9780008390662

ivan
Ivan gets to me first.
“Bob!” He knuckle walks up the hill—knuckle runs, actually—and he looks
as glad to see me as I am to see him.
It seems like I’ve known Ivan forever. And yet every single time I see him I
feel kinda awed. He’s so powerful. So huge. Like this magnificent silver
mountain that just happens to be my best buddy.
“Hi, Ivan!” Julia calls, waving. He cocks his head and makes a soft belch,
which is gorilla for I’m happy.
Maya calls out to Julia from the door to the gorillas’ indoor space. Maya’s a
zoologist, which is a hoity-toity way of saying she has a thing for animals.
It was Maya, and a lot of other good folks, who helped get Ivan and the rest
of the mall animals moved to better places.
Julia unhooks my string and gives me a stern look. “No funny business, you,”
she says, and then she kisses me on the head. “And stay out of sight.”
Ivan sidles up as close to the stone wall as he can get. “I was worried you
wouldn’t come today,” he says. “Weather and all.”
“Another hurricane,” I say. “It’s freaking everybody out.” Above me,
magnolia branches sway. Leaves rustle and shiver. Even the trees seem
uneasy.
“What’s new?” Ivan asks. He lies back on the grass and wriggles contentedly.
Scratching an itch, no doubt.
“Not much. Had a weird dream last night.” I pause. “You were in it, and me