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.”

It’s true. He carries around old burlap bags so he won’t have to sit on wet grass.

Ivan looks at me sheepishly. “She knows me so well.”

Kudzoo, one of the baby gorillas, bounds over and leaps onto Ivan’s back. Ivan loves all the youngsters, but Kudzoo is his favorite. I think she reminds him a little of his twin sister, Tag, who died when she was still a baby.

“Ride!” Kudzoo commands.

Julia appears, her backpack at the ready. “Bob,” she calls, “we need to get going.”

“Ride, now!” Kudzoo repeats, yanking on one of Ivan’s ears.

“Looks like it’s time to go,” says Ivan. “Good to see you, buddy. Stay dry, okay?”

“Will do, big guy.” I turn to Kinyani. “Enchanted, as always, my dear.”

A trumpeting noise cuts through the air. “Uh-oh,” says Ruby. “That’s Aunt Akello.”

Akello, the oldest of the elephant aunts, lumbers over. “Come on, Ruby. Weather’s getting bad.”

“Just one more minute?” Ruby pleads.

“Now.”

“But I need to tell Uncle Bob one more riddle.”

“Now,” Akello repeats.

“Nobody ever listens to the littlest elephant,” Ruby complains.

“You can tell me the riddle next time, kiddo,” I say, winking at Akello.

Ruby brightens. “Okay. Gotta go or I’ll be in big trouble! Love you, Uncle Bob! See you later, Uncle Ivan and Aunt Kinyani!”

“I’m not your—” Kinyani begins, but Ruby is already galloping back to her herd.