Publisher's Synopsis
Francis was a six month old Ateles Geoffroyi spider monkey shipped to the U.S. in the 1960's from a South American rain forest and he was a challenge to be reckoned with as he grew and matured. He was head strong and wanted to be in charge of the the household and there were power plays daily between him, dad and/or the older boy. Francis had no problem with the younger son or mother because with them he felt in control, but not so with dad and the teenage son. Francis saw them as a threat and there were power plays between them daily. Meeting the demands of Francis were many because he had a photographic mind, learned from observation, was exceptionally intelligent, mentally sharp, cunning, mischievous, temperamental and when going through puberty he wanted to be in control of his environment, but dad and the teen son learned wuickly that it would not be in their best interest to let Francis have power over them. Francis respected dad's strength and size and walked around him, but would agitated the teen son who lifts weights to stay strong and fit because at times he would have to box Francis' jaws, and when that happened Francis would get back at him by hiding his school books, ripping the antenna off his car or peeing on him. Although the family loved Francis, by the time he was four years old they did the kindest thing they could for their pet, they returned him to his roots. They took him to an animal farm where he could mate with other spider monkeys and live out his life.
