Mass Hysteria!

Mr. Iero,

Thank you for your interest in helping us out at Paws and Purrs. Your resume shows that you are quite knowledgeable with animals which is a plus. Please call us at your earliest convenience to set up an interview.

Sincerely,

Gerard Way.

Frank read the email three times, his grin growing with each sweep. Out of all the positions he’d applied for, this was the one he was most interested in. He took a sip of his slightly cooled coffee, then set his laptop aside and picked up his cellphone. He carefully dialled the number for the shelter, and pressed call. He waited nervously for his call to be answered. After four rings, someone picked up.

"Thank you for calling Paws and Purrs. For Paws press 1, for Purrs press 2, and for Pocket Pets press 3."

Frank chuckled slightly and pressed 1, then waited.

"Paws, Gerard Way speaking."

"Hello. My name's Frank Iero. I just received your email regarding my application and I’d like to set up an interview...if the position is still open?"

"Yes it is Mr. Iero. Can you make it here on Thursday in the afternoon? It's easier to talk once the dogs have calmed down a bit."

Frank grinned, he could hear barking in the background.

"Sure, that’d be great. I could come in the morning to help if that would...help?"

He mentally facepalmed at his own awkwardness. There was a light chuckle through the receiver.

"A little eagar are we?"

Frank sighed quietly in relief.

"Yeah, I am actually. I love almost all animals, but dogs are my favourite, and the chance to work with them is like a dream come true."

"Well alright then, why don't we make it nine am and I can interview you and observe you."

"That’d be perfect. I look forward to seeing you then."

"You to Mr. Iero. Have a good day."

"You too. Bye."

Frank hung up and punched the air, whooping joyously.

"YES!"

Now this deserved at least a minor celebration...not a big one of course as he’d not got the job yet, but a small one. Getting up from his seat, he took his cool cup to the sink and dumped the remaining contents away, then clicked his coffee machine back on and pressed speed dial 3 on his cell. After a couple rings, the owner of his local pizzeria answered cheerfully.

"Hey there Frank...usual?"

Frank laughed, shaking his head cause maybe he was getting a little predictable.

"Hey Rolly. Yeah, usual sounds good, but I’ll have some dough balls too if that’s ok?"

"Sure man. It’ll be with you in 20 minutes."

"Thanks dude. See ya."

Frank hung up and poured himself a fresh cup of coffee, then settled down to watch a movie and enjoy his evening in.

(time passes)

Ray parked his car in his spot next to Mikey's car. Surprisingly Gerard was here. Ray looked at the clock.

"Huh? He's here on time?"

Gerard was never at work on time with a new excuse every day. Ray strolled into Paws.

"Hey Mr. Way."

"Morning Mr. Toro."

Ray still felt weird that Gerard preferred to keep everything so formal, but technically Gerard was his boss. Mikey was different, but he had known Mikey for a few years now.

"You are in...early."

"I have an interview."

"Oh, getting some help over here?"

"Yes, since I can't always be here this early, I thought it was a smart idea."

"Did you discuss this with Mikey?"

"I do not have to discuss anything with Mikey that has to do with my side."

"Right, sorry."

Ray grabbed a clean apron from the closet and headed to say hello to Mikey. As he was crossing the yard he saw a car pull up and park next to his. Frank turned off the engine and sat for a minute, psyching himself up.

"Ok Frank..."

He said, looking in the rear view mirror at himself.

"...you’ve got this. You know just about everything there is to know about dogs and you are not gonna fuck this up."

Nodding at his reflection, he grabbed his satchel from the passenger seat and got out of the car. He turned toward the building with Paws over the door, and saw a man with very big hair coming toward him. He slapped on a grin and stuck out his hand.

"Hi, I'm Frank Iero. Are you Mr. Way?"

"What? No man, I'm Ray, I work with the Pocket Pets."

"Oh right..."

Frank laughed, shaking the taller man's hand.

"Sorry. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

Ray noted how young Frank looked. He wondered if he would be able to handle Gerard's gruff aloof nature.

"Well you should get going. Mr. Way hates when people are late...even though he is late all the time."

Ray muttered the last bit under his breath, hoping the young man didn't hear him. He gave him a big bright smile as he let go of his hand and waved, heading to his part of the shelter. Frank frowned slightly cause he had heard what Ray said. He shook his head and preceded to the Paws building...he hoped Mr. Way wasn’t as strict as he was being lead to believe. He pushed open the door when he reached it and stepped into the warm reception area. He saw a dark haired man stood with his back toward him behind the desk. He cleared his throat.

"Uh, excuse me?"

Gerard whirled around and saw a boy.

"I'm sorry, we are not open for business till ten, you will have to return then."

He turned back to his clipboard and check list.

"Sorry but...are you Mr. Way?...cause I’m Frank Iero. I’m here for the interview?"

Gerard turned around again and looked the boy up and down.

"You? You are the one who had that fantastic resume?..."

Gerard put the clipboard down and leaned over the desk placing his hands for leverage.

"How old are you exactly?"

Frank frowned slightly.

"I’m 22. Look, I know I’m short but I’ve got I.D if you don’t believe me."

He dug his hand into his jacket pocket for his driver's licence. Gerard took it and looked at it and then at the boy again.

"Oh well, sorry about that, please come around and grab an apron. I will introduce you to the kennel."

Frank put his licence back in his pocket and nodded to the older man.

"Cool..."

He grabbed an apron off of a row of hooks on the wall and followed behind him.

"I’ve driven passed this place many times, but I’ve only been in once. I always knew it was the kind of place I’d want to work in some day though..."

His eyes trailed over everything in interest as he continued to talk, filling the somewhat awkward silence.

"I came here when I was about 15. One of our dogs had passed away over the winter and we decided to look for a new one. Mom wanted a puppy, but the second I laid eyes on Sweet Pea, I knew I had to have her..."

He pulled out his cellphone and turned it on to the home screen, which was a picture of his little grey dog with its tongue lolling out at a weird angle. He held the phone out for Gerard to see with a grin.

"This is her."

It was the ugliest dog Gerard had ever seen, but he knew that it was the kind of dog his Grandmother would have been proud to have adopted.

"She's...cute."

Frank nodded for a second, then cracked up.

"Oh man!...you don’t gotta lie to save my feelings. I know she’s not gonna win a beauty contest or anything, but she’s a real sweetheart and I wouldn’t change her for anything..."

He slipped his phone back in his pocket and grinned.

"Beauty's in the eye of the beholder and all that...you know?"

"Yeah sure. Well come on, time's wasting and I have a lot of stuff to cover with you today."

Frank grinned and nodded.

"Sure thing boss. I’m ready for whatever you want to throw at me...as long as it’s not mice."

He shuddered at the thought. Gerard stopped walking and turned around quickly.

"It's Mr. Way to you Mr. Iero. I prefer formalities if you get hired."

Gerard left the if hanging in the air as he gave a tight smile and then turned back around to continue the tour. Frank swallowed heavily.

"I’m sorry..."

He mumbled slightly, eyes down.

"I’ll remember that Mr. Way."

He didn’t like it, but if it kept this man happy, then he’d do it. Gerard turned back around.

"No I'm sorry, that was rude. I am not used to being here this early. I guess my coffee hasn't kicked in yet."

"It’s ok Mr. Way..."

Frank said softly.

"My mom's the same when she hasn’t had hers."

That made Gerard chuckle a little.

"Alright, let's go meet the pups shall we?"

They headed out of the office to the back room.

(time passes)

"And on Thursdays and Sundays we bathe them cause Friday and Monday are big adoption days. Any questions?"

Frank grinned wide.

"Only one Mr. Way. When can I start?"

Now Gerard gave one of his real unguarded laughs.

"You can start tomorrow. Be here at seven and you will work till four with an hour break. On your application it said you cannot work on Wednesdays, but I take it that your other day off can vary?"

"Yeah, as long as I’m off on Wednesdays, I’m cool with whatever..."

He stuck out his hand toward his new boss.

"Thank you for this opportunity Mr. Way. I won’t let you down."

"I have a feeling you won't. See you tomorrow Mr. Iero."

Gerard shook Frank's hand and then went back to his desk. Frank gave him a smile and a friendly wave goodbye, then headed back outside to his car. He saw the guy with the hair from before, sitting in a deck chair with a rabbit in his lap. He chuckled slightly and walked over.

"Hey man, who’s this little guy?"

He reached out slowly and scratched between the bunny's ears.

"This is chocolate muffin. We had babies born and Mikey names them all after muffins. Him and Blueberry are all that's left from the seven born."

Frank giggled.

"He’s cute. I’d give him a home, but I think my landlord would kill me if I take in one more animal."

"It's cool, there are always rabbits I promise you."

Frank tickled the rabbit's head for a moment more, then smiled wryly at Ray.

"You know what?...I don’t give a shit what my landlord says. He wants to paint the communal hallways puss yellow, well I want to take this bubba home with me..."

He laughed.

"Can we make it happen?"

"Can I get you to throw in a few kittens too? We just got a fresh litter in."

Ray looked up to see his other boss Mikey walking up to them. He leaned in and patted the rabbit gently.

"Hey there Chocolate, do you wanna go home with this nice guy?"

Frank rubbed a hand round the back of his neck.

"Kittens?...yeah, I can do kittens..."

He grinned at the tall man with the glasses, sticking out his hand.

"Hi, I’m Frank. I’m gonna be working in Paws."

"Oh...your working..."

Mikey looked at Ray for help.

"I think it's to help your brother with his...early rising."

Mikey nodded in understanding. Gerard was not a morning person and had been late everyday opening Paws since he started. They fought about it last week and apparently this was his solution. The problem was they couldn't afford another employee. Gerard must be doing this out of pocket.

"Well then welcome. I'm Mikey Way."

Mikey stuck out his hand smiling.

"And don't worry about the kittens that's just an ice breaker line I use with the potentials."

Frank giggled.

"I’d be happy to take any kittens that get left behind if that helps..."

He tipped his head slightly, furrowing his brows.

"Wait...Mikey Way?...any relation to..."

He nodded toward Paws.

"...the other Mr. Way?"

"Unfortunately he is my older brother."

Mikey practically spat out the word brother. Frank raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ray, then back at Mikey.

"I sense tensions. It’s not my business, but anything I should know?...you know, considering I’ll be working here."

"Ray I'll see you later for lunch. Frank, nice to meet you."

Mikey walked off not wanting to be a part of this. Ray sighed and patted the chair next to his.

"Here, you can hold Chocolate."

Frank grinned wide, bouncing slightly before sitting down carefully so he didn’t frighten the little rabbit. He took the bunny into his lap and gently stroked his velvety fur.

"So...spill."

He said with a raised eyebrow.

"How much time do you have?..."

Ray laughed and then stopped.

"No seriously how much time?"

Frank chuckled.

"I got no plans man, so as much time as it’ll take."

(time passes)

"And they didn't talk again till Elena's funeral. I mean Mikey didn't even know about Gerard being a best selling author...by the Way I'll lend you Vampires and Honey tomorrow."

"Thanks man. Wow!...sometimes I’m glad I’m an only child. You got any sibs?"

Frank looked at Ray curiously as he cradled the now sleeping rabbit against his chest gently. Ray shuffled Blueberry, who he had picked up part way through the conversation.

"I do and I get along with them better now after seeing the Ways."

Frank chuckled lightly and looked at the little rabbit Ray was holding.

"So...I’m thinking two bunnies won’t be any harder to handle than one."

"Man if only all the adopters were as easy as you."

"You're still here?"

Ray looked up and saw Mikey. He then looked at his watch.

"Wow it's lunch time already?"

Mikey chuckled. Frank grinned.

"Yeah I’m still here. Sorry if I’ve kept you from your work Ray. I can come back after you’ve had lunch to sort these guys out if that’ll help?"

He nodded to the two bunnies.

"Why don't you join us?"

Ray rose a brow at Mikey's invitation to Frank, but he didn't really mind.

"I think that is a great idea."

Frank looked between them and smiled wide.

"Well if you’re sure I’m not intruding?"

"Nah, come on."

Mikey motioned to the parking lot. Ray put Chocolate and Blueberry in their cage and then grabbed his coat. He grabbed his keys and turned to Mikey.

"I think it's my turn to drive."

"Considering I have shit for gas, yeah, it is."

"Shall I follow, or..."

Frank trailed off, looking between the two.

"Nah, you can just come in the car."

"Shotgun!"

Ray looked at Mikey.

"What are you 15?"

Frank chuckled.

"I’m cool with the back. I’m the smallest one of us, so I’m guessing I’d fit best anyway."

"See he's cool with it Dad."

Ray punched Mikey in the arm.

"Whatever, I'm like two years younger than you."

Frank laughed.

"Y' know, I think I'm gonna like working with you guys...don't think it's gonna be dull."

Ray and Mikey looked at each other. Mikey turned away first and got into the car.

"Sure Frank, it will be great."

Ray got into the drivers side closing his own door. Frank hesitated, his grin slipping as his confusion took over...there was clearly something he was missing here. Figuring that he'd find out whatever it was eventually, he opened the back door and climbed in, closing the door behind him.

What on Earth was he getting himself into?!

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how’s you?

So here's Frankie!...do you think he'll like his new job?

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT and peace out babies!
<3