Be Brave, Be Strong
By Rylee Black
In the zoo there lived a hippo named Harold. Harold
worried a lot. He worried about all the things that could
possibly happen. What if this happened? What if that happened? All this worrying stopped Harold from having fun. He became sad when he saw his friends having a wonderful time. They didn’t seem to be scared like Harold. Why not? Harold decided to visit his friends and find out.
First he saw his friend Gloria. She was wearing an exceptional new hat. “I could never try something new. What if I didn’t like it?” Harold told her. “If I didn’t like it, I would try another hat until I found one I liked.” Gloria answered.” That didn’t seem too scary to Harold. Maybe he could do it.
Next he passed Molly the Giraffe. Molly was on her way to visit another zoo. “I could never visit somewhere without my mom. What if I got lonely or scared?” Harold said. Molly answered, “If I got lonely I would make friends with the other animals and if I needed to, I would call my mom and talk with her.” That didn’t seem too scary to Harold. Maybe he could do it.
He next saw his friend Fredrick the Penguin. Fredrick was dancing for some flamingos. “I could never perform in front of people. What if I looked silly?” Harold said. Frederick replied, “If I looked silly, I would keep dancing and have fun. It’s okay to look silly.” That didn’t seem too scary to Harold. Maybe he could do it.
Next on his walk he passed Leroy the panda. Leroy was doing a somersault. “I could never learn to do something hard like a somersault. What if I couldn’t do it?” Harold said. Leroy answered, “If I couldn’t do it the first time I would try again and again.” That didn’t seem too scary to Harold. Maybe he could do it.
Next Harold passed Virgil the gorilla. Virgil was swinging across the trees. Harold exclaimed, “I could never do something that adventurous. What if I got hurt?” Virgil responded, “If I got hurt I would go to the Vet and she would make it feel better.” That didn’t seem too scary to Harold. Maybe he could do it.
As he walked, Harold thought of all the fun things he had been missing out on, because he had been too busy worrying. He wanted to be like Gloria and try new things. Like Molly and go to exciting places. Like Frederick and have fun doing something he loved. Like Leroy and learn to do hard things. And like Virgil and do adventurous things. But how could he stop being afraid?
Before going home Harold passed the Great Lion. He knew the Great Lion was the bravest animal in the zoo. Maybe he would have an answer for the worrisome hippo? Harold quietly approached the Great Lion and asked, “I can’t have any fun, because I am too scared about what could happen. How do I stop worrying about the What Ifs?”
The Great Lion lowered his head and asked, “Harold, what happened when you asked your friends what if?” “Well, they told me what could happen and what they would do to solve it.” Harold answered. “Did it help to see that the What Ifs you were worried about aren’t as scary when you answer the question?” asked the Great Lion. “Yes, I was able to see that I could handle whatever happened.” answered Harold.
The Great Lion put his mighty paw on Harold’s shoulder and said, “Harold, hippos were not made to stay in their pond and worry about everything. Hippos and all animals were made to do great things. Great things cannot happen without mishaps and mistakes. The important thing is to know that no matter what could happen it will turn out okay. Now go forward and be brave and be strong.”
Harold thanked the Great Lion and turned back home. As he thought back on his friends and the Great Lion. He knew now that he could be brave and strong and handle all the What Ifs that came his way.
