Not exactly like a day in the real jungle, of course. But the keepers try as hard as they can to make life interesting.

For Ivan and Ruby, I’m the ultimate enrichment.

I’m their best pal.

walls and bad guys

Julia takes me out of her backpack and I settle onto the wide stone wall. It’s my fave place on the planet ’cause it means I can see Ivan and Ruby. But I also kinda hate it.

Walls will do that to you.

Ivan, being Ivan, is a mellow kinda guy. Takes the good with the bad, only gets angry when he really needs to. When I complain about the walls at the park, he says, “Walls keep the animals in. But they also keep the bad guys out.”

Of course, gorillas don’t have a whole lot of bad guys to deal with. Elephants either. So humans step in to fill the void.

Dogs? Sometimes it feels like we have enemies galore.

Everyone wants a piece of us. Humans treat us badly. Cars really have it in for us. We even get eaten by coyotes, which is kinda like having your cousin invite you over for dinner, then inform you you’re the main course.

Although I’d probably just be the appetizer.

Anyways. After those twenty-seven years stuck in a mall, Ivan is one of those “glass half full” kinda guys when it comes to the walls surrounding him. Glad to be with others of his own kind. Cared for by smart and loving humans.

I’m more of a “water bowl of power half empty” kinda guy.

Every time I leave Ivan and Ruby, I am painfully aware that I can leave. Ivan’s address is “Gorilla World.” Ruby’s is “Elephant Odyssey.”

And me? I guess my address is the same as Julia and George and Sara’s. 1249 Hinman Avenue.

I mean, of course it is. I’ve been living there a whole year now.

It is.

And yet, sometimes I still wake up at night and think, Gotta find shelter, gotta find safety, gotta find somewhere to belong.

Guess I don’t want to get too comfortable.

gift

Once I’m in my spot, I don’t have to do a thing, because Ivan and Ruby always know when I’m there.

Gorillas and elephants have great schnozzes, too.

Also, I pride myself on staying extra fragrant.

It’s a gift.

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.