Harry & Andy and a Summer Day
Written by Ruth Holmes

It was a hot summer day.  Andy and Harry the Hippo looked for a cool spot to spend the day, but everywhere they looked, the heat sizzled. They went to the park, but bugs kept flying in their faces. They tried Andy’s backyard but couldn’t find any shade. Andy and Harry went to visit a giant aquarium, but only the fish could swim and stay cool in the water. 

 So, the two friends decided to cool off at the beach. The beach was near, so they followed the flying seagulls. Harry had never visited the beach.  He lived at the circus and only visited places the circus stopped and set up the big white tent. The circus had never stopped at a beach. Harry had swum in a river a few times because, after all, he was a hippo. He sometimes swam in the pool at the circus but that was only on special occasions. Today he was excited as he wiggled his toes in the warm sand. He couldn’t wait to swim in the ocean with his best friend Andy. 

Andy sat quietly on the warm sand and looked at the waves as they gently rolled up on shore. He watched the crystal blue waves as they reached the shore and wet the sand. Harry excitedly ran over and said “Come on Andy, get in the water it's nice and cool!" 

Andy looked up at Harry and began to cry. Harry was surprised as he looked at his friend and asked,” what’s wrong?” 

Andy was embarrassed and said thru dripping tears and hiccups, “I don’t know how to swim or even float “.  

Harry chuckled as he looked at his friend and said, “Is that all? Oh Andy, I know how to swim, and float and I’ll teach you. We’ll have a lot of fun.   “ 

 Andy immediately felt better and sighed with relief. He stood up and without saying anything to Harry raced him to the water’s edge. The two friends laughed and splashed water as they ran alongside the water.  

So, when the time came for Andy’s first lesson Harry said,” relax your body when you lay down on the water.  I’ll hold you and soon you’ll float on your own.”  Andy closed his eyes and imagined himself floating in the water.  

Andy stood in waist deep water as he bent his knees and lay down on top of the water. The water felt cool and the current gently moved around his head and body. He got wet. Andy’s nerves tighten.  He was tense. As the water supported his body and he began to float, his legs became weightless and then something gave his big toe a tiny nip. “Ouch!” he yelled. Andy just knew a shark had nibbled his toe, so he panicked and began to sink. He saw visions of water completely covering his face and the shark circling him. His feet couldn’t feel the sand floor. He swallowed salt water. He was in too deep “Help”! He sputtered as he swallowed a bit of seawater.  He swung his arms around trying to find his balance but all he felt was more water. Andy opened his eyes too soon just as a small wave rolled by causing his eyes to sting from the saltwater. His heart was pounding loudly, and he thought he had lost his hearing. He felt his body sink into the ocean!   

But Harry was right beside him and pulled him up. Andy looked around in the water to see what had nipped him. As Andy looked down at the crystal-clear water he saw a flash of orange shuffle sideways by his foot. A tiny crab with funny bulging eyes was walking under the water. Andy’s big toe had gotten in its way. Andy moved his feet and the crab gingerly sidestepped and kept on going. 

“Okay, Andy, try again.  Lay down and close your eyes. Relax and listen to the water as it gently moves over your body. Breathe slowly. Relax.” Harry coached him. Then Harry slowly let go and Andy floated. Andy didn’t realize he was floating all by himself, but he was. Harry watched for a minute or two and then called Andy’s name. “Andy, you’re floating!” Of course, as soon as Andy realized he was floating he began to sink but this time he just stood up. He laughed out loud and said “that was so cool Harry. I didn’t know I could do that. Thank you for teaching me.“ 

Then Andy and Harry ran and splashed water on each other as they ran on the water’s edge. They hunted for sand dollars, shells and chased small crabs. They jumped over huge piles of seaweed that had washed up on the shore and dodged the seagulls as the birds nosedived. Then they hopped over the waves as the tide moved in. Andy and Harry were having so much fun discovering new things at the beach. When they got tired of running around, they sat on the sand and built a sandcastle with tall towers and a moat. 

 The sun started to go down and the tide came in and washed away their sandcastle. It was time to go home. The friends made a plan to return to the beach and practice floating and swimming. Harry thought “maybe next time we should bring a couple of boogie boards?” Hmm. Maybe.