The story of two women who meet through the "Best Friend Agency." Millie, a retired bookseller, has imagined for herself a special friend, a pet hippopotamus, while Anna, an eccentric zookeeper, has the responsibility of caring for a real hippopotamus. Encouraged by their common passion for tea and the mysteries of Africa, the women forge a true friendship and together they find the courage to make their dream come true.

« MILLIE : A real one? / ANNA : A real one. A flesh and blood hippopotamus. Her name is Annie. She's a fifteen-year old female. I knew her mother before her, I've been working at the zoo for forty-five years. / MILLIE, aside : Ah, that explains the smell. The zoo. You work at the zoo? Isn't that hard work? At our age- / ANNA, cuts her off : That's nonsense, age is all in the head. […] »

"A very beautiful story about friendship that subtly, and humourously, touches upon the question of solitude and nonconformity." Sonia Sarfati, La Presse, May 26, 1992.