Ride or Die

Chapter 3

Your shift at had a rather peaceful lull right through until you clocked out after lunchtime. Nothing much in that Diner could be more difficult than the rude visit Kylo and his gang sprung on you guys.

You leave in the middle of the sunny afternoon. Stepping out into the cool clarity of the breezy warm afternoon is a nice tonic on your skin. The sun feels nourishing warm. Sinking into your skin. The coolness is refreshing after being clouded by the scent of salty bacon and old coffee. The diner gets so stuffy. And your morning had been a suffocating one. Tinged by anger and the outrageous actions of a certain gang leader. Stomping around the place like the Lord of his domain. Crushing everyone under his boots just because he was a bully and he could.

The rest of your day was a walk in the park compared to that. You switched off. Walking the short route to the animal shelter for your second job of the day. You couldn't wait to get there and shrug out of this ugly pink dress.

You'd grabbed the carrot cake for Grandpa, shoved it down safe in your bag. And then tore the cap the apron off the minute your shoes left the Diner doorway. Dan made a comment about it but you smiled to yourself and walked away. You heard Billy agree with you as the door snapped shut after your leaving.

You counted the beats of your feet. Listening to the thrum of your heart and the sweat gathering between your rubbing thighs as you walked along. Felt the soft push of your feet into your old sneakers with each step. Carrying you onwards, towards where you needed to be. To another day in this little town of yours.

You come to the shelter and push open the big glass door coming into the reception. The drab lobby was at its usual tired self. The wall behind the reception desk a dull deep blue. Matching the cracked plastic blue chairs that line the walls pamphlets and happy faded pictures of dogs and cats dotting the walls. Grey cracked lino speckled with blue all over the drab floors.

Mary was already there, sat on the phone talking. Almost hidden behind the high veneer desk. She waves at you with a great degree of boredom, cradling the phone when her shoulder and her neck. Scribbling down something. Her charm bracelet rattling against the desk. Nutty bob of hers as ruler straight as usual. The tell tale squeaking of little wheels and the rumble of a yip comes from under the desk.

You smile as the squeaking intensifies. Claws scrabble on the shiny floor. And the small black and white Boston terrier, Beans, patters his paws so fast running across to you. His back legs held in his little wheelchair cart. He was abused as a puppy and lost the use of his back legs. His cart was bright blue and had fake sunflowers pinned to it. Mary rescued him three years ago. He often came with her and hung out with you on your shifts. Forever wanting you to throw a ball for him.

"Hi Beans." You crouch to fuss the happy little thing. His body wiggled with excitement. A stitched pink and red striped jumper on his little chest and legs cause he felt the cold in his young years. He yipped happily at you and ran circles around your feet. Running over your toes in the process. He was always doing that. He rolled back over to his bed under the desk at Mary's feet when she told him too.

The din of dogs barking and whining out in the kennels echos sharp from the next room. The sound of their excited yelps skating through the walls. The air had the faint musty smell of wet dog mixed with the sharp fake citrus of bleach cleaner you used to mop down the floors with.

You push through the staff door punching her number in the keypad the door shuddering open as it caught on the floor. Groves of it scarred into the floor. You crossed to the tiny dingy employee  cloakroom and changed out of one uniform and into another. The shelter was was much less embarrassing.