The Happy Hippo Read online

  “Oh dear,” said Lucy, looking around. “It is looking a bit crowded and messy in here. Maybe Mo needs a little bit more help from some of the other zoo keepers.”

  Zoe bit her lip and glanced at Hetty and Henry, who were still splashing around in their pool. I need to warn the hippos to try and play a bit more carefully, she thought. Who knows what Mr Pinch might do if they keep making such a mess? But she knew she couldn’t risk speaking to them with her mum right there. “Mum, is it OK if I stay here with the hippos for a bit longer before I come home for tea?” she asked, but Lucy shook her head.

  “That’s why I’ve come to find you, Zoe. I need to have a talk with you about something, back at home.” She was looking rather serious.

  “What’s going on, Zoe?” Meep hissed in Zoe’s ear.

  Zoe shook her head, but she thought she had an idea. Maybe her mum was finally going to explain why she had been acting so strangely!

  Chapter Five

  Lucy’s News

  The zoo was still bustling with visitors as they walked back to the cottage. Zoe sighed a bit as she walked along the path with Lucy. She was missing Great-Uncle Horace already!

  “At least we’ll still be here for the summer, even if Great-Uncle Horace won’t be,” Zoe said to her mum – but as she did, Zoe thought she saw an anxious expression cross her mum’s face. She was really curious now, and had a nervous, wobbly feeling in her tummy. What was her mum going to tell her?

  Back at the cottage, Lucy hung her vet’s bag on the hook by the front door and went to sit at the kitchen table. She patted the chair next to her. “Come and sit down, love. I need to tell you something.”

  Zoe slid into her seat and Meep perched on her shoulder, just as curious as Zoe. Lucy took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I’ve been a bit distracted lately, Zoe,” she said. “I’ve had to make quite a hard decision over the last week, and I’ve been feeling a bit worried about telling you. You see … Great-Uncle Horace isn’t the only person who was invited to go on the Arctic research trip. I was asked to go too.”

  Zoe’s eyes opened wide. “Really? Wow!” This wasn’t what she’d been expecting at all! Surely this was good news?

  “One of the biggest parts of the trip is researching polar bears,” Lucy explained. “When I was studying to become a vet, I had a special interest in them. I learned a lot about them from one of my teachers. That’s one of the reasons we have such a wonderful polar bear enclosure here at the Rescue Zoo.”

  Zoe nodded. Her mum loved all kinds of animals, but Zoe knew that polar bears were one of her mum’s special favourites.

  “My old teacher is the person who is in charge of this expedition,” Lucy went on. “She’s also a very good friend of Great-Uncle Horace, and she asked us both to join the trip.”

  “Wow, Mum – that’s brilliant!” said Zoe. “But … Great-Uncle Horace has already set off. Does that mean you decided not to go with him?”

  Lucy shook her head. “Great-Uncle Horace knew straight away that he wanted to join the project but it’s taken me a little bit longer to decide,” she told Zoe.

  “So what are we going to do?” asked Zoe. She didn’t understand why her mum had been so worried about telling her this news. It sounded so exciting! What an adventure. “Please tell me you said yes! Would we set off straight away, or would we wait for me to finish the school term?”

  “Well, that’s the problem, love,” Lucy said gently. “There are no children allowed on the trip. Great-Uncle Horace and I explained to my old teacher just how fantastic you are around animals, but I’m afraid it’s just the rules.”

  “Oh,” said Zoe, feeling disappointed. She was so used to being allowed to spend just as much time with all the animals as the grown-up keepers at the zoo, it was strange to be told that something was for adults only. “Well, that’s all right. I’ll just look after the animals here at the zoo until you get back.”

  Lucy shook her head. “I’m sorry, Zoe, but I can’t leave you here on your own,” she explained. “With both me and Great-Uncle Horace away, there’ll be no one to look after you. So … I’ve asked your Auntie Edna if you can go and stay with her while we’re away.”

  Zoe stared at her mum, disappointment turning to horror. “Auntie Edna?” she repeated, hoping she might have misheard. “But … I don’t know her at all. And she lives really far away from the Rescue Zoo, so I wouldn’t even be able to come home and visit. And…” Zoe suddenly remembered the very worst thing about Auntie Edna.

  “And she’s allergic to animals,” finished Lucy, nodding. “I know, love. I’m really sorry. It means that Meep will have to stay here at the zoo, I’m afraid. He’ll be really well looked after with the lemurs and monkeys over the summer though.”

  Zoe felt Meep start to skitter back and forth between her shoulders anxiously. She knew immediately what her tiny friend would be thinking. “But Meep doesn’t like living in an enclosure, even the lovely big one that the other lemurs are in,” she said, feeling desperate. “That’s why he came to live with us in the first place.” Meep had come to the Rescue Zoo when he was a little baby, and he’d never liked being kept in any kind of enclosed space.

  Lucy sighed. “I knew this wouldn’t be what you wanted to hear, Zoe,” she said. “That’s why I was so worried about telling you. But going on this trip is really important to me, love. I’ve always dreamed about going to the Arctic, but I’ve never had the chance before and I might never have it again. I’ll learn so much, especially about polar animals, so I’ll be an even better vet when I get back.”

  Zoe looked at her mum’s hopeful face and knew what she had to say – even though it was really hard. “I understand, Mum,” she said, nodding and trying her best to smile. “I was just … a bit surprised. But I really don’t mind. You should definitely go. It will be brilliant. Besides, maybe Auntie Edna will turn out to be really fun.” As Zoe said this, a picture swam into her mind: a thin lady with grey hair and a scowl on her face, snapping at Zoe not to stroke a cat on the pavement outside in case she brought any hairs inside the house. She shivered.

  Lucy reached over and hugged Zoe. “Thank you, Zoe. I was so nervous about telling you but you’re being so grown up about this. I know you understand how much this means to me. And I promise that next summer we’ll do something to make up for it – we’ll go on a proper holiday, somewhere lovely and hot by the seaside, with lots of other children for you to make friends with.”

  But Zoe didn’t mind about going on holiday. She just wanted to stay at home for the summer with all her animal friends – and with her best friend, Meep, most of all.

  After tea, when Zoe had brushed her teeth and put on her pyjamas, she and Meep got into bed and cuddled each other tight.

  “I don’t want to be away from you for six whole weeks, Meep!” Zoe whispered, feeling a big sad lump in her throat.

  “Me neither,” squeaked Meep miserably, rubbing his furry little face against Zoe’s neck. “This is going to be the worst summer ever!”

  Zoe didn’t get very much sleep that night. When she woke up the next morning she felt tired and cross, and she wasn’t looking forward to school. Today was the last day of term, and she knew her friends would be chatting excitedly about all the fun things they had planned for the holidays.

  Lucy had left for the zoo hospital early, so that she could use the computer there to book her flight to the Arctic. She had left a plate of toast and a pot of raspberry jam on the kitchen table for Zoe’s breakfast, along with a cheery note wishing Zoe a fun last day at school. Zoe managed a few mouthfuls of toast but she didn’t feel very hungry.

  Meep was feeling glum too. “I don’t think I can eat my breakfast today,” he told Zoe very seriously. “I’m too sad.”

  Zoe couldn’t help smiling. “Meep, you’re never too sad to eat breakfast,” she told him. “What about one little banana?”

  “Well … maybe I could manage just one,” Meep agreed.

  Suddenly Zoe had an idea. “Mee
p, let’s go and visit Henry before I go to school.” She picked up her school bag. “If anyone can cheer us both up, it’s him! He’s always happy.”

  They walked through the zoo, passing zookeepers on the path on their way to give different animals their breakfasts. Zoe smiled and said hello, but she didn’t feel like stopping to chat to anyone.

  When Zoe and Meep arrived at the hippo enclosure and opened the gate to walk inside, Henry trotted straight over to meet them. He looked up at Zoe curiously, nudged her foot with his little head and gave a grunt.

  “How did you know that something was wrong, Henry?” Zoe replied, smiling. She crouched down and stroked his head. “You’re right – I am feeling sad about something.” She sighed. “I found out last night that I’ve got to leave the Rescue Zoo for the summer, and stay with a great-auntie who I barely know. I’m going to miss everyone here so much.”

  Henry rubbed his head against Zoe’s leg again and gave a cheerful snort. Zoe smiled. “That’s true, Henry,” she replied. “We’ll just have to have even more fun than usual before I leave, so that I’ve got lots of fun memories to think about while I’m away!”

  Henry gave another little grunt, his eyes bright. Then he turned and rushed away from them, squealing eagerly at the other hippos, who were all wallowing happily in their mud bath. Zoe and Meep glanced at each other. “Henry wants us to play chase with the hippos,” Zoe said doubtfully. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea, Meep. Henry’s still quite little, but the others are really big and heavy, and Great-Uncle Horace says that hippos can run really fast. I think we’d better leave them to it!”

  “Yes, I don’t want to get squished!” chirped Meep, shaking his little head.

  Zoe smiled, and then she and Meep watched as the other hippos grunted excitedly back at Henry, then stomped out of the mud and started to chase after him. Henry grunted instructions for his game, saying he had to run once around the whole enclosure and then get back to the mud bath without any of them catching him. The little hippo ducked underneath low branches and squeezed through narrow gaps between rocks that the bigger hippos couldn’t manage, so at first he got a head start. Then, as he trotted back towards the mud bath, the others started to catch up with him.

  “Oh dear, Meep,” Zoe said anxiously. “The mud bath is right next to the fence – and all the hippos are running straight towards it. I don’t know if they’re going to be able to stop in time!”

  Zoe and Meep held their breath as Henry leaped into the mud bath, squealing happily. A moment later Albert, Rona and Hetty thundered after him. But Albert and Rona were charging so fast that they couldn’t slow down. Their tough grey feet slid through the slurpy mud, and they smashed straight into the fence next to it – and right through it! They landed on a stretch of empty grassland on the other side of the fence, and both looked around in surprise.

  “Oh no!” cried Zoe. “Meep, they’ve broken through the fence!”

  She rushed over to see how much damage the playful hippos had done.

  Pieces of wood lay scattered all over the grass, and there were huge puddles of gloopy mud everywhere. Henry leaped out of the mud bath and trotted through the gap curiously after Albert, Rona and Hetty, making cheerful little snorting noises. He immediately started exploring this new area of the zoo excitedly.

  Zoe heard footsteps and turned to see Mo running down the path, a look of horror on his face as he saw what had happened.

  “I can’t believe it!” he gasped. “Quick, Zoe – we’d better get the hippos back in their enclosure and try to clean this mess up before Mr Pinch sees. He’s on his morning walk around the zoo now, so he’ll be coming this way any moment.”

  Zoe knew Mo was right. She remembered Mr Pinch’s warning yesterday. But they were too late. Just as Mo finished speaking, an angry voice bellowed down the path, “What on earth…? This is the last straw!”

  Zoe and Mo turned to see Mr Pinch marching towards them, his face very pink and cross. “Those messy hippos have destroyed their enclosure and they’re running wild! They’re ruining my lovely clean zoo!” he snapped. “And now I’m going to have to get this fence mended. Four hippos together in one enclosure are just too many – especially with that naughty little one causing trouble all the time.” He jabbed a finger through the air towards Henry.

  “But he doesn’t mean to cause trouble. He’s just playing,” Zoe protested, but Mr Pinch cut her off.

  “I won’t stand for this any longer,” he told her and Mo. “I’m going to do something about this – just you wait and see!”

  Chapter Six

  Mr Pinch’s Plan

  As Mr Pinch stomped away, muttering angrily to himself, Zoe rushed after him.

  “Mr Pinch, wait!” she cried. “What do you mean, you’re going to do something? You’re not going to send Henry away, are you?”

  “Even better – I’m going to send them all away,” snapped Mr Pinch. “I’ve been speaking to a zoo manager at another zoo, two hundred miles away. They have a hippo enclosure too, with much more space. They’re prepared to take all four hippos.”

  Zoe stared at him. “But – but you can’t send them all away,” she stuttered. “Albert and Rona have lived here ever since Great-Uncle Horace first opened the zoo. Hetty was born here. And Henry has only just started to settle in!”

  “While Mr Higgins is away on his Arctic trip, I am in charge of the zoo,” Mr Pinch retorted. “That baby might only be small now, but he’ll be fully grown before we know it and then he’ll cause even more chaos. There just isn’t enough room for them all. The hippos have to go.”

  Zoe felt completely helpless. As she watched Mr Pinch storm off, tears sprang to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. First the news about having to go to Auntie Edna’s house, and now this. Things couldn’t get any worse!

  “What are we going to do, Zoe?” squeaked Meep. “We can’t let Mr Pinch send the hippos away!”

  Zoe took a deep breath. “We’ll go and talk to Mum. She might be able to speak to Mr Pinch and convince him to let them stay.”

  “But won’t you be late for the last day of school, Zoe?” squeaked Meep anxiously.

  “This is far more important!” Zoe told him. “Come on!”

  Zoe and Meep ran through the zoo, not even stopping to speak to their animal friends who called out to wish them good morning. They raced to the zoo hospital and burst through the door.

  “Mum, Mum!” Zoe gasped breathlessly.

  “Goodness, Zoe, what’s the matter?” said Lucy, turning round. She was sitting at her computer, tapping away. “I’m just booking my flights to the Arctic. I need to get it all done today.”

  “Mum, the hippos broke their fence and Mr Pinch says he’s going to send them all to another zoo,” explained Zoe quickly. “He thinks they’re too big and too messy for their enclosure! Can you talk to him?”

  “Oh dear, that’s awful,” said Lucy, frowning. “Of course I’ll talk to him. But, Zoe, Mr Pinch is the zoo manager, and when Great-Uncle Horace is away, he is in charge. I’m not sure I’ll be able to change his mind.”

  “But you have to!” said Zoe. “We can’t let him send the hippos away – this is their home!”

  “I know, love. But Mr Pinch might have a point,” Lucy said gently. “That enclosure was fine when it was just Albert and Rona, but now there’s Hetty and Henry too, and it is looking very cramped in there. When Henry is fully grown we’ll have four adult hippos living together – and you know how big they are. I don’t always agree with everything Mr Pinch says, but he may be right about there not being enough space for them here. Maybe it would be for the best.”

  There was a little beeping sound from the computer and Lucy turned back to it, distracted. “Oh, Zoe, I need to finish doing this before all the seats on this flight sell out. I’m sorry. We can have another chat about this when you get home from school, OK? You don’t want to be late.”

  Zoe sighed and said goodbye to Meep, then trudged to school, turning everyth
ing over in her mind. It was all going wrong! She felt so upset that she didn’t even want to join in with the end-of-term games on the school field that her teacher had arranged for her class.

  “Please can I just watch, Miss Hawkins?” she asked quietly.

  “Of course, Zoe,” Miss Hawkins replied, looking concerned. “Let me know if you want to talk about anything that’s worrying you, won’t you?”

  Zoe nodded and sat at the edge of the field. Her friends Nicola and Jack ran over.

  “Zoe, what’s wrong? Aren’t you going to come and play?” Nicola asked.

  “I don’t really feel like it,” Zoe said. She explained everything that had happened, with her having to go and stay with her aunt, and the problem with the hippos.

  Jack pulled a face when Zoe described what she could remember of Auntie Edna. “She sounds a bit like my Auntie Muriel,” he told her. “I wouldn’t want to go and stay with her for the summer either!”

  “We’ll write you lots of emails and postcards, Zoe,” Nicola promised.

  “And I’ll ask my mum if we could come and pick you up from your aunt’s house one day and take you out somewhere,” added Jack.

  “Thanks,” Zoe told them both gratefully. Her friends had made her feel better, but she was still not looking forward to the holidays at all. And most of all, she was very worried about her hippo friends.

  When Zoe got home from school, Meep was waiting for her in his usual spot at the zoo gates, and together they headed straight back to the hippo enclosure.