Plumpy the Hippo
Once upon a time, there was a hippo who lived in Antarctica named Plumpy. Plumpy lived there happily until one day, his parents were mauled by a polar bear. With nowhere else to turn, he was taken in by the penguins.
Plumpy always had food to eat and a nice place to sleep at night, but he felt so alone. One night Plumpy had a wonderful dream where he rolled in the mud, ate grass, and swam in warmer waters. When he woke up the very next morning, Plumpy knew he had to go to the place of his dream.
Plumpy didn’t waste any time. He put on his hat and tie and headed for the water. Plumpy swam and swam for many days, and started to lose hope. He was just about to turn around when he met a friendly dolphin named Bubbles. Bubbles told him not to give up, but Plumpy was not listening. He didn’t think anything could change his mind, until Bubbles and her friends started singing and dancing in the water about never giving up on your dreams. Finally, he was convinced and he took off with Bubbles.
Later on in their adventure, Plumpy and Bubbles came across a very confused shark named Barney who was looking for his favorite turtle shell. Turns out that Bubbles and Barney were good friends! Bubbles didn’t want Barney to hurt himself thinking too much, so she invited him to come with her and Plumpy.
After weeks of swimming, the friends finally reached the place of Plumpy’s dream. Unfortunately, Bubbles and Barney could not go onto the land with Plumpy, so they all waved goodbye and went their separate ways. Plumpy was exhausted after those long weeks of swimming, so he finds a spot in the shade and closes his eyes.

When he wakes up, he is startled when he sees a baboon all up in his face. Plumpy pushes him out of the way to see a bunch of hippos staring at him. He thinks to himself, “What is going on with all of these other hippos staring at me?” One hippo steps forward and examines him closely until she shouts, “It’s him! It’s Plumpy! He has finally arrived!” Plumpy jumps back frightened, wondering what is this crazy hippo screaming about.

“Don’t worry, Plumpy, you are home now! We have been waiting for this day for five long years, hoping that you would return to us so we could all be happy again!” exclaimed Tina

“What are you talking about?” asked Plumpy. “Who are you, and how do you know my name?” The lady hippo grabs her husband and starts explaining to Plumpy how his parents were taken to Antarctica for a science experiment. His parents said that if anything were to happen to them, someday Plumpy would find the place where he really belongs, and he would live with his aunt and uncle, Tina and Bert.

It didn’t take much convincing for Plumpy join the rest of his family in Africa. It also didn’t take long for him to meet new friends, and start a new, happier life where he knew he belonged. Plumpy and his friends and family spent their lives doing all of the things that Plumpy had dreamt of--swimming, rolling in mud, and eating grass. Plumpy was finally happy in his new home, and was glad that he didn’t give up on his his dream-- and that is all that really mattered.