Once upon a time, in a lush green valley lived a happy hippo named Humphrey. Humphrey loved splashing in the river all day with his friends, the playful otters and the clever crocodiles. But when the sun began to set, Humphrey would get very sleepy.
One evening, Humphrey couldn't find the perfect spot to sleep. His usual mud puddle was too muddy. The sandy bank was too sandy. Even the soft grass felt too itchy. Humphrey sighed a big, hippo sigh. "Oh dear, where will I sleep tonight?"
He saw Fiona the flamingo sleeping peacefully on one leg. "Excuse me, Fiona," Humphrey whispered, "Your leg looks so comfy. Could I sleep standing on one leg like you?"
Fiona chuckled softly. "I'm afraid not, Humphrey. Flamingos are built for standing on one leg. You're much too big! You might fall over!"
Humphrey thanked Fiona and walked on. He saw Sammy the snail curled up in his shell. "Sammy," Humphrey asked, "your shell looks so cozy. Could I borrow it for the night?"
Sammy popped his head out. "My shell is just the right size for me, Humphrey. You wouldn't fit! But maybe you could find a nice, big leaf like I use sometimes?"
Humphrey thanked Sammy and searched for a big leaf. He found one as big as a blanket! He tried to wrap himself in it, but it was too brittle and crackled loudly. "This won't do," he mumbled.
Just then, Humphrey's friends, Ollie the otter and Carlos the crocodile, saw him looking sad. "What's wrong, Humphrey?" Ollie asked.
Humphrey explained that he couldn't find a comfy place to sleep. Carlos smiled. "We know the perfect spot! Come with us!"
Ollie and Carlos led Humphrey to a quiet corner of the riverbank. There, nestled amongst the reeds, was a soft patch of mud, just the right size for a hippo. It wasn't too muddy, too sandy, or too itchy. It was perfect!
Humphrey snuggled into the mud and closed his eyes. "Thank you, my friends!" he yawned. Ollie and Carlos snuggled up beside him. Soon, all three friends were fast asleep, dreaming sweet dreams under the twinkling stars. And Humphrey knew that the best place to sleep was always with his friends.