The One and Only Family

Raji asks Ivan if anyone in his Africa troop ever got sick. Ivan says that a cousin did. When Raji guesses that the vets made the cousin better, Ivan haltingly explains that there were no vets in Africa because it was different there. Raji asks how different, to which Ivan answers, “different in a zillion ways” (191), before distracting her so that she stops asking questions.

Ivan joins Bob and Ruby at Canine Corner for a chat, needing a break from his responsibilities. He tells them about Raji’s questions and that he skirted the truth. Bob makes a show of chewing his tail. It’s clear that he’s deciding on a response. Ivan thinks, “[S]omehow, I have the feeling I don’t want to hear what he has to say” (196).

Bob points out that Ivan is dependent on humans at the zoo and that this won’t change; he’s overheard his humans talking about how there aren’t a lot of wild places left. He tries to offer advice based on what he’s told his nephew. Ivan cuts him off because nephews aren’t the same as one’s actual children.