Monkey Thief!

My 2-week meditation retreat started with a gift and the theft of the same gift! After arriving to my room, consisting of a small bed of cushions, private toilet, and cold-water shower, a neighborly nun brought me a small box of apple juice. I've developed quite an addiction to apple juice since being in Nepal so I felt pretty thankful to sit on the steps outside my room and sip this fine beverage. While taking in the monastery view of Pharping, enjoying the silence and the cool breeze, a monkey strolled by. He looked at me and then at my apple juice. I knew what he wanted. After recovering from the shock of making eye contact with this monkey, I quietly stood up and backed into my new room. I set my juice down on the floor and proceeded to stare at the creature before me. To my disbelief, this little guy walked up my steps into my room and snatched my juice before I could close the door! Ridiculous! I pierced the silence with violent name calling: THIEF! The dirty thief sat right in front of me tearing into my apple juice and licking it from the ground. The monks in retreat above my room heard my cry, probably giggled, and threw candy and other food goods toward the monkey. It wasn't quite the response I was looking for. I'd say the monkey won that day. He and I had 2 other bouts, but never again did he steal from me!