Ian owns a dog.
As the novel begins, Ian reveals that the last thing he could have done in his life is to adopt a stray dog. In other words, Ian does not love dogs, just like his aunt, Terry. However, there is a paradox when Ian adopts a stray dog to find companionship. Terry is shocked when Ian tells her that he has built the dog a house and has given him the name Gather.
The irony of the teacher
When students make fun of their teacher by calling her “the Sharpe," Ian thinks she will be annoyed when she discovers how students address her secretly. Ironically, Ian learns from the teacher that she loves the name because it symbolizes her brilliance and determination to help her pupils excel and understand every concept she teaches.
The paradox of the return of Ian’s mother
When Ian's mother returns home from the hospital, readers expect Ian to be excited and welcoming. However, Ian has formed a strong bond with Gather and cannot tolerate any attempt to kick him out of the house. Instead, Ian says it is her mother, who is not supposed to be at home. Ian says, "If we fight about the dog being in the house, I know I am going to make things much worse. He's been here, She hasn't." Ian knows that the presence of Gather inside the house will bring a conflict with his mother, and he is prepared to fight for the dog even if it is going against his mother.
