The Great Hippo Hullabaloo
A week later, Happy Hollow was abuzz with excitement. The hippos had decided to host a grand festival to celebrate unity, friendship, and the fact that Boris had finally learned to balance a leaf on his nose.
“We’ll call it the Great Hippo Hullabaloo!” Harold announced, unfurling a banner that had those very words scrawled in mud—because hippos aren’t great with paint.
Animals from all over the savannah were invited. The invitation read:
Come one, come all, to the greatest festival of all!
Featuring games, food, and a splash contest that’ll make waves!
Henry was put in charge of entertainment, much to his surprise.
“Are you sure?” he asked Harold. “Remember what happened at the talent show?”
“Precisely! It was the most memorable act! We need that kind of excitement,” Harold insisted.
“Well, if you say so,” Henry agreed, already brainstorming ideas.
On the day of the Hullabaloo, the riverbank was transformed into a carnival. There were stalls with games like “Guess the Weight of the Watermelon” (which was challenging since no one had a scale) and “Pin the Tail on the Crocodile” (which was quickly changed to “Pin the Tail on the Drawing of a Crocodile” after a real crocodile objected).
Henry’s pièce de résistance was the “Hippo’s Got Talent” show, featuring acts from various animals.
First up was Momo, who performed a magic trick that involved making a peanut disappear. The trick failed when the peanut fell out of his fur mid-performance.
“Ta-da?” Momo said uncertainly.
The crowd applauded politely.
Next was Priscilla, who did a stand-up comedy routine.
“Why did the elephant paint his toenails red?” she asked.
“Why?” the crowd responded.
“So he could hide in a cherry tree!” Priscilla delivered.
The crowd groaned.
“Have you ever seen an elephant in a cherry tree?” she continued.
“No.”
“Works, doesn’t it?” she quipped.
This time, the crowd laughed.
Finally, it was time for Henry’s act. He walked onto the stage wearing a top hat (which looked more like a tiny thimble on his head) and carrying a cane.
“For my act, I’ll need a volunteer!” he announced.
Boris raised his hoof. “I’ll do it!”
“Excellent!” Henry grinned.
He led Boris to a giant box that had been constructed from leaves and branches.
“Behold! I will make Boris disappear!” Henry declared.
“Ooh!” the crowd murmured.
Boris stepped into the box, and Henry closed the door.
He tapped the box three times with his cane. “Alakazam! Alakazoo! Now Boris is… right behind you!”
The crowd turned to see Boris standing behind them, looking confused.
“How did he do that?” Greta whispered.
“I have no idea!” Boris exclaimed, equally baffled.
The crowd erupted in applause.
“Thank you, thank you!” Henry bowed, the top hat falling off his head.
As the show concluded, Zara the zebra took the stage. “Let’s give a big round of applause to Henry, our master of mirth!”
The animals cheered.
Later, as the sun set and the fireflies began their nightly dance, the hippos gathered for the grand finale—the Splash-Off.
“Ready to show them how it’s done?” Harold asked Henry.
“Absolutely!” Henry grinned.
They lined up along the riverbank. One by one, the hippos took their turns, each splash bigger than the last.
Finally, it was Henry’s turn. He took a deep breath and ran toward the water. But instead of jumping, he slipped on a stray banana peel (courtesy of Momo), and tumbled head over heels into the river.
The resulting splash was enormous, aided by a perfectly timed wave from a passing boat of otters.
The crowd went wild.
“That was the biggest splash yet!” Greta exclaimed.
“Way to go, Henry!” Boris cheered.
Henry surfaced, spitting out water and laughing. “Didn’t see that coming!”
“Neither did we!” Harold laughed.
As the festivities came to a close, Tobias addressed the crowd.
“Today, we’ve seen the beauty of diversity and the joy it brings. Let’s carry this spirit of acceptance and fun into all our days.”
“Here, here!” the crowd agreed.
Henry looked around at his friends—hippos, monkeys, owls, tortoises, and more. He felt a surge of happiness.
“Thank you for being you,” Greta said, sidling up next to him.
“Right back at you,” Henry replied.
As the stars twinkled overhead, the animals settled down, their hearts full and their spirits high.
Henry realized that he didn’t need to change who he was to be accepted. He just needed to embrace his uniqueness and share it with others.
And maybe, just maybe, a slim hippo could make the biggest splash of all—not by weight, but by being himself.
—
The End
