CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CLUMP. CLUMP, CRUNCH, CRUNCH. He hopped quickly into his pond and peered over the edge. Something was coming. Something BIG. “Hello,” a big voice said. “Hello,” Frog stammered. “Who are you?” “I am Hippopotamus.” Frog quaked. This must be the biggest animal in the world. He had heard of hippopotamus-esssss. But this was the first one he had seen. Oh no, he thought. He has come for his egg which we killed and buried. Frog took a deep breath, “If you have come for your egg, Hippopotamus, we killed it. We did not mean to. We are very sorry.” “I do not know what you mean,” Hippopotamus said. “I do not lay eggs. I am a mammal.” “Oh.” Frog was not sure what that meant. But he was happy that Hippopotamus was not angry. He was so BIG. “Just call me Hippo,” Hippopotamus said. “I live in town in the Little Zoo. Someone left my cage open. I ran away to see the world. Then I saw your pond. I like ponds. May I join you?” “Of course.” Frog moved over.
