Page 1
In the water, I feel light!
I forget how large I am.
I am a hippopotamus,
or a hippo, for short.
And I'm really BIG.
Page 2
And maybe it's because I'm so huge that I have oversized lungs, which generate my super-colossal sneezes.
Page 3
My name is Ben, Ben KaChoo. I have allergies.
I'm allergic to all the little things
that float in the air. Here in the zoo's swamp,
there are lots of things floating in the air!
Page 4
There are little bugs flying, pollen drifting, and dust stirred up by animals coming to take a drink of water. I sneeze. I sneeze often.
Page 5
But sneezing doesn't
stop me from having fun.
Page 6
If I lift my feet at the moment that a sneeze leaves my lungs, just as the air is forcing itself out through my nostrils, the strength of the blow can shoot me across the water. I enjoy the ride! On one of my sneeze-jets, I met Arrow.
Page 7
Arrow is his nickname.
He received it because
he can shoot out of the water,
launching into the air like an arrow.
Arrow is a crocodile.
Page 8
Although we live in the same zoo and share the same swamp, the hippos stay with the hippos and the crocodiles stay with the crocodiles. We hippos find the crocodiles to be rather intimidating. They have a quiet presence just under the water and great teeth that flash.
Page 9
Hippos are big and lumbering and hard to miss, but we are also known for our great teeth. So maybe they are afraid of us too? Somehow, the hippos and crocs haven't become friends.
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I was sneeze-jetting across the swamp one day when I splooshed right into Arrow. He was sleeping in the water and I woke him in the least friendly way! I wanted to apologize for my splashy intrusion, but I was so afraid of the sharp-toothed crocodile that I just stood there in the
water, staring at him.
Page 11
He looked at me. Slowly he began to sink into the water. He did not look happy. I too sank into the water, waiting to see what he was going to do next.
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Before I sank in completely, I took a big breath of air. Once I was underwater, in a nose-to-nose staring contest with Arrow, my nose started to tickle. I knew what was coming - but he did not!
Page 13
With a whopper of a sneeze,
I catapulted us in opposite directions.
Arrow was stunned, but quickly
regained control- crocodiles are
expert swimmers. I, however,
splashed about in the
most awkward, ungraceful manner,
creating quite a ruckus.
Page 14
This time there was no doubting it: it was time for me to apologize. "I'm very sorry for waking you from your nap. I'm also very sorry for sneezing in your face. I know both are rude things to do. I have allergies and I can't control my sneezing. But I didn't mean to disturb you," I said.
Page 15
Arrow looked at me quite seriously. I was sure he was going to either start a fight or just swim away when he laughed and said, "A hippo who swims by sneezing! You, my friend, are fun! I'm happy to know such a unique hippo.
My name is Arrow."
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"My name is Ben, Ben KaChoo," I said, relieved. "I've never talked to a crocodile before."
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"Well Ben, I've never talked to the hippos, but I've also never had one crash into me before," Arrow said. We must have looked like a funny pair talking in the water: Arrow long and thin, and me wide and barrel-shaped.
Page 18
We discovered a few things we have in common beyond sharing the swamp at the zoo: we both breathe air although we live in the water, and we both avoid eating the fish in the swamp. However, we differed on favorite foods: I like to eat vegetables and Arrow prefers to eat meat.
Page 19
The day grew late and we parted to
join our families. But I left having gained
a new friend and knowing that the hippos and
the crocodiles would be talking a lot more.
All it took was a sneeze!
