9780008390662

“Take a small creature like Eek,” said Ivan. He scratched his chin with the
end of the banana. He did that when he was in a philosophical mood. “Maybe
brave for a mouse is different from brave for me or brave for you.”
He looked at me fondly. “You’re the bravest dog I know, pal.”
“I ain’t brave.” I chewed on my tail, avoiding his gaze.
“You are Bob, untamed and undaunted,” said Ivan, and he chomped off a
hunk of banana. He offered the rest to me, but I shook my head. I wasn’t
feeling hungry.
Also, it was mostly just peel.
“That’s just my shtick. My routine.” I hesitated. “I mean, sure, I’m tough,
compared to, say, Eek. But that’s setting the bar pretty low.”
“You’re too hard on yourself sometimes, Bob.”
I met his eyes. He has these dark brown, deep-set eyes, really kind ones. Eyes
that make you wanna admit things. Confess to your failures.
“Once when I was little. Just a pup. I did something . . .”
Ivan waited patiently. Ivan is the king of patience.
I felt myself dashing into a dead-end tunnel I couldn’t escape. I didn’t want to
go there. Not even with Ivan.
“Never mind.” I yawned. I do that when I’m anxious. “I’m rambling.”
“Bob?” Ivan said. “You okay?”
“You know me, Ivan. I’m always okay. Always.”
I slipped away before he could ask me anything more.