Hubert and the Floating Cub

Little Tuffy the tiger cub loved many things, like chasing butterflies and bouncing on his big, striped paws. But Tuffy did not love water. In fact, he was a little bit scared of it.

One sunny afternoon, Tuffy was playing near the edge of the great, shimmering river that wound through the jungle. He saw a beautiful, bright blue dragonfly.

“Ooh!” Tuffy squeaked, and he pounced!

But instead of landing on the dragonfly, Tuffy landed with a great big SPLASH right into the water.

“Gulp! Glub! Help!” Tuffy cried. He was in deep water, and he didn’t know how to swim! He flailed his little paws and splashed wildly, but he only seemed to sink lower and lower. Tuffy felt very small and very scared.

Just then, a huge, grey, wrinkly boulder seemed to rise out of the river. But it wasn’t a boulder at all. It was Hubert the hippopotamus. Hubert was a very large hippo, and he loved nothing more than a peaceful afternoon soak.

Hubert heard the frantic splashing and looked up. He saw tiny Tuffy bobbing in the water.

“Oh dear! A little striped cub where he shouldn’t be,” Hubert said to himself. His voice was deep and rumbling, like gentle thunder.

With surprisingly quiet power for such a large fellow, Hubert swam over to Tuffy. Tuffy was so scared, he almost didn’t notice the massive hippo.

Suddenly, Tuffy felt something solid and smooth beneath his belly. It was Hubert’s broad snout!

“Up you go, little one,” Hubert rumbled. He gently nudged Tuffy upwards, lifting his head above the water.

Tuffy sputtered and gasped for air. When he opened his eyes, he saw Hubert’s kind, brown eyes looking at him.

“Th-thank you,” Tuffy whispered, his teeth chattering a bit from the cold water and the scare.

“No need for thanks, little sprout,” Hubert said with a small smile. “But you are a long way from home, and swimming isn't something you do with your claws and teeth!”

Hubert repositioned himself so that Tuffy was safely tucked along his strong side. Tuffy could feel Hubert’s rhythmic paddling against him.

“Now,” Hubert began, his voice calm and steady, “swimming isn't about being scared. It’s about being like the leaf on the water. Calm and floaty. And a little kick-kick-kick!”

Hubert showed Tuffy how to kick his back legs. He supported Tuffy’s belly with his strong nose while Tuffy practiced.

“Kick... and glide... kick... and glide,” Hubert chanted softly.

Tuffy’s initial panic began to fade. With Hubert supporting him, he started to move through the water. It wasn’t scary anymore. It was kind of… fun!

They practiced all afternoon. Hubert never let Tuffy sink, even when Tuffy got tired and his kicking got slow.

By the time the sun was setting, painting the sky with colors of mango and plum, they had reached a shallow bank with soft, green grass.

Hubert gave Tuffy one final, gentle nudge onto the shore. Tuffy stood on solid ground, shook himself, and a cloud of water droplets sprayed around him.

“There you go, little Tuffy,” Hubert smiled. “You can swim a little better now.”

Tuffy looked from his striped paws to the massive hippo. He wasn't just safe; he’d learned something new, and made a wonderful, large friend.

“You’re the best, Hubert,” Tuffy said, bumping his small nose against Hubert’s massive one.

Hubert chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. “I’m always here for a soak, Tuffy. Just remember to kick and glide.”

From that day on, Tuffy still loved chasing butterflies, but he also learned to enjoy a good, calm paddle in the river – especially if he could spot a certain large, grey snout poking up from the water nearby.