(IH)
by Rianne Winter
Illustration by Jeff Phillips
Idris was the silliest hippo that there had ever been,
A tiny, magical hippo, with fur of blue and green.
Long black eyelashes with little pink tips,
matched the pink bows on his tail.
He loved to play with nail polish and always had pink nails.
Idris loved to swim and swim… and swim all day through,
and he chose the silliest of places to live –He didn’t have a clue!
He lived in the CSF river around little Harry’s brain.
It was the only place he wanted to be – nowhere else was quite the same.
Idris was magical, with many hidden powers,
He magically made food to eat – and could eat ice cream for hours!
He magically made drinks in there too.
All different flavours, but all of them blue.
His favourite colours were green with some blue,
We all have our favourites… do you have some too?
Whenever Idris needed to sleep,
He’d float around on his Li-Lo – It was ever so sweet.
Remember when I told you that Idris was silly?
All that was true – he didn’t have a clue!
The CSF river around Harry’s brain
had special tiny holes in it so that it could drain
the dirty CSF water out every day,
and the new CSF water would flow in, so Idris could play.
But sometimes Idris would play until he got so hot,
Then he’d drink the river water quickly before…
‘Oops! I forgot!’
Before very long, little Harry would know,
That Idris had drunk the water, and then it would show.
Harry would feel so dizzy and sick,
With the room, all swaying as if on a ship.
Harry would have to lie flat on his back,
Sipping ice-cold drinks and well, that was just that.
No one could do much as Harry lay still.
There was nothing to cure this –there was no magic pill.
Daisy, his sister, sat close by him all night,
Willing him better with all of her might.
Slowly, he came around and was soon on the mend,
‘Idris, I wish you’d think!’ he said
‘You drive me round the bend.
You’re supposed to be my buddy, you know?
My bestest friend!’
‘Sorry Harry’ Idris said.
‘Please let me stay living in your head.’
Idris was careful, for a little while at least,
That was until the strong winds blew, and blew in from the East.
Remember when I said that Idris was the silliest hippo that there had
ever been?
Well, every time it rained or the wind blew outside,
Idris would have to find somewhere to hide.
Now, in the CSF river,
There aren’t many places to hide when you’re
scared,
No, there aren’t many spaces.
With each gust of wind that blew, Idris shook with fear, and he knew
That he had to find a place to hide.
‘But where, oh where should I hide?’ he cried.
He backed into a corner, backing further and further until <BLOOP>
‘Oh no!’ said Idris.
‘This is just my luck.
I try to hide, and I end up stuck.
Now Harry will be poorly, and he won’t be able to see.
It’s all my fault, he’ll be so mad at me.’
‘IDRIS’ yelled Harry.
‘What have you done? My head hurts SO bad and I can’t see very well,
IDRIS! Please undo your silly spell.’
But Idris couldn’t budge, try as he might,
He couldn’t move at all; he was wedged in so tight.
There was nothing anyone could do,
Idris was stuck like glue.
‘Harry, please don’t be mad. I’m sorry.
I got scared, you see,
Harry, please, please, please, don’t be mad at me.’
Idris and Harry were friends in their own special way,
Which is why Idris was always allowed to stay there and play.
‘Oh, Harry! What’s wrong?’ asked Mum,
As she saw him looking pale and glum.
‘It’s I.H. again, ’ little Harry said.
‘My head hurts so bad, and I just want my bed!’
Mum sighed as she saw the rain pelting down
and the wind howling around.
‘C’mon then, young man, let’s get you to bed.
I’ll get you a drink and find your special meds.’
Whenever Idris got stuck,
It made Harry’s brain pressure go up.
The tiny holes couldn’t drain the dirty water away,
But the new water still flowed in, ready for Idris to play.
Idris was fed up and ever so glum,
Wailing, he cried, ‘Oh, what have I done?’
He knew it would take time for the special meds to work,
Meanwhile, little Harry’s pain would be driving him berserk.
‘I’m sorry, Harry, I really am’ silly Idris said,
as little Harry lay fast asleep, with cold flannels on his head.
Slowly but surely, the special meds stopped new water
from flowing into the river,
which gave the dirty water time to drain out, as little Harry shivered.
He started to be more like his old self,
It was always a good sign when he wanted cookies off the shelf.
Little by little, the water pressure dropped,
So, Idris could wriggle and wriggle until he just popped,
Out of the hole where he’d been wedged in so tight,
Oh, to be free was such a delight.
‘I’m ever so sorry, Harry, please don’t be mad.
Please let me stay, or I’ll be lonely and sad.
‘Okay, Idris, you can stay,
but please be more careful as you swim around and play.’
Harry smiled as he knew it really wouldn’t last,
But Idris was a part of him, and for now, the worst was past.
So, Idris and Harry lived happily ever after,
despite Idris’s silliness getting even dafter.
They were special friends in a way like no other,
Idris the magical hippo and Harry, his brother.
Copyright Rianne Winter 2025
Rianne Winter 