Today’s zaps go to @TNStacker because his sharing about Martellus’ book made me realise that I had written a book for my son. I actually wrote it last August but didn’t follow up on the editing. So, today I dusted off the manuscript and edited it. Who knows, I may just get the energy to generate images and publish it as an e-book. Let’s see how things go.
<Happy the Hippo>
Once upon a time, there was a hippo called Happy. But Happy felt unhappy most of the time.
Happy spent his days at the animal care centre because Papa Hippo and Mama Hippo worked very hard at the zoo to make the visitors happy. They didn’t have much time to look after him.
He had good friends at the animal care centre. They were Chic the Cheetah, Ginny the Giraffe and Zany the Zebra.
But friendships are hard. Sometimes, Happy’s friends hurt his feelings. They took running lessons - and Happy was slower than the other three.
“You are too heavy,” Chic the Cheetah said.
“Your legs wear you down,” Ginny the Giraffe spoke.
“Your form isn’t graceful.” Zany the Zebra suggested.
Happy felt awful, ashamed of his body. He didn’t know why he was born with such thick legs.
Why couldn’t he be like his friends? They were blessed with beautiful slender legs that let them chase after the wind.
Luckily, something magical happened one day.
It was their first day of swimming lessons at the centre. The teachers felt that water safety was important, so they wanted the little animals to learn swimming.
Except that it didn’t go very well.
Chic the Cheetah, Ginny the Giraffe and Zany the Zebra struggled in the water. They flung their arms and legs wildly around. They tried their best to wade in the water but it was in vain.
Happy was different. The moment he set foot in the pool, he felt at one with the water. He didn’t know how to swim.
But his powerful legs knew what to do. They pushed his body forcefully. He was gliding gracefully in the water - like a kite soaring in the sky!
He took to the water so well that his friends and teachers decided to call him “The Underwater Ballerina”.
Happy the Hippo learnt that he just needed to find the right environment to shine. He felt grateful for his heavy legs.
He lived up to his name. From then on, he was happiest whenever he swam in the waters.