Driftless @ Franky
Effy’s day wasn’t a long one, there was no strenuous activities, the only real hitch was setting her alarm for a six thirty wake up to make it to a yoga class by seven that she without hesitation shut off immediately and saw the light of day at her normal time of ten thirty. The rest unimportant, forgettable. Just a day. She found her way downstairs to watch the telly with a glass of wine and JJ sitting idly by going through the paper and reading out loud. The day of leisure and wine setting in Effy retreated to her room where the options were limitless. Halfway up the stairs she felt like cracking a book open, at the top she wanted to put a movie in, once inside the room she decided to get some work done until she grew lazy. Sleep. She would sleep.
It was around two thirty in the afternoon that she opened her eyes and decided that enough was enough. She jumped out of bed, got dressed and grabbed her purse. Maybe she should just head to the park and have a spliff. Perhaps get some reading done there instead of trapped inside the house. What the fuck happened to impromptu parties anyway? Being an adult could be quite boring sometimes. Ozzy was starting to grow impatient and needing a walk so she used that as a perfect excuse to get the fuck out and get some air. “Come on boy, lets go.” She grabbed his leash and snapped it around his collar before stepping out the door. The pup kept tugging her and getting distracted by the people around. She was juggling a cigarette in one hand and the leash in the other as they turned the corner towards the park when Ozzy stopped suddenly and started to sniff around some girl, almost moving up her skirt in the process. “Shit, sorry. He’s a real twat sometimes. Ozzy, quit it.”
Franky was out again, this time scouting for flats. She didn’t exactly have enough for more than a studio but it seemed fine for her. She had been applying for jobs, scoring one as a receptionist at a local rehabilitation clinic. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but it was better than not having any cash flow. She had just left work, taking the very early shift since people decided to come in at anytime. Just a week of working there and Franky had seen enough to make a documentary. She had started to journal about it, but nothing more than that. She wanted some more ideas for her movies, if she could start them up again.
She stopped on the way between her scouting for flats at a local shop. They placed a small stand on the patio to serve coffee which Franky desperately needed now. The weather was slightly warmer, enough to wear tights and a skirt again for her work. She was near ready to make her order when she felt sharp nails on her leg and a few blows of air. She would’ve jumped had she not seen the leash next to the furry little animal. Franky smiled, even if the dog was half way up her leg anyway. “Hi there.” Franky knelt down and started to pet the pup. The girl apologized, but she waved it off. None of it mattered. Dogs were dogs. “It’s okay. He’s cute. What’s his name, Ozzy you said?” Franky grinned and looked back at the barista waiting with a smile herself. “Oh, small coffee please. Do you have whipped cream? Could I have a cup for him?” Franky pointed down to the panting pup. “I’m Franky, I hope it’s okay if he has some.” Franky was handed the cup of whipped cream straight away and she offered it to the girl standing next to her.
A small wave of relief washed over her when this girl brushed off her apology and didn’t seem to mind that her dog was trying to sniff up her skirt. Some people were not as understanding. “Yes, Ozzy. He’s very friendly.” Sometimes too friendly. Specially around girls but she wasn’t going to give her the full disclosure. “Attention seeker, aren’t you boy?” The girl was kneeling down now and petting him behind his ears, which was starting to drive him a little crazy. That was his favorite place to be rubbed after all. “I think he likes you.” It was still a little weird having a pet. Someone who depended on her for food, water and all other basic needs. At first Effy wasn’t sure keeping him would be the best idea but now she was actually happy to have the little fur ball around. He also kept JJ company when she was out and about, which was pretty often.
Her eyes drifted from the dog to the coffee shop in front of her and suddenly she was feeling the need for caffeine. She introduced herself as Franky and Effy smiled. It wasn’t the most common name. Possibly short for something but just Franky seemed to fit her just fine. “I’m Effy. And yeah, he’s got a bit of a sweet tooth.” When the cup of whipped cream was set on the floor Ozzy jumped right in, sticking his nose into the mug and making a complete mess of his face. Effy didn’t mind. It was an easy clean up. The barista turned to Effy and asked if she wanted anything and she ordered a small black coffee for herself. “Cream and sugar, please.” Ozzy was distracted with his treat so the chances of walking away right now were next to null. Gave her the opportunity to chat with this girl. Franky seemed interesting. She had a little something that stood out but Effy couldn’t really put her finger on what that was. “Do have any pets, Franky?”
“I’m Effy. And yeah, he’s got a bit of a sweet tooth.” Franky giggled when she handed the cup to the pup. She wasn’t sure if he was a puppy or just a young dog, but he was adorable. Franky had always wanted a pet for herself. She didn’t know how well it would pan out working and living alone if she did. Plus, she didn’t exactly know how to take care of one. She watched him snort and lick up all the whipped cream from the small cup until it was all gone. Franky watched Effy order her own coffee and Franky sipped hers. Not too hot, just like it needed to be. “Do you have any pets, Franky?” She looked down at the puppy and shook her head. She saw Effy with her cup and decided to take an empty table. If she wanted to join she could. Franky actually needed to make a few more mates. She had been avoiding hers enough.
“No, actually I’ve never had a pet.” Of course, the reason behind that was the multiple care homes she had been in, but she didn’t want to mention that. “I was thinking about it. Maybe a kitten… no, young cat. I’ve never taken care of a dog before so I don’t think I’d be very good at it.” Franky set her coffee down and took a seat at the small table. “You can join if you want. I don’t have anywhere to be. Plus your dog is adorable.” Franky pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the puppy with cream all over his face. “Where did you get him? Shelter or something?”
Ozzy gobbled the entire cup of cream, leaving nothing but drool around the sides. Effy reached down and grabbed it by the handle, placing it on the counter. The barista wasn’t that happy with the messy mug but said nothing. Franky moved to the nearest table, talking about how she had been thinking about getting a cat and how she wasn’t sure if taking care of a dog was something she would be good at. Effy could understand that. “Never had a cat but I imagine they are a lot more … low maintenance.” At least you didn’t have to worry about walking them or giving them lots of attention. As fun as Ozzy was sometimes she wished he would calm down and not run around the flat with that sodding ball in his mouth, or using her knickers as chew toys.
Franky invited her over and Effy just thought , fuck it. Wouldn’t hurt to make a new mate. Other than Naomi, Effy didn’t really have female friends. Something about them that she just found irksome. They were far too catty for her own good. And lets be real, Effy could be a real bitch from time to times and girls did not like that. Here goes nothing. She moved towards the table to take the seat across from Frankie. Ozzy was getting his sugar high and moving around in circles but she knew he would grow tired eventually. “No shelter. My ex found him under a bridge and thought he would make a good gift. A pick me upper.” Effy tasted her coffee, which wasn’t great but it was going to get the job done. “Yunno, if you want a dog you should try it out. You never know what you can or can’t do unless you give it a shot.”
Franky watched the puppy spin around and try to chase his non-existent tail. She reached down and swiped her fingertips against his back when she could. He was ridiculously soft, especially his ears and nose. She almost scooped him up, but she needed to keep her distance. This was a stranger and a strangers dog. Franky was actually in a good mood for once. No sulking. No jobless life. She had her hobbies. She had stability. Everything seemed to be going in the right direction. “No shelter. My ex found him under a bridge and thought he would make a good gift. A pick me upper.” So, in a way he was adopted. Someone must’ve left him alone and that thought was a terrible one. How could someone leave something so small and harmless alone on the side of the road?
“Yunno, if you want a dog you should try it out. You never know what you can or can’t do unless you give it a shot.” Franky laughed as Ozzy started to itch as his ear until he fell over onto his back. “Depends on the size. I just got a job actually. Looking for a flat too. Maybe around this area, studio. Maybe a cat wouldn’t work out either. Litter box…” Franky shook her head. A pet sounded nice, but she needed to make sure she could take care of herself first. Franky barely got back on her feet. “I hate so say this, because it happens to me often. Have I seen you before? You look familiar. Did you work over at the pub on first?” Franky narrowed her eyes so she could place the face, but it wasn’t working. This girl was drop dead pretty, but Franky was too nervous to say so. The familiarity was true, but the face seemed lost.
Franky seemed to be enjoying Ozzy’s company. Taking a moment to pet him here and there. After trying to chase his tail for a while he fell over on the ground, huffing and puffing and with his tongue hanging out. Effy noticed the look on her face when she mentioned that Ozzy was found under a bridge. A hint of sadness perhaps? It was understandable. It tore at her heart to think about any dog being abandoned for whatever reason. No matter how bad things got she could never do that to another living being. “They can be a handful but once you get the hang of it it’s quite easy. But I suppose you’re right about the size.” Her worries were valid. A flat and a job were both very important things, not only for pet owners but as a whole. She remembered when she didn’t have either one of those things and how crappy it was. Then she had a thought.
“Yunno, I’ve got a friend who was thinking about renting a room in her flat. If you don’t mind having a roommate I could give you her number.” Effy thought about Naomi living alone in that house. They talked about the possibility of having people live there for both the company and just to have some extra income. “I hate to say this, because it happens to me often. Have I seen you before? You look familiar. Did you work over at the pub on first?” Effy narrowed her eyes to think and have a good look at the girl. She didn’t seem familiar. Franky had that look that was pretty memorable. “The pub on first? The one with the bartender who looks like a fat Adam Levine? I’ve never worked there but I am very fond of their beer.”
“Yunno, I’ve got a friend who was thinking about renting a room in her flat. If you don’t mind having a roommate I could give you her number.” Franky didn’t hesitate to think about it. There was nothing wrong with reaching out. She nodded, knowing it could be a bust or not. Franky was at least trying to get herself out of the house. “The pub on first? The one with the bartender who looks like a fat Adam Levine? I’ve never worked there but I am very fond of their beer.” Franky giggled quietly. “Yeah, that’s the one. I guess I might’ve seen you there then. I’ve been a few times. Not lately. My mate Alo goes there a lot. You’ve probably seen him. Tall, lanky red-head. Sort of looks like that weird muppet with the crazy hair.” Franky shook her head and felt the dog pawing at her foot. She leaned over and started to rub his back again.
“About your mate. Where does she live? Like is it a boarding house or something? Not that I’m not interested. I don’t want to be far from Bristol. Plus salary is a little low. I-I just started working at the rehabilitation clinic down the road. Not a dream job, but something to do while I wait for things to kick off.” She considered going back to school, but it would have to wait a little longer. Bristol university had it’s good points and bad. It wasn’t like Oxford, but it wasn’t far either. Franky decided going too far from home seemed like the wrong step lately.
