In the waiting room of adulthood, Arno Geiger tells the story of Julian, who experiences his first breakup and is astonished by the chaos it brings. To alleviate the disorder a bit, the student takes care of a pygmy hippopotamus for Professor Beham, which soon sets the rhythm of summer: it eats, yawns, dives, and stinks. Surprisingly, Julian falls in love with Aiko, the professor's daughter, but he anxiously follows the daily reports of new disasters from around the world. What will become of his life? What will happen when this beautiful summer is over? A novel about the search for a place in the world.