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Horace Hippo loved to play his harmonica. He’d play cheerful tunes while he floated in the river, jazzy riffs while he munched on water lilies, and even sleepy lullabies as the sun began to set. But Horace had a bit of a problem: his harmonica had the hiccups.

It wasn’t constant, but every now and then, right in the middle of a beautiful melody, the harmonica would let out a loud, unexpected “HIC!” This would often disrupt Horace’s performance and startle the nearby frogs.

One afternoon, Horace was practicing a particularly intricate piece for the annual Jungle Jamboree when his harmonica hiccupped so violently that it flew right out of his mouth and landed with a splash in the muddy riverbank.

Horace sighed. “Oh, H.H.,” he grumbled, using his harmonica’s name. “Why must you be so…hiccupy?”

He carefully retrieved H.H. and tried playing again. “Twinkle, twinkle, little…HIC!…star.”

Determined to solve this hiccuping issue, Horace sought advice from his friends. Penelope Penguin suggested holding his breath (which was difficult underwater). Connor Crocodile recommended a good tap on the side (which only made H.H. sound slightly muffled before the next hiccup).

Finally, Agnes Ape, known for her wisdom and her collection of strange gadgets, offered a solution. She presented Horace with a tiny, intricately carved wooden plug. “Try putting this in the little hole on the side,” she suggested. “It might just do the trick.”

Horace was skeptical, but he tried it anyway. He inserted the tiny plug into the small hole on H.H. and took a deep breath. He began to play. “Oh, Susanna…” The notes flowed smoothly, beautifully, and most importantly…without a single hiccup!

Horace was overjoyed. He played his heart out, a joyous melody echoing through the jungle. H.H., finally free from its hiccups, sang out clear and true. The Jungle Jamboree was sure to be a success, thanks to Agnes’s clever plug and Horace’s persistent practicing.