The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Page A

bench and watches them. She draws a little, but mostly she keeps her eyes on Ruby.
    Bob watches too. He’s hiding in the corner of my domain under Not-Tag. It’s raining outside, and Bob does not like damp feet.
    Ruby trudges behind Mack, her head drooping. Endlessly they circle the ring. Sometimes Mack slaps her flank with his hand.
    Suddenly Ruby jerks to a stop. Mack pulls the chain hard, but Ruby refuses to move.
    â€œCome on, Ruby.” Mack is almost pleading. “What is your problem?”
    â€œShe’s exhausted,” I say to myself. “That’s the problem.”
    Mack groans. “Idiot elephant.”
    â€œIdiot human,” Bob mutters.
    â€œWalk, Ruby,” I say, although I know she’s too far away to hear me. “Do what he says.”
    â€œWalk,” Mack commands. “Now.”
    Ruby doesn’t walk. She plops her rump on the sawdust floor.
    â€œI think maybe she’s tired,” Julia says.
    Mack wipes his forehead with the back of his arm. “Yeah, I know. We’re all tired.”
    He pushes Ruby with the heel of his boot. She ignores him.
    George looks over from the food court, where he is wiping off tables. “Mack,” he yells, “maybe you should call it a day. I’ll close up.”
    Mack yanks on Ruby’s chain. She’s as anchored as a tree trunk. He pulls harder and falls to his knees. “That does it,” Mack says. He brushes sawdust off his jeans. “I am through playing around.”
    Mack stomps off to his office. When he returns, he is carrying a long stick. The gleaming hook on its end is almost beautiful, like a sliver of moon.
    It’s a claw-stick.
    Mac pokes Ruby with the sharp point. Not hard. Just a touch.
    I can tell he wants her to see how much it can hurt.
    I growl low in my throat.
    Ruby doesn’t budge. She is a gray, unmoving boulder. She closes her eyes, and for a moment I wonder if she might have fallen asleep.
    â€œI’m warning you,” Mack says. He breathes out. He stares at the ceiling.
    Ruby makes a huffing sound.
    â€œFine,” Mack says. “You want to play it that way?”
    He draws back the claw-stick.
    â€œNo!” Julia cries.
    â€œI’m not gonna hurt her,” Mack says. “I just want to get her attention.”
    Bob snarls.
    Mack swings. The hook slices the air just a few inches above Ruby’s head.
    â€œSee why you don’t want to mess with me?” Mack says. He draws back the claw-stick again. “Now move !”
    Ruby jerks her head, flinging her trunk toward Mack.
    She makes a noise that sends the sawdust scattering. It makes my glass shiver.
    It is the most beautiful mad I have ever heard.
    Ruby’s trunk slaps into Mack.
    I don’t see exactly where she strikes him—somewhere below his stomach, I think—and I know he must be uncomfortable, because Mack drops the claw-stick and falls down on the ground and curls into a ball and howls like a baby.
    â€œDirect hit,” Bob says.

poor mack
    Mack groans. He stumbles to his feet and hobbles off toward his office. Ruby watches him leave. I can’t read her expression. Is she afraid? Relieved? Proud?
    When Mack is gone, George and Julia lead Ruby from the ring. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay,” Julia says, stroking Ruby’s head.
    They settle Ruby in her domain and make sure she has fresh water and food. Before long, Ruby’s dozing.
    â€œDad?” Julia asks as George locks Ruby’s iron door. “Do you think Mack would ever hurt Ruby?”
    â€œI don’t think so, Jules,” George says. “At least I hope not.”
    â€œMaybe we could call someone.”
    George scratches his chin. “I wish I could help Ruby, but I wouldn’t know how. I mean, who would I call? The elephant cops? Besides”—George looks down—“I need this job, Jules. We need this job. Your mom, the doctor bills…” He