The One And Only Ivan

Ivan spends his days waiting and his nights painting. Mack always has his claw-stick when he trains Ruby, but he doesn’t use it—because Ruby is no longer “fighting back” (174).

Ivan spends his nights making painting after painting, each one a piece in “a giant puzzle” (175). He hides them all under his pool, away from Mack’s eyes—these paintings are for Ruby.

Ruby asks Ivan why he’s so tired, and he says he’s been working on a painting, but she can’t see it yet. Ruby asks if she has to perform with Mack, and Ivan tells her he’s “sorry,” but he’s “afraid so” (177).