We’ve lost ten park residents total. Eight deaths, plus two still missing. No humans died, but there were some injuries.

They’ve already started rebuilding. It’s funny the way people go right back at it after a tragedy. Everyone comes together. Lots of talk about community and kumbaya, blahblahblah.

They’re a resilient species, I’ll give them that.

It’s been three weeks, and we still don’t have Kimu back. Suzu either. There’ve been some sightings, nothing for sure.

I worry they can’t last long. Wolves aren’t native to this part of the world.

I like to think they’re together, at least.

Everybody else is back, with makeshift domains. Nobody’s complaining, though.

In spite of all the construction, Julia’s been taking me to see Ivan and Ruby whenever she can.

Today Ivan leans on the temporary fence separating him from the elephants. Maya made him a medal for valor out of a watermelon and cucumbers. He’s eaten most of it.

“It’s pretty great almost everybody we saved from the shelter ended up with a home,” says Ivan. “Even that annoying bunny.”

“Almost everyone,” I remind him.

“I’m so sorry about Boss,” he says in his gentle way.

From what we can tell, Boss never went into the doughnut shop. She slipped away, and no one knows what happened to her.

I try not to feel hurt. But I had this silly fantasy about me and her and Rowdy all hanging out together like a family.

And I so wanted her to know what it’s like to have a warm bed and a full bowl and a good ear scratch whenever you need it.

I wanted her to know she deserves that as much as any dog.

I guess she’d lived life too long on her own terms. Or maybe she was afraid to get her hopes up. To trust.

I understand. Been there, done that.

But sometimes humans don’t let you down. Sometimes they even come to the rescue.

riddle

“Uncle Bob!” Ruby calls, galloping over.

She seems more confident these days. A little more grown up. Stella would be proud. I know I am.

“Want to hear my new riddle?”

“Absolutely I do.”

Ruby flaps her ears. She does that when she gets excited. “What has an eye but cannot see?”

“I am perplexed, Ruby. Pondering and puzzled.”

“A hurricane!” she exclaims.

“Good one, Ruby. First-rate.”

I look at Ivan. We smile at each other. We don’t need to say a thing.

It’s enough to listen to the palm trees rustle and watch the saw grass sway.

working on it

On the way home, we pass the shelter. It’s been patched up pretty well, looks like. And they’re back in business.

I hear the usual yelps and howls and hisses and meows, and like always, I feel lousy. I plop down on the sidewalk, and Julia stops walking.