Shiva and the Dancing Monkey

When the god Shiva heard that Vishnu had been born in human form, Shiva wanted to pay his respects. Shiva thus became a street performer, playing his drum while a monkey danced to the beat. Hanuman was that monkey.
The drummer performed for King Dasharatha and his family, and little Rama was enchanted by the dancing monkey. "Let me keep the monkey!" Rama pleaded, and so Hanuman became Rama's pet.
When Vishvamitra took young Rama away to fight the rakshasas, Rama told Hanuman to go to Kishkindha, where they would meet again later, for Vishnu knew what was to come.

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Inspired by:  A Hanuman tale reported by Philip Lutgendorf: Hanuman's Tale, story 8 — Playmate of Rama.
Notes: There are many different legends that associate Shiva and Hanuman, thus weaving Shiva's presence into the story of Rama; this is one of those legends. It is not in Valmiki's Ramayana.

(young Rama and Hanuman)