for preparing finger monkeys!
Ronnie
What a cute monkey! Thanks for sharing 🙂
It’s that direct stare, I think.
Ronnie
Oh Ronnie, I’m so glad you came to visit me. I love your blog premise and am going to really enjoy reading your posts…like this one! What a cute and tiny finger monkey…I didn’t know there was one that small. Though I’m not a huge monkey lover, he’s so cute he does make me want one! 🙂
Good thing they’re not available here; there’d be a run on monkey’s.
Ronnie
Lovely post, Ronnie: I played almost identical games as a child.The minuscule charmed me 🙂 Which is also why the family has just sat round your blog, ooooh -ing and aaaah -ing at the finger monkey…
In that case, did you see the recent one I reflagged from magsx2’s blog?It’s about a miniature tortoise.
Ronnie
Oh, my goodness, Ronnie, as a little girl I too, wished for a real live, talking little doll!! Delightful post.. 🙂
Thanks, Mal.
Ronnie
Your friend are adorable too
Thank you, Jake. You have to be adorable t notice that.
Ronnie
I bet if Veruca Salt knew about finger monkeys she wouldn’t have asked daddy for an oompa loompa!
How big is an oompa loompa?
Ronnie
That is the cutest thing ever, I will be dreaming of my finger monkey too!!
We should start a petition asking to bring these critters into the US.
Ronnie
I completely agree 🙂
Amazing pet i love it can i have one ? lol
If it ‘s up to me, sure you can!
Ronnie
I’m loving your blog, so funny and entertaining. Are there really finger monkeys? How amazing and so cute. No wonder you want one for yourself. I’d worry about losing it – it’s so small.
Yes, there really are such creatures; they’re found in the rain forests of South America. HMMM: I never thought of the danger of it’s getting lost. Reality spoils all the good fantasies, don’t you think?
Ronnie
I love this story. Charming! I used to pretend that my fingers were people. Ha! I want a finger monkey! And even if it wasn’t house- trained. I mean how bad could it be with them being so tiny and all. Oh the possibilities are endless. They could dress up in Barbie’s clothes. We could get teeny weeny organ grinders! Enjoyed! 🙂
Linda, I found out about the tiny monkey: can I count on you to research the teeny weenie organ grinders? Ask your finger-people to help.
Ronnie
I’ll get them on it right away. You can count on them! 🙂
Great; I was hoping I could count on you, Linda.
Ronnie
Ladies, never ever ask a man if he owns a teeny weenie organ, please. It’s not something we take lightly! HF
Uh, oh; I’m afraid it’s too late for that now!
Ronnie
I seem to remember the pursuit of a Marmoset monkey many years ago in Baltimore. I didn’t know that we were really pursuing Polly! A wonderful story for people both young and old
Harvey
Ah, the sweet days of our youth in Baltimore!
(not to besmirch your excellent reputation for name recall, but could you be meaning “Poppy”, and not “Polly”?
Ronnie
Sometimes the inanimate ones give the best advice and keep your secrets to themselves.
Ronnie
Awww, sweet post, Ronnie! I never read about Poppy, though I did get the chance to rescue almost any kind of baby animal – usually with unsuccessful results. Baby mice whose mom got poisoned. Baby birds that the cats dropped from the trees. I was never daunted, however I would have loved a little Poppy I could bake balled up Wonder bread/margarine doodads for in my mother’s child’s oven from the 1920’s.
Any friend, little or not would love those balled up Wonder bread doodads. And made in your mother’s 1920s child’s oven? How fabulous can any treat be?
Ronnie
I have always wanted to have a monkey for a pet, but then my husband reminds me that they fling poo. This little guy is so tiny, how big could his poo be?
Very small, but with extremely strong oderific qualities.
Ronnie
Nice piece, you out did Gulliver with all his Travels. I wonder if there are also finger sized elephants and rhinos.
I’m counting on brave adventurers like you, who roam the African lands, to answer this mystery.
Ronnie
Hi,
Good post. 😀
Thanks: I saw these finger monkeys on your blog the same day I received it from the gentleman whose reply is directly above yours.
Ronnie
How lovely, you certainly know how to bring out the inner child in all of us. I’ll sign up for that monkey. Is the waiting list very long?
Every mile begins with a first step!
Ronnie
There is no end to dreaming! Enjoy your dreams and plans. It wouldn’t harm to bring them to fruition you know? Lovely post! I’ve had my own secret friends too. Sometimes they are real, just inanimate. Smiles!