9780008390662

a very handsome dog
“Hi, Aunt Kinyani!” Ruby calls.
“Once again, Ruby,” says Kinyani, “I am not your aunt. I am a primate. And
you, my dear, are not. More’s the pity.”
“But if Ivan is my uncle, then you have to be my aunt,” Ruby declares.
“Ahem,” says Ivan, pointing to the wall. “My painting, Bob?”
I consider. “It looks like . . . like a dog?”
Ruby flaps her ears. I can tell she is trying very hard to stay quiet.
“A very handsome dog,” I add. “Is it—”
“It is!” Ruby exclaims. “It’s you, Uncle Bob! Uncle Ivan told me!”
“But who’s that?” I ask, pointing to another set of mud strokes.
“I thought you needed a companion,” says Ivan. “I know you must get lonely
at home, by yourself all day.”
It’s true. But I’ve never mentioned that to Ivan. Guy’s like a mind reader.
“I think Snickers and Bob would make a cute couple,” says Ruby.
I blink in disbelief. “Bite your trunk!”
Ruby starts to reply, but her voice is drowned out by a sharp clap of thunder.
“Storm’s getting close,” says Kinyani. “Ivan, dear, come on. You know how
you hate the damp.”