To a human, Mud might not sound like much. I drew on rocks and bark and my poor mother’s back. All day long, every day, I made pictures. Mud It didn’t take long for my parents to find my name. Then I would join her and we would bounce on that tolerant belly until he gave us the Grunt, the rooting-pig sound that meant Enough! That game never got old. Oh, how I loved to play tag with my sister! She was nimble, but when I got too close, she would leap onto my unsuspecting father. When they saw how much she loved to chase me around the forest, my parents decided on my twin sister’s name: Tag. We wait to see hints of what might yet be. Gorillas don’t name their newborns right away, the way humans do. The grunt I was born in a place humans call central Africa, in a dense rain forest so beautiful, no crayons could ever do it justice. Then I hear myself saying, “Once upon a time there was a gorilla named Ivan.” And, slowly and deliberately, I try to remember. And Bob.” I listen to Ruby’s soft sobs for long, horrible minutes. He’s the opposite of an elephant.” Ruby lets out a long, shivery breath. “It’s true,” Bob says, trying to be helpful. “I don’t remember things, Ruby,” I admit. “Please, Ivan?” I scratch the back of my head. “Stories were Stella’s specialty.” “Tell me a story about when you were little,” Ruby pleads. Do you know any stories the way Aunt Stella did?” “Not really,” I admit. “And I miss my mom and my sisters and my aunts and my cousins, too.” “I know,” I say, because it’s all I can think of. “Ruby? Are you all right?” “I miss Aunt Stella,” Ruby sobs. And for mine.” Bob can’t sleep unless he is on my stomach. “Ivan,” Bob says gently, “get some sleep. I don’t want to fall asleep, in case she needs something. Once upon a time All night, Ruby moans and sniffles. When I gaze at the food-court skylight, the moon Stella loved is shrouded in clouds. I don’t answer, so Bob licks my nose until I can’t stand it any longer. “Mighty Silverback.” He licks my chin, and he’s not even checking for leftovers. “You are the One and Only Ivan,” he says. The cement is always cold, but tonight it hurts. I can’t even save myself.” I flop onto my back. I just wanted-” I point to Stella’s domain, and for a moment, it seems like I’ve forgotten how to breathe. “I wanted to make the kid feel better.” “I shouldn’t have made that promise, Bob. “You told her that?” “You promised Stella.” Bob lowers his head. And I told her not to worry, because you were going to save her.” I glare at him. The one and only ivan When all the humans have left, I send Bob to check on Ruby. When George wipes the fingerprints off my glass, his cheeks are wet. Crying Julia cries all evening, while her father sweeps and mops and dusts and cleans the toilets.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |