Hello! My name is Marvin the Hippo. If you know anything about Hippos, then you know that I don't live in this forest. I got lost from my family and don't know how to get back. Will you come with me as I try to find my way back home?

With hope in his heart on finding his family and with his one tooth smile, he decides to start walking on his path back home. 

He stubbles across the river and is amazed by the how blue the water is. He looks up to see Katie, who was a swan struggling to get out of the grass. One of her wings was stuck in the grass and couldn't get out.

Help me please!

Without hesitation, Marvin jumped into help using his mouth to untangle the grass. 

Katie, the swan, was eternally grateful. She told Marvin how he was so kind to help a stranger and help save her life. 

Marvin was confused. He didn't know what kindness was? 

Marvin thought for a long time. What is kindness? 

Thank you so much! You are so kind

Katie explained it to Marvin this way. "Kindness is something that everyone has, but maybe not everybody uses everyday. Kindness is something you do just because. It's when you do something nice for someone else. It doesn't have to be big, it can be small." 

"That make sense" Marvin said. 

"By helping me today, you showed me kindness because you didn't even know me."

That day Marvin learned his first lesson. Kindness is the greatest gift you can offer, no matter how small it is.

Marvin still wanted to get back to his family as fast as he could and he needed to keep walking before it got dark. So he said bye to Katie and went along his journey. 

It felt like hours and the darkness was coming, but needed to stop and take a break. He reached a dark forest where every time the wind blew, it felt as if the trees were whispering. It left an unsettling feeling in Marvin. 

He heard a voice and he looked up and it was Ace, the monkey shaking in the trees.

Who is there? I am scared.

Marvin knew what he had to do. He lifted one of his legs, as if he reaching out a hand, to help him down. He helped Ace on his head and started walking. "I got you. Where do you need to go" Marvin asked. 

"I need to find my family. I got lost. And I am scared to be alone" Ace said shivering.

As they started to walk to get out of the forest, Marvin made Ace laugh the whole time and made him less scared. He helped Ace face his fear.  

Eventually they found Ace's family and all the monkey's were filled with happiness as the reunited with their baby. 

It was just then that Marvin realized something else. 

What do you call cheese that isn't your cheese? ... NACHO CHEESE!

Marvin realized that sometimes you put your worries aside to help someone else through a hard time and face a fear. Helping a friend is more important than worrying about yourself when your friend is in trouble. Sometimes you just need to laugh to face a fear. 

He smiled as he said goodbye to Ace and continued on his journey.