Hippo And The Mallard Duck

Vaby the baby hippo was still getting used to his "hippo legs." He spent most of his morning practicing his underwater wiggles, which mostly just looked like a giant grey potato rolling around in the mud. ​Everything in the pond was brand new. He spent five minutes staring at a floating leaf, convinced it was a tiny green boat, until a Mallard Duck zoomed past him like a feathered race car. The duck was moving so fast he was practically skiing on his belly, before pulling a sharp, splashing U-turn that sent a spray of water right onto Vaby’s nose. ​Pop! Vaby’s ears did a little 360-degree wiggle to shake off the water. ​"Hey! What are you doing?" Vaby asked, his eyes wide and curious. "Are you practicing for the Pond Olympics?" ​The duck skidded to a stop, his orange feet paddling like crazy under the surface to keep him upright. "I wish!" the bird quacked, out of breath. "I’m trying to catch something to eat, but these minnows are faster than a greased lightning bolt!" ​Vaby looked down at his own round tummy. "Do you have to run that fast to catch lunch? I usually just wait for a snack to float by and hope for the best." ​"It’s all about the aerodynamics, kid!" the duck said, puffing out his chest. Just then, the duck spotted a snack, dived headfirst into the water, and left his little feathered bottom pointing straight up at the sky. ​Vaby giggled, the bubbles tickling his chin. "Well," Vaby thought, "the pond is definitely a weird place, but at least nobody is bored!"