Broken Spirits Can Swim

Broken Spirits Can Swim Ch. 1

As the lunch rush finally ended in the café, Jane let out a very audible sigh while leaning against the counter. His tail no longer wagged like usual for customers as he turns to clean the very counter that had seen over one hundred cups of coffee in just over two hours. He grabbed a towel from below the counter and sprayed a spot of dried coffee.This one he was unable to clean while taking orders and giving out whatever the customers wanted.

Jane looked at the clock and smiled. 'Just one more hour then I'm free, with a full weekend off for once', he thought as he restocked the display items. Customers had bought some, and he added a few of the hand made chocolate chip cookies he had cooked this morning. Ever since his manager had one from his lunch, he had asked Jane to make them for the café, even giving him a two dollar raise just so he would make them for the display. As he finished stocking the display, he went around cleaning tables. He collected any tips left behind, which usually isn't much since this was a café and not a proper dinererer. Splitting what tips he found with his coworker Lilly, they would then spend the time refilling all the chilled coffees in the front cooler while chatting.

"So Lilly, you ever get that guy to ask you out?" Jane asked while sliding several bottles of coffee onto the shelf, looking over at his feline friend.

"I wish. Ian is a bit fickle, even though he is a stallion," She smiles, her tail swaying slowly, "though I wish he would hurry up. Otherwise I'm going to ask him myself." Jane chuckles as he finishes stocking the bottles, rubbing his wrist and adjusting his rainbow chain bracelet. He had got it back when he left his home and got his first apartment. Upon finishing restocking, Jane moved to the back to get everything ready to leave, slipping his three earrings back into his left ear and the two in his right. Each one was a different color. As he pulled off his apron and hung it up, his manager comes walking by.

"Jane, can you see me in my office before you punch out?" He asked and, left without waiting for a reply as Jane looked in his direction. A curious look stuck to his face, he shrugged, going to grab his messenger bag. He tossed his name tag and cheap cellphone in before walking to his manager's office. The name plate read "Kyle McManis, District Manager".

With a knock, Jane peeked his head inside. "You needed to see me Mr. McManis?". His manager signaled him to have a seat as he finished typing out something on his computer.

"Yes, I called you in here to discuss something you may find... intriguing. " he turned to Jane, "I have recently received an email from the Furville University." He looked at Jane square in the eye as he paused.

"Um, yeah I had put down this as my current place of employment, but I don't remember ever putting down anyone's email on the application," Jane said, rather confused as to why the university would even bother checking out this place. 'Maybe they were checking in to see if I can afford the tuition or able to pay the student loans.' He thought to himself as he looked on worried.

"Well the Dean of the university actually is my husband," Kyle says calmly, "He had emailed me asking if you would be a good candidate for a scholarship, one that he and I have put together, but until recently we couldn't find someone who deserved it. That is, until I met you." He looked at Jane with a smile as he placed his hands together in front of him. Jane stared at him, rather dumbfounded from hearing his manager talk about an actual chance to get a better scholarship, one that could mean a better life than what he had now.

" I...I don't know what to say..." he went silent for a while as Kyle's smile grew bigger. Kyle stood up from behind his desk and held out his paw expectantly.

"If anyone deserves this, it is you Jane," he said as he shook Jane's paw firmly, pulling him up to his feet, "My husband saw your application, and while it wasn't the best written, most polished, or full of accomplishments, it did stand out over the rest. Your written portion especially, telling why you wish to go to the university." He patted Jane's back, and all Jane could do was utter a small squeak before hugging Kyle, crying happily against his shoulder. Kyle would pat his back and chuckled a little. "Always an emotional canine, heh." He remembered when Jane applied and came in for the interview, his pants faded, patched jeans, his shirt an old, wellused button up shirt that was at least twice his size. Most of it was tucked in to his jeans in a sad attempt to hide its size. Jane had practically broke down when he was asked why he needed the job, the reason Jane gave pulled at Kyle's old deer heart. He gave Jane the job on the spot with no further questions. Snapping back to the present, Kyle comments, "My husband has always said I am a big softy." He would chuckle as he pulled away from Jane.

"S-sorry Mr. McManis, I just...this is the best thing to happen to me!" Jane exclaimed as he wiped his tears on his sleeve, sniffling a bit as he smiled. He quickly sat back down as Kyle returned to his own seat. "So, I take it I'll get something in the mail to inform me that I've been chosen for this scholarship?"

A second voice almost makes Jane jump from his seat, "No, we wanted to inform you in person." From the doorway, a tall avian walked in, his plumage mostly white, except for the brown around his face and shoulders. "Kyle had told me how much you needed to work to get even close to getting into the university, let alone pay for it along the way. We had discussed this years ago since neither of us can have children of our own, we had decided we wanted to help someone who really needed it. Someone we knew wouldn't squander their education or money for said education." He walked behind Kyle, placing a clawed talon on his shoulder. "So when I received an application from you, with his place of business, I told him you were the one for the scholarship."

Jane stared with the biggest grin ever on his muzzle. He held his tail to stop it's excited wagging while listening to his boss' husband who now explained why he was chosen. He took note of Kyle's husband's more feminine look as the three discussed the terms of the scholarship. These included things such as he must maintain good grades, and if he was in need of any monetary help all he had to do was ask. Best of all, he could still work at the café, although his hours would be flexible. "Oh, and of course no goofing off and getting yourself into trouble" the Dean said with a chuckle.

After being at work just over an hour longer his shift, Jane finally left, walking out and waving goodbye to Lilly with a big smile. He started heading home when a loud boom of thunder could be heard in the distance, causing him to look up just as the heavens opened and started to pour rain down on the city.

"Great," he grumbled to himself. "And here I thought I would have a great ending to my day." He let out in a sigh as he pulled his hood up and ran home, knowing he would be soaked before he reached his small studio apartment, just four blocks away. "I hope the power isn't out this time, I could really use a soak in a steaming hot bath."

When Jane finally arrived to his apartment, he fished his keys out of his bag with quivering fingers as the rain kept battering him, soaking him through. He steps into the front entrance, shaking his fur off the best as he could, before checking his mailbox; it was empty as usual. As he made his way up to his place, he could hear his neighbors arguing, a bull ox who worked at a mechanic shop and his wife, a small fennec fox who stayed home due to a drinking problem. Jane tried his best to ignore the yelling as he opened his door stepping inside quietly, locking it behind him.

Finally removing all his clothes that stuck to his fur from the rain, he dropped them into the hamper as he hopped to the bathroom, his tail swaying as he skipped with a hum. Upon entering his bathroom, he started the water right away but didn't plug his tub as he knew it would be a minute before the hot water kicked in. He turned and inspected himself in the mirror, looking over his matted grey and white fur, his slim body looking back at himself with a smile as he tried to maintain his size. He scratched behind an ear, the rainbow earrings moving a little as he turned and plugged the drain to fill the tub. He grabbed a small jar pouring the lavender bath salts into the water, one of the few luxuries he had. It helped him keep his sanity in his tiny, barely furnished apartment.

With a loud and content sigh, Jane slid into his tub slowly, enjoying the hot water soaking into his fur, feeling it easing his sore muscles from the cold. He clicked on a small radio he had screwed into the wall near the tub to some light music as he closed his eyes and felt any tension from the day melt away and dissolve in the aromatic waters below.

Edits done by Niko