Marshmallow or Birthday Cake?
“Have you worked in kennels before?” I asked the girl on the other end of the phone.
“No, but I have always wanted to work with animals.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I know I would be really good at it because I love dogs and cats.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, I do have a vacancy.”
“I will have to give a month’s notice.”
“Just a minute… You will need to come for an interview before we get that far. What sort of work are you doing at the moment?”
“I work in a Bank but I desperately want to work with animals.”
“Working in a Bank must pay better wages and will offer better prospects than working in a kennels.”
“Yes, I know but I really want to work with animals. I’ve wanted to ever since I left school but I’ve been stuck in this Bank for three years now. Please, give me a chance?”
“I tell you what I am prepared to do. As you have never worked in a kennels before and also before you give up a well paid job with prospects, I think it best if you come and work as a weekender for a couple of weeks to see how you get on.”
“Oh, yes, please, can I come this weekend? I know I will love it!”
Yes, okay, I do need another person and it will save me ringing round to see who is available. Be here for half eight on Saturday morning, don’t be late and wear sensible clothes and shoes.”
“Thank you so much. You won’t regret it I promise!”
“Okay, I’ll see you on Saturday.”
She sounds keen I thought as I cradled the phone but I didn’t get the impression that she really took on board how much of a drop in wages there would be as kennel work certainly couldn’t compete with working in a Bank. Still, if she is prepared for a significant drop in wages and she’s a good worker and really wants to work with animals then it might suit the both of us.
Saturday came and I am there in the office with all the youngsters who worked for us part time at weekends and school holidays. They did this to earn a bit of money while studying for their ‘A’ Levels. Anyway, I just happened to look up when I saw this vision in pink and white walking jauntily down the path towards the office. I could hardly believe it. We weren’t open to customers before nine so I knew this was the girl, Debbie, who worked in the Bank.
“Wear something sensible,” I had said. If this was what she considered sensible I couldn’t imagine what she would regard as frivolous.
The first thing I should say is that it was raining quite heavy and the girl was not only dressed in pink and white from head to toe but she was also wearing what looked liked a very expensive pair of pink suede boots. Her long blonde hair looked as if she had just come straight from the hairdressers as she had it in a Farrah Fawcett style popular at the time. As she entered the office I could see she also had beautifully manicured pink polished finger nails. Then, as if that wasn’t enough she had so much gold bling on her that I worried that should there be an undetected strong magnet in the office filing cabinet she might find herself suddenly attracted to it. For a start, she wore very long, gold, hoop earrings, several gold necklaces and two or three rings on each hand. She was also very carefully made up and she breezed into the office with a huge smile on her face.
Myself and all the others present stood open mouthed, no gob smacked comes nearer, as she said,
“Hello I’m Debbie, I spoke to you on the phone,” as she held out her hand for me to shake.
“Yyes…I remember” I said, still trying to get my head round what she was wearing and how she was turned out generally.
“You haven’t given your notice in yet, have you?” I managed to utter.
“No, but I feel sure I will after next weekend.”
“Okay,” I said, trying to gather my wits.
“I’m going to put you on ‘B’ Block,” I said. “We usually start new people there as it is the easiest block but I will put Adrian with you at first as he is the most experienced. He will show you what to do and stay with you until he thinks you can manage
“Okay,” she said brightly.
I took her through the big main security gate that led to the kennels and showed her where ‘B’ Block was before leaving her with Adrian.
The other week-enders knew to help her with feeding her block as all dogs had to be fed before they went for their own lunch. Before that, however, they had a thirty minute tea break because the work was very physical.
No one was allowed to go to lunch though until all the kennels had been cleaned out and the runs attached to the kennels and the courtyards were scrubbed, the dogs were all fed and the kennel kitchen was clean with all dog bowls washed up and put away. It was also a rule that if any one was behind with their work one or two of the more experienced people would help them get finished.
The afternoons followed much the same routine as the morning but usually the person doing ‘B’ Block would clean the staff caravan and the toilet though not if the person was new so Debbie didn’t have that to worry about.
At the end of the day she was running behind so two other members of staff went in to help her get finished before they all came to see me in the office.
“Hello Debbie, how did you find it?” I asked pleasantly.
“Yes,” she replied wearily, “I found it okay.”
“Good, I’ll see you in the morning then, and don’t be late.”
“No.”
I watched her walk or rather stagger up the path and knew I would be sending her day’s wages on.
It had been raining all day and her beautifully coiffed hair was now sopping wet and stuck to her head. Her shoulders drooped, her back had gone and her knees sagged. She had two panda eyes where her mascara had run, her fingernails were dirty and broken and as for her lovely pink and white ensemble this was now filthy, wet and smelly. She looked every inch a broken woman as she fell, exhausted, into her car.
I was relieved that I had managed to talk her out of giving her notice in at the Bank. This was a girl who obviously loved animals but had no concept of what it was like to look after other peoples pets. She thought it would be all cuddles and walkies but the plain fact is it is bloody hard physical labour. One needs a strong back because of all the sweeping, reliable legs because of all the walking, physical strength to manage some of the more awkward or exuberant dogs and infinite patience with the more timid animals and sometimes, even, more than a little courage to deal with aggressive dogs.
As I waved goodbye to her as she drove off she barely had the strength to lift her arm to wave back. I still couldn’t quite decide what it was she most reminded me of in all her delicate pink and white ensemble. Was it a Marshmallow or a Birthday cake? The one thing she certainly didn’t remind me of was…a kennel-maid!
End
Comments
Linda Wigzell Cress | June 16, 2012 - 11:45
You certainly lead a dog's life! Enjoyed
Linda
Denzella | June 17, 2012 - 19:56
Hello Linda,
Thanks for the read and the comment it was just something that someone reminded me about that was amusing at the time.
MOya
Cavalcaderl | June 17, 2012 - 20:52
new Denzella,
Hi! Moya,
really enjoyed this story determined love for
animals. How it is not,just cuddling and loving them
But if it's in the person,some can show love more!
Get on better maybe. Our daughter went to Plumpton College,6am little lambretta then digging mucking out,grooming,horses.
Mice about hay ricks. No car so we got taxi to see her once. She washed the horses down,plaited their tails. Small jumped over sticks in small garden,neighed honestly like a horse. She could draw them tear drops falling from eyes. Clever. Her dad always promised a horse,chidlren will believe,course could never afford. She could do plasticne on board pinned,out parts horse training. Can't ride now! Since two years ago,shame used use friend's,horse too. All bought was of horses etc; we got lamp shades. It was her pride and joy.
Re-Q answering I sat 2 hrs answering,one night,cramp!
Like you say one two answered. But computer now crashed out,oops! hardrive whatever that is? Ray has now stripped it down,hours to do! Screen went funny!
Moved it where it was,good as cables floor,didn't know what was what. I see for some time "I Crown Thee King "Jazz" number not moved long long time!
Buit documents and pictures etc;gone from "Diamond Jubilee" too,as stood in other room taking Ray said 700 on camera of tv special parts,like train stationary on bridge,blew out steam noise,celebrate it,and parnets with children on their shoulders, And all boats of Pageantry, and decked window across,with
flags and card from H.M.The Queen's card and then,
H.R.H. Prince William's duke and Duchess of Cambridge
card as said,before phpto of them to me,and kindness.
One course late Dianaa,and family Royal family,but books,and paper's have msot in. Ray lost photos,silly me bought cheap crown,photoed Brighton Pier sea front,had fun. Hole of headboard crown off,put head through hole two,Ray took photos,so one missing in hole,but had Prince William Kate,The Queen
Prince Philip,but have photo of that! And bought more books. Went on day n/home,food and people,and visitors,fab; time held some their hands,bit of wine.
Pass the parcel,pinn the tail to the donkey! Friend in wheelchair wow! got their by taxi. Two of us managed dance end. As hot food and cold,pouring hard barbecue! didn't have. Loads different food,all had good time,got them all singing the end. The ntertainer had gone! when I arrived. One person won four lovely gifts raffle! too late for it. Plenty wine! got chocs for them and card. What you put into it,what got out of it. Photoed my friend and another together! Gave crown away little girl,bit small gave me headache one day! fork bits plastic. Bought big unino jack cake,for them cut up! whoops! gave it,but came out as draw for someone,never mind surprised.
Closing for now. Saw "Jazz" not been in five days,slower,in next doors garden,just went miaow! followed me into shop,covered his side,with white paint! Owner's having done. Naturally disappointed,neither coul;d let me know not theire then! Waited a week,as he waved! been in and few words in nice manner! Won two £8 last time in!
Hope your fairly well,daughter and hubby called father's day for him. emails not answered paper not put in,twice,so could been computer! messed up,not twice! local paper! Thanks.etc; No replies on here,
must been computer maybe? Did you watch Queen's Diamond Jubilee" I was glued to tv. or Ray taped all dvd. Wonderful two pages pictures. All! there. And balcony Trooping opf the colour,amazing too. Reminded
me of aged about 12,did for memorial in Red Croos,and friend so small,hardly carry the flag! walk in step with taller girl,just got over polio.
Nothing of me. Uniform had be just right! stepping in time correct laying the standard flag1 think other girl taller bigger. The Queen's soldier's and guards etc; have to be spot on all,never mind weight,
or weather ever. Think TRACK is tsuck on here! never goes up!
take care!
julie xx
jolono | June 17, 2012 - 21:32
Loved it Moya, it reminded me of the time I took on a saturday boy at the butchers. His mum begged me to give him a chance. he was a tiny, scrawny kid and of course the work was very hard and physical. After 30 minutes he started crying and ran all the way home!
Bless him....
Denzella | June 18, 2012 - 20:59
Hello Mate,
Nice to have you back. Missed you. Yeah, we also had one like that. She didn't turn up one day then Mum phoned to say it was too cold for her.
MOya
Denzella | June 18, 2012 - 21:09
Hello Julie,
Tried to answer some comments this morning but after writing really long replies lost connection before they got posted. This happened twice so gave up.
We had girl work for us expelled from school for being trouble but she was best kennel girl we ever had. We were asked by some charity to take another girl who had served time in an adult prison for GBH although she was really too young for adult prison. She too was no trouble but had to let her go because she was unreliable. Not always turn up but we still have same amount of animals to look after. She wrote me a lovely letter saying how much she enjoyed working with us and sorry she not always reliable.
We are still in touch with first girl.
Take care,
Moya
Sooz006 | June 19, 2012 - 14:30
I used to be a zoo keeper at South Lakes animal park. I was reptiles and birds, but I also had to muck in with everything, much as your staff. Newbies, even zone managers/head keepers were always thrown in with lemur pens. It sorted the chaff from the wheat. Twenty barrow of lemur crap wheeled to the opposite end of the site, per pen. pure torture.
After the second week you got to do the very worst job in the park and that was cleaning out the tiger pond, it was full of decaying meat... horrendous.
I wasn't the long because I got a job in a shop and had a hernia from lifting in my previous job, but I loved every second of it and it put me in good stead for running my own reptile zoo some years later.
Another fabulous story from you Moya. Loved it.
Denzella | June 19, 2012 - 19:56
Sooz
Like you suggested one time I think you should move next door so that when we're not swapping plants we can be swapping stories.
Your CV sounds very interesting. Love the bit where you say you were 'reptiles and birds' that would have been what clinched the shop job.
Thanks for the read and the comment.
Moya
skinner_jennifer | June 27, 2012 - 16:29
What can I say Moya? but this was just a wonderful
read. I love the way your stories always have a
bit, or a lot of humour in them.
Off to read some more of your work.
Jenny.
Rhiannonw | June 27, 2012 - 22:02
I don't seem to be able to get to the prose side much, but so glad I found this. Very well written, Moya, and entertaining! Rhiannon
Denzella | June 28, 2012 - 05:47
Hello Rhiannonw,
Thank you so much for the read and the comment.
Later today I hope to post a short piece about the party.
Moya