Troubled with Tattoos

Chapter Two:

The Basics of Grooming

The constant noise of loud bangs reached my ears.

"V, come on wake up!" I open my eyes to see Cherry slamming two pots together. My heart rate went back to a normal speed and I relaxed into my new bed. It had been three days since I moved in with Cherry. Our old playful antics were back in swing and you couldn't even tell we were apart for so long.

"What do you want?" I groaned rubbing my eyes. It was 6:30 a.m., what was she doing? The room was dark but I could just make out her face.

"Well good morning to you too, get ready." She hummed opening up my curtains to the sun just rising.

"Get ready for what?" I asked confused. What on earth would I have to do this early in the morning?

"Today I'm showing you my new shop." She said excitedly waving her finger around in front of me. Last night she had told me all about her new grooming salon. Cherry had a love for animals, I had offered to work some shifts so I could save up money. She walked out of my room closing the door on the way.

Cherry had gone to get my clothes at my house just yesterday, after numerous attempts of trying to leave without me noticing. She said no one was home. But the place was still a wreck. Loads of thoughts entered my head about my parents.

Did my father know what happened? Is my mother OK? Where did they go? Are they looking for me?

I stumbled out of bed looking for something to wear on my first day at a pet salon/store. I grabbed a simple pair of light blue skinny jeans, a plain t-shirt, and a black hoodie. After all, I had no one to impress.

My thoughts traveled to my friends back at home. There were only a few but I wondered if they would notice my sudden disappearance. I wondered if they would care.

I used to be outgoing and friendly but after Ash left it was like a switch went off in my brain. I went from being friendly and outgoing to lonely and shy. Aunt Cherry had been trying to get me into school. We thought I would need a fake name but apparently you can enroll anyone in this town.

Boy was I dreading going to school here, I start on Monday. If I wasn't a senior I would just consider dropping out.

My arm was wrapped with an ace bandage after Cherry had to make some homemade stitches. Turns out the knife went deeper than we had expected, it would surely leave a scar.

I fixed up my hair, put on some mascara and brushed my teeth before running back down the stairs to see Cherry working the stove. A stack of blueberry pancakes stood on the kitchen island. My mouth watered remembering her sweet blueberry pancakes she'd make when I was younger. Its been a while since I ate anything other than cereal or boxed mac and cheese.

"Eat up, we've got a big day ahead of us!" She squealed. I sat on one of the stools, placing a few pancakes on a plate drowning them in syrup. I had just begun remembering the way around her kitchen. Her utensils were in the small drawer right next to her sink and she kept her trash bucket in one of the bottom cabinets.

She plopped down next to me eating some as well. My mouth was in heaven from her cooking. She should have stuck with being a chef instead of a pet groomer. We were very similar, always wanting to help someone or something. I've never had a pet before, not even a mere goldfish.

Cherry dangled her keys unlocking the doors of her pet salon. It was simple looking with red as the main color. The sign read Cherry's Pet Salon.

She opened the doors to a stylish, modern pet salon with a small store on the other side. "Most of the time it will be you and one other person working, but sometimes it will be only you, so here are the basics." She began. I wanted to take out a notepad and jot everything down but, I didn't have one on me.

The floors were half tiled, half wood. The black and white tiles were for the salon, and the wooden floors were on the store side. There were small gates set up to keep the animals in, and a comfy looking waiting room with pet toys and magazines.

Past the door that read employees only where Aunt Cherry lead me were grooming stations, implements, and baths with shower hoses. I also noticed the big glass window in which the customers could see inside here. The thought of the owners watching me struggle to bathe their dog left me intimidated. There were drains on the floor, and shelves full of different kinds of shampoos. Each one was differently scented, some varied for fur type.

"First, is brushing the fur," She says picking up two different brushes. "Short hair just needs a curry brush," she shook the hand with the circular brush in it.

"While medium to long-haired animals needs a slicker brush," she shook the hand with a rectangular brush that curved in the middle. She put them back down on the grooming table pointing to a tall jar of treats.

"and give him a treat for standing still," she dug through a jar of dog biscuits showing me the small bone-shaped treats.

"You will be on bath duty until you get the hang of things. I dont want to overwhelm you."

"For bathing, which is quite easy my darling, we have this magnificent new tub. Only blow-dry for dogs with long hair, on the cold setting. Oh and don't get any water in their ears," she explained patting my shoulder. I nodded taking in all the needed information, trying to remember all the tasks in order will be a process.

This was everything Aunt Cherry had dreamt of, it made me think that maybe dreams do come true.

"But I'll show you that some other time, you already have enough to learn with this." She smiled checking her watch for the time.

"OK, let me show you around the store now," she said leading me out of the employee's only room. The door swung reluctantly behind me as I stared at my new workplace. At least I wouldn't have to worry about my parents finding me in a grooming salon.

"The cash register is pretty easy, you don't have to add it all up at the end or anything, I do that. So you put in the amount it costs, punch in how much they gave you and it will say how much you owe them. You're good with math right?" She asked playing around with the register.

I nodded remembering my perfect A+ on my report card that my parents didn't care enough to be proud of.

"Okay then you'll get the hang off it real quick, you know how to scan things right?" She asked curiously, she quickly slid a dog toy across the scanner.

A beep went off signaling that it was scanned right and she put it in a bag. I nodded again taking in as much information as I could without losing it. I never had a job before, I will turn eighteen soon enough.

"Give me your hand," She said. I put out my hand awkwardly.

She put a key in my hand and told me that if I needed any help to not hesitate to call.

She also pointed to black aprons hanging up telling me to not to forget to wear them. She left the salon after giving me a huge hug telling me that she'll be back later and another worker should be in soon.

My first day officially has started.

Hours passed and not a single customer had walked through the doors. I slumped down onto the couch waiting impatiently for someone, anyone to walk through the doors. I studied the cash register buttons in my spare time. Whoever I was working with today hasn't even shown up yet and I was beyond furious.

How unprofessional, immature, l-

My thoughts were cut off as a bell rang off signaling that the door was opened.

"Why's the sign say closed?" A girl asked as she flipped the sign around. She had a red shirt on that said Lizzie on the name tag. On the front had a paw print, this must be my late co-worker.

A wave of stupidity punched me in the face. I should've known there was a reason no one was coming in today. She raised an eyebrow clearly surprised to see someone new.

"Who are you? Did you break-in? I will call the cops" She tried to threaten as she used her oversized purse as a weapon. Her brown hair was held up in a pony as it swung back and forth.

I laughed realizing just now that she thought I was some type of burglar or something. If I was going to rob a place, it'd be a bank for obvious reasons.

"No no no no" I held out my hands in defense when she whipped her phone out of her purse.

I tucked my blonde hair behind my ears preparing to tackle her if she makes that call.

"Cherry is my aunt, I work here now." I stuck out my hand for her to shake.

"My names Violet." She smiled in response and took my hand with a firm shake.

"I'm Elizabeth but you can call me Lizzie, and I suppose we're work buddies now." I snapped my mouth shut not wanting my awkwardness to scare her away. It has been a while since I met someone new. She was a pretty girl.

She seemed like a very easy going person, who knows maybe we could be friends. But am I really here to make friends? No, I'm here to stay alive.

"So, I hope Cherry has shown you around because my tour guide skills are almost as bad as my sense of direction," she smiled. I smiled too figuring that was her way of letting me know why she was late.

The bell went off drawing our attention. A lady who was middle-aged walked in with two black labs by her side.

Lizzie ran to the desk to help her out while I supervised. They talked for a minute before Lizzie called me over.

"Violet, do you think you can handle the Platinum Pup Package on this little guy?" Lizzie asked in a childish voice as she rubbed his back. Little boy? This 'little boy' was bigger than me.

"Sure," My mouth betrayed me. My first task, on a Labrador. This ought to be fun.

"Great! If you need any help, I'll be right next to you working on his sister," She smiled patting the dogs head. I nodded taking the leash out of her hands.

I gulped leading the dog to the employees only room. Platinum pup package? What was the Platinum Pup Package?

I looked around wondering if maybe there was a sign stating it. My eyes glanced at a big sign that was titled Packages. Well, I guess any average person would realize that would be the very packages I was looking for.

I read all the way down until I read the Platinum Pup Package. Let's see we got brushing, nail clipping, and bathing. Well, that couldn't be any easier I guess.

"Come on boy," I said in my puppy dog voice as I lead him over to the grooming tables. I stared back and forth at the high table and the heavy dog. This was going to be hard.

"Alright come on" I pulled the leash lightly hoping he would jump up or something. His head turned but he didn't move one bit.

"Let's go, up boy!" I patted the table. Nothing, not even a budge. You want to play it the hard way puppy, let's play it the hard way.

I picked up one of his big paws and lifted it as high up as I could. He stumbled a little but caught his balance quickly, I put the paw on the table reluctantly. Well, it's a good start.

His nails scraped against the metal as his paw fell back down. I groaned catching the attention of my coworker.

"If the dog's too big, you can just brush them on the mat," She chuckled. I noticed how she was crouched over as she brushed the happy, tail wagging pup on the mat. Right, I knew that.

I grabbed the brush Cherry told me to use for short-haired animals and started brushing at his neck. His tail wagged in excitement and he tried to lick my hands. He was lucky he was cute.

After the brushing, I did as Cherry said and gave him a treat for being still. I pet his smooth head praising him as he munched on it. A slobbery tongue licked up my face from my chin to my forehead.

"You're doing good for your first day." Lizzie complimented from behind.

I thanked her as I moved onto bathing. This little boy hopped in the tub without even a simple command. I peeked through the glass to see if his owner was watching but my mouth dropped instead. There was a line of six other people in the waiting room, each with at least one dog.

This was going to be a long day.

Ten animals later, I was back at Aunt Cherry's house drained of energy.

I reeked of wet dog and slobbery kisses. I had animal fur all over my clothes and seeked desperately for a bath myself. But, I wouldn't trade it for the world. As I reached for a towel I couldn't help but notice small puffs of smoke from outside the balcony.

I wandered over there curiously realizing it was just a cigarette in an ashtray on my neighbor's balcony.

I closed my balcony door as the familiar smell of cigarettes met my nose. I could never love another person who smoked those wretched things ever again.