Humphrey the Happy Hippo

Humphrey the hippo wasn't always happy. He spent most of his days wallowing in the muddy river, feeling rather glum. "Another day, another splash," he'd sigh, his enormous body sinking deeper into the cool water. The other hippos mostly ignored him, busy with their own important hippo business – mostly involving more wallowing and the occasional noisy bellow.

One sunny morning, as Humphrey was contemplating the drabness of the riverbed, a tiny flash of iridescent blue and green zipped past his ear. It was Pip, a hummingbird known throughout the riverbank for his boundless energy and cheerful songs. Pip landed delicately on Humphrey's broad back, his tiny claws barely tickling.

Humphrey was startled. No one ever landed on him. He usually just felt the occasional nibble from a curious fish. "Hello!" chirped Pip, his voice like the tinkling of tiny bells. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

Humphrey grunted, unsure how to respond. "I suppose," he mumbled.

"Suppose?" Pip tilted his tiny head. "Look around! The sun is sparkling on the water, the dragonflies are dancing, and those funny long-necked birds are doing their silly walk!"

Humphrey had never really looked before. He'd always just seen mud and more mud. But now, with Pip pointing out the little wonders, he started to notice. The sunlight did make the water shimmer like a thousand tiny jewels. The dragonflies were rather graceful in their erratic flight. And yes, the herons did have a rather peculiar way of strutting.

Pip became a regular visitor. He'd tell Humphrey stories of the flowers he'd visited, the funny insects he'd encountered, and the vast blue sky he soared through. He'd sing little melodies that made Humphrey's usually heavy heart feel a little lighter.

One day, Pip landed on Humphrey's head, his tiny beak pointing towards the sky. "Humphrey," he said, "it's a very special day today. The sky is the clearest blue, and the sun is shining just for you."

Humphrey looked up. For the first time, he truly saw the endless expanse of the sky, a brilliant, unblemished blue. A warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the sun.

"Why?" he asked Pip, his voice a low rumble.

Pip chirped happily, hopping from one spot on Humphrey's head to another. "Because every day is special, Humphrey! You just have to open your eyes and see it. Today is your day to be happy!"

And for the first time in a long time, Humphrey felt a genuine smile spread across his wide mouth. He might still be in the muddy river, but today, it felt like the most wonderful place in the world, especially with a tiny, cheerful friend by his side reminding him that "Hey, It's My Day!"

Comments