Henrietta the Hippo Finds Love

Henrietta the Hippo Finds Love


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Frankie and his parents, Adisa and Deka take a short trip from their home in Southern Nigeria. They came near the river of Nigeria and they saw a single hippopotamus bathing in the muddy water.

The hippo caught sight of the family. The little person, named Frankie really took her fancy.

The hippo wanted to get their attention. She wanted to see them. She really felt love at first sight with Frankie. Frankie talked to the hippo and said "you look like you should be named Henrietta. Henrietta understood right away that she had a name. She was happy.

Frankie and his parents took one last look at Henrietta and says goodbye as they went on with their safari.

Henrietta had other ideas. She felt love for Adisa and Deka, but she had an unusual loving feeling for Frankie.

Henrietta has seen humans before and never cared for them. She knew she was a hippo and didn't even like people that much, but Frankie and his lovely family were different.

Henrietta was about one thousand pounds. She climbed out if the Nigeria River and followed behind his newly found friends. She stayed a little behind, so not to call attention herself.

Frankie and his family walked awhile more and decided to walk the two miles home. They had gone to just see the animals in the wild.

They headed home to their simple home. They had a spacious, but very simple home with dirt floors. The house was very neat. Some of the floors were covered in mats made of straw. Other floors were simply neatly swept dirt floors.

Deka kept the front door open to let in the cooler air that was blowing in from the north that evening.

Frankie was sitting down on the mat while his mother started making food if fermented fish and rice. The fish was sliced thin like sushi, but it was stored in brine for three years. The family was hungry and their mouths were all set for their gourmet meal.

Henrietta was really close now to the home of Frankie and his family. Because the door was open, she smelled the pungent aroma of fermented fish. She had never tasted that, but the aroma drew her to the door. It smelled good!

Frankie was sitting near the open door. His eyes got big when he caught sight of Henrietta. Immediately Frankie invited Henrietta into the house. Frankie was not scared of the hippo at all. He immediately wrapped his arms around Henrietta's upper body and he kissed her on the hump over her left eye. The hippo nuzzled in close to Frankie and lay down on the mat where Frankie had been sitting. Her girth took up much of the room. 

Frankie sat down next to the prone Henrietta and started petting her head and ears. Frankie noticed how clean she was and she had only a musky scent that was pleasant to the senses.

"Supper is ready!" Adisa called.

"Coming mom!" said Frankie. He got up to go to the kitchen to eat and Henrietta hoisted herself up and followed Frankie into the kitchen.

"Well look who we have here!" Adisa exclaimed.

"Henrietta is hungry mom." Frankie said.

"So she is." Adisa was a little leery about getting close to Henrietta's mouth.

Henrietta opened her mouth wide. Big teeth jutted out of her mouth. Adisa tossed a piece of the fermented fish into her mouth and Henrietta gently closed her mouth and swallowed the morsel of fish. Then she opened her mouth for more. The fish tasted delicious to Henrietta's sensitive taste buds.

Frankie gently pushed his mom aside and he fixed a plate of the fermented fish and rice, and also cut up some mango and bananas that were sitting on the counter.

"Come, Henrietta! Let's go in the den and eat. Frankie sat down and Henrietta laid down beside him with her head raised and her mouth open.

Frankie was not frightened of Henrietta. He knew instinctively that Henrietta would not bite his hand if he put the food on her tongue. Henrietta waited until her mouth was clear before she closed it to swallow. Frankie ate from the same plate. When the plate was finished, Henrietta went outside in the bush and did her business. Frankie got a pail of water and a rag and commenced to washing Henrietta down. He cleaned her up really well and dried her with a towel that was hanging on a tree to dry.

Adisa had washed clothes by hand outside in a wash basin and hung them up on top of the bushes to dry. Frankie knew his mom wouldn't mind him using one towel to dry and massage Henrietta's skin.

Henrietta loved the attention. She hoped she could live forever with Frankie and his family.

Henrietta stayed with Frankie and his family for a week.

"It's time we take Henrietta back to the river where we found her. It's not healthy for her or you to be so attached. I think Henrietta is truly in love with you Frankie." Adisa said.

A reluctant Frankie and his parents led Henrietta back into the wild. She was so sad. Henrietta stepped toward Frankie for one last hug. Frankie didn't want to let go. He didn't want to say goodbye to his precious Henrietta.

The family said their warmest goodbyes and headed for home. Tears began to flow silently from Henrietta's eyes.

Night came. Then morning broke. One day and night led into another. Henrietta missed Frankie and his family. She longed for Frankie the most.

Henrietta went to sleep on the river bank. She was too sad to stay awake. When she awoke she had a great surprise.

Henrietta had found a mate in the water, beside her. It was love at first sight. It was a love as strong, but also different from the love she felt for Frankie.

Henrietta discovered she could communicate with her newly found male friend. Mentally she asked if he would be willing to be named Henry. The male hippo was so happy to be Henry to Henrietta.

Henry and Henrietta became an inseparable pair. They even had a bun in the oven. Yes, Henrietta was expecting her first child.

Henrietta grew big with her unborn calf. Within days it was time for Henrietta to give birth. Her baby was a boy.


Months had gone by and Frankie was worried about how Henrietta was getting along. It had been a long time with no contact with her. His parents didn't want Henrietta to cling to them. She didn't belong in their house. She was much too big to be a pet. Besides, Henrietta was young yet. She had lots of living to do yet.

"Mom, Dad, let’s just go and see how Henrietta is doing."

Frankie and his family trekked out into the river basin and found a wonderful sight.

"Henrietta!"Frankie ran to her and put his arms around her neck. He kissed the hump over her eye and gave her a good scratch behind her ears.

Henrietta's mate lumbered over to meet Frankie too. Just then a little head popped up out of the water and Frankie saw that Henrietta had a baby.

Frankie took in the sight of the little family, and for the first time Henrietta spoke to Frankie telepathically and said "My little boy's name is Frankie. We named him after you. I love you Frankie." The baby hippo came up onto the bank to meet his namesake. There was instant love between the two of them also. 

Frankie kissed Henrietta again and said I love you Henrietta."

Reluctantly, Frankie and his family turned to head for home.

Frankie turned around and called back to Henrietta and her family that this is not goodbye. He would be back every few weeks to bring them some fermented fish and fresh fruit.

Henrietta looked Frankie straight in the eye and opened her mouth wide as if she were smiling in her own way. She loved her own family and she also loved her human family.

The end