The One And Only Ivan

The woman from the zoo, whom Ivan now knows as Maya, has arrived and is using click training to try to coax Ivan into his box. After hours, Ivan realizes Ruby won’t enter her box till he ventures into his own, and he finally “step[s] inside” (250). 

Ivan returns from the box to his cage—the humans are just acclimating him to the box at this point—and he suggests that Bob sneak into the box and live at the zoo. Bob is sure the plan wouldn’t work, saying, “[H]umans are dumb, but they’re not that dumb” (251).

Ivan tells Ruby that while he’s sure the other elephants will “love you,” he himself doesn’t need love, but “respect” (252). However, he worries that he won’t be able to earn that respect—he hasn’t had “much practice being a real gorilla” (252). Ruby says she’ll finally go in the box the next day, and Ivan says Stella would have approved.