Free That's What Friends Are For by Patrick Lewis, Christopher Denise

Margie Barge’s Tears

    Teeny and Tugg ran through the jungle to join their friends for an early morning bath. But instead of being in the waterhole, everyone was standing around it. The water was full of air bubbles.
    â€œDo you hear somebody crying, Tugg?” Teeny asked.
    Whooosh!
Up out of the water burst Margie Barge. She was blubbering big, wet tears.

    â€œWhat’s the matter, Margie Barge?” asked Tugg. “Are you hurt? Are you in pain?”
    â€œY-Yes and y-yes,” she cried. “Just look at me, Tugg. Have you ever seen so many chins? I ate f-far too much g-grass and water plants, and now look at m-me!”

    â€œWell, you are a hippo after all,” said Teeny. “I thought hippos were happy being large.”
    â€œDo you know what ‘hippopotamus’ means?” Margie Barge asked. “It means ‘river horse.’ And that’s me.” She started to cry again.
    Tugg had an idea. He whispered something to Teeny, who scampered off into the jungle.

    â€œWell, Margie,” said Tugg, “at least you do not have hair all over like me! No one can tell my front from my back!”
    The other animals started to speak up.
    Tina Hyena laughed loud and long. “Have you ever heard a laugh like that, Margie? It is so annoying that sometimes instead of laughing I feel like crying.”

    â€œListen, Margie,” said Barb Hedgehog. “You should be glad you do not have prickles like mine all over your body. Why, I even scare Rory Lion!”
    Margie Barge’s smile was returning. She did not feel quite so bad anymore.
    Just then Teeny returned. “Margie, meet Henry! He’s new to the neighborhood.”

    Henry took one look at Margie, then blinked as his skin turned pink. “Hello, gorgeous!” he said. “Who are you? The Queen of the Waterhole?”
    â€œWell, I…” Now it was Margie’s turn to blush.
    â€œWow!” said Henry. “Today must be my lucky day. Would you like to go for a swim?”
    And Margie’s tears went away for good.
    As Tugg and Teeny walked home, the monkey said, “Margie Barge is hippy and happy again, Tuggboat.”
    â€œYes, Monkeyface,” said Tugg. “Thank goodness you were there to save the day.”

Rocko’s Horn

    â€œHave you seen Rocko Rhino?” Teeny asked.
    â€œNo,” said Tugg. “What is our good friend Rocko doing these days?”

    Before Teeny could answer, Violet jumped out of the jungle. The warthog was out of breath. “Rocko lost his horn! Come and see.”
    Teeny and Tugg and Violet ran all the way to Rocko’s house.
    Poor Rocko was sitting in his backyard. He did not look like the same Rocko at all.

    â€œMy horn is gone, Tugg! It was right here on my face,” he cried. “It must have fallen off, but I do not know where it went. What good is a rhino without a horn? That is like a monkey without a tail!”
    â€œRocko,” said Teeny. “I will find a substitute for your horn.”
    Tugg shook his head, but when Teeny made up her mind, nothing could stop her. She ran into the jungle to find a new horn.
    Teeny stopped when she saw Cuddles Python eating a banana.
Perfect!
she thought. When she brought a banana back to Rocko, he strapped it on his head.

    â€œNo,” said the rhino. “Too squishy.”
    Next, Teeny saw Margie Barge by the waterhole. She had a flower behind her ear.
That’s it!
thought Teeny. But when the monkey tied the flower to Rocko’s face, he sniffled, “
Achoo!
”

    â€œNo,” said the rhino. “Too sneezy.”

    â€œOkay,” said Teeny. “I have just the thing—my music stick with the holes in it. Will this work?” she asked.
    â€œNo,” said the rhino. “Too skinny.”
    He sat back down with a heavy thud.
    All of a sudden, Tugg had an idea. “How long have you been sitting here, Rocko?” he asked.
    â€œThree