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Mibba

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Mass Hysteria!

Settling in


Mikey was pissed. As far as he could tell, ever since Gerard had hired Frank, he was never there...and he means never. Frank arrived at seven AM every morning and left at four PM. An hour later is when Gerard would arrive and then the shelter closed at seven PM. Therefore, Gerard worked two days a week. Frank never complained though, which was a credit to his disposition. He would stop in and say hello to Mikey and the kittens and visit Ray...at the outside area. Frank still wouldn't go inside for fear of the rodents. Ray respected that and the three of them often had lunch together. It was clear to see though that Frank was getting tired. The five days a week that he was suppose to work moved up to six since they didn't open on Sundays, even though he’d said he couldn’t work Wednesdays. Mikey decided he was going to talk to Gerard about it next time he saw him.



(time passes)


"Stay out of my fucking business and my fucking life!"


The door to Paws slammed in Mikey's face. Mikey walked back to Purrs.


"Well that went well."


He looked up and saw Ray.


"Ya think?"


"Don't worry about it Mikey. Frank is doing alright. I am sure if he had a problem, he would say something to Gerard.


"Yeah, and I am sure that if he said something he would get fired or a door slammed in his face."


"True."


"By the way, what are you doing here, your shift ended an hour ago."


"One of the rabbits got out and made a bit of a mess. I was just cleaning it up."


"You're a good guy Ray."


"Thanks Mikey."


Mikey patted Ray on the back and went back to work.



(time passes)


"Thank you mister, I'll take good care of Gingersnaps!"


The little girl hugged the light brown puppy close to her chest. Frank smiled, reaching down to scratch the little dog between its ears.


"I’m sure you will Lucy..."


He straightened back up to speak to Lucy's parents.


"Remember, if you have any questions, just give me a call."


He handed the mom a card with the shelter's name, address and phone number on one side...with little cartoon pictures of puppies, kittens and bunnies all along the top...and his own name and cell number written neatly in blue ink on the other. He was 100% certain that Mr. Way wouldn’t want to be bothered with customer questions at stupid o'clock in the morning, so with Mikey’s permission, he’d started putting his own details on the cards.


Ray opened the door as a little girl and her parents left with a puppy in the signature cardboard carrier of the shelter.


"Hey man, got a moment, Mikey wanted to talk to you."


Frank yawned, leaning heavily against the counter.


"Yeah man, sure."


He pushed off and walked over to the curly haired man.


"You alright man, you look exhausted."


Frank shrugged, dragging his feet as he followed Ray outside.


"Yeah, just a bit."


Ray led Frank over to Purrs. A sad little boy was leaving with his mom, crying.


"Don't worry honey, Mr. Way promised he would find them a good home."


"I know mommy, but I love them."


"When we get a bigger house, maybe we can see about getting another cat."


The boy sniffed and rubbed his nose with his sleeve as she gave a tired nod to Ray and Frank. Mikey was standing in the doorway with a box that was mewing.


"Hey guys, thanks for coming Frankie."


Frank smiled tiredly, then nodded at the box.


"New babies?"


He asked softly, trying to peer inside.


"Yeah, the mother had them six weeks ago, but they couldn't keep them."


One of the kittens peered out of the box, mewing and trying to claw its way out.


"Careful Mikey, Frank will take the whole box home."


Frank looked up.


"I will?..."


The kitten mewed again and Frank looked back at the box.


"Yes, of course I will..."


He confirmed with a nod.


"No problems."


Mikey laughed and gave the box to Ray.


"No no Frankie, you have enough. Come I have a gift for you...."


Mikey led Frank into Purrs and to his office. On the desk was a white box with a ribbon on it.


"This is for you."


"What is it?"


"Open it silly."


Frank sighed, picking up the box. He hesitated with his hand on the lid and looked up.


"This better not be a mouse Mikey."


"Oh stop, I said I was sorry. It was a cute stuffed purple one anyway."


"It was still a mouse."


Frank said flatly.


"I promise you it's not a mouse."


Mikey did feel bad not realising his little joke would make Frank hyperventilate. Frank eyed Mikey suspiciously for a moment, then sighed, rolling his eyes.


"It’d better not be..."


He muttered as he pulled the bow off of the box and hesitantly opened it. He was poised, ready to throw the box and its mousey contents as far away as he could, but when he peered nervously inside, his whole face lit up.


"Oh my God!..."


He looked up at Mikey with wide, excited eyes.


"I can’t believe you did this!...thank you."


He latched onto the taller man in a limpet like hug, clinging on for nearly a minute, despite Mikey trying to shake him off. When he finally let go, he stood back and stared into the box. There inside, were a stack of brand new company business cards...with Frank’s name and number included on the back.


"You deserve it Frankie. You've earned it completely with your hard work and dedication for the past three months."


"Three months, is that all?...feels like I’ve been here a year."


Frank chuckled, his eyes on the cards as he took in every detail.


"Yeah well as much as Gerard works you I am not surprised. You need to tell him you need more days off than the one we are closed."


Frank looked up, his eyes wide.


"Oh, I’m not complaining...I love being with the animals."


"No I'm complaining on your behalf."


"You really don’t ha..."


Frank was cut off by a huge yawn. He chuckled after.


"...have to. Well maybe you should."


Mikey laughed as he stood up and rounded his desk again.


"Just try to talk to him okay?"


He put an arm around Frank and led him back out of Purrs. They crossed the yard heading back to Paws.


"Feel like pizza today?"


Frank’s stomach picked that moment to growl loudly. He giggled.


"Well I guess that’s your answer. Veggie?"


"Can I put sausage on my half?"


Mikey spoke with pleading eyes. Frank chuckled.


"As long as it doesn’t get on my side...you can have whatever you want."


Mikey stopped a moment and chuckled.


"Careful Frankie, you say that to the wrong person, they could get the wrong idea."


Frank looked at Mikey with a blank expression.


"What wrong idea?"


He asked seriously, then grinned and winked before heading inside. Mikey looked after the younger man and shook his head. He then headed to Ray to see what he wanted for lunch.



(time passes)


Gerard was rather annoyed to hear a car pulling up with only fifteen minutes left till they closed. No one had come in the last two hours so he was able to work on his manuscript. He had checked in with his home in California and found everything good, and was also able to complete a conference call. So all in all a productive day and one with no one looking for a pet. Even the dogs knew to not start anything when Gerard was around. Gerard reluctantly got up from his desk and left the office, heading to the front counter to greet the unwanted intruder. As the door opened and that annoying bell went off, he closed his eyes and managed not to pinch the bridge of his nose.


"Welcome to paws, how may I..."


Gerard opened his eyes and saw his employee.


"Oh. Mr. Iero. For a moment there I thought you were someone important."


Frank frowned slightly, but brushed it off...he was used to this now.


"No...it’s just me."


"Yes, well I am very busy so if you left something, grab it quickly and..."


"No no..."


Frank interrupted, wishing now that he’d asked Mikey to do this.


"I was hoping I could have a word...it won’t take long."


"A word?..."


Gerard raised his eyebrow a bit.


"Fine then, come into my office."


Frank swallowed and nodded, then followed his boss through to the back. When they got into the older man's office, Frank realised that when he said he was 'very busy', he didn’t actually mean with anything to do with the shelter. He wondered if Mr. Way had even been in to see the dogs today.


"Well, the thing is, Mr. Way...I was kinda hoping to get a day off here and there. I mean I love working with the dogs and I’ve no problem with working six days some weeks...but every week is a bit much, y' know?...and I was supposed to have Wednesdays off."


Gerard wasn't even paying attention to Frank right now. He was looking at pictures and trying to decide on his dust jacket cover photo.


"Yes yes, I will look into it. Hey, which one do you think looks better?"


He held up four pictures for Frank to look at. Frank blinked at him for a moment, pretty sure that Mr. Way hadn’t heard a word he’d said. He sighed and looked at the photos. The fourth picture looked kind of intimidating, and Frank thought that one looked the most like the man he knew...but the third one...


"I think the third one...with the pinstriped jacket?...that looks the best. You look good in that."


"I was a little concerned about it cause my hair was so long when it was taken, but I bet it will get me with the younger crowd..."


Gerard hummed to himself still looking at the other pictures.


"Yes, well I will take it into consideration."


Frank was about 95% sure that Mr. Way would ignore his advice.


"So uh...about what I asked?"


"What...oh yes, well I am pretty busy right now, but as soon as everything dies down, I will look into giving you some time off."


Frank sighed, his shoulders slumping.


"Ok. Well I better go then..."


He turned toward the door, mumbling under his breath.


"Yeah, go take a nap."


"See you later Mr. Iero."


The door closed behind Frank, but instead of just seeing his car, he saw Mikey.


"He used to listen more back when we were kids...if you can believe it."


Frank shook his head.


"Not really."


Mikey pulled Frank into a hug.


"One day he is going to figure out how valuable you really are and I just hope it isn't too late..."


Mikey pulled back from Frank and lifted his chin.


"Chinese?"


Frank smiled gratefully.


"Yeah, sounds good to me."


Mikey smiled and slipped into the passenger seat of Frank's car. As he waited for Frank to get in he looked up at his brother's office.


"You may be rich Gerard, but you are a fool."



(time passes)


"Ugh, fuck...I can't I..."


Ray practically fell over reaching for his phone. He had been throwing up for an hour now in the bathroom. He groaned as he concentrated on looking at his phone to speed dial his boss. He just hoped Mikey had a solution.



(time passes)


*What’s up pussy cat? Woah, woah wooooah. What’s up pussy cat? Woah wo... *


Frank's phone rang at four in the morning. Frank groaned, rolling over and rubbing his eyes. He grabbed his phone and answered without looking to see who was calling.


"Yeah Mikey, what's up?"


"Do I even want to know how you knew it was me?"


"Ringtone..."


Frank said tiredly, squinting at the bright phone screen in his pitch black room.


"It’s 4 am Mikey."


"Yeah...uh Ray called me...from the ER."


Frank was suddenly wide awake, sitting up so fast his head spun.


"Woah...the ER?!...what happened?"


"Food poisoning. He and his wife went out to eat and...well it didn't go well."


"Well shit!..."


Frank huffed, running his fingers through messy bed hair.


"What can I do to help?"


"Well we need to run Pets while he is out and since you don't like the mice you can't do it."


"You want me to look after Purrs?!...who’s gonna tell your brother?"


"I'll deal with him, you just take my schedule. Pets closes before Purrs, so you won't work late."


Frank sighed.


"Yeah ok...I can handle that. Will Ray have to stay in hospital, do you think?...I could take him some grapes or something after work."


"I think he is being fed by IV, but it's a nice thought Frankie."


Frank hummed thoughtfully.


"Well maybe I could take him some comics or a book or something. Should probably get another couple hours sleep now though...don’t want to be too tired to take care of the kitties."


"Yeah, they are a little more high maintenance, shockingly..."


Mikey chuckled from exhaustion and worry.


"Just be there usual time, I will be there before you. and Frankie...thanks."


"No problem Mikey. See you later."


Frank hung up and put the cell on his nightstand, then yawned wide and closed his eyes...another two hours and he’d have to get up, maybe he could get back to that dream he was having before he was woken up.



(time passes)


Frank climbed out of his car and walked straight over to Pocket Pets to speak to Mikey. He wouldn’t go in of course, but he opened the door and called out.


"Hey Mikey, you there?"


Mikey came out looking exhausted.


"Yeah Frankie, let me show you around."


He had triple bags under his eyes and looked like he had been in a fight, but had no visible marks.


"Woah dude!...did you get any sleep last night?"


"Not after the conversation I had with Gerard."


Frank raised an eyebrow.


"It really went that badly?"



"No Michael, you cannot take my employee to fix whatever mess Mr. Toro got in and..."



"FUCK OFF GERARD. THE MAN COULD FUCKING DIE! HE'S IN THE FUCKING HOSPITAL SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR SELFISH BULLSHIT AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!"


"You could say that."


Mikey yawned and opened up the door to Purrs. He walked in and turned on the lights to a chorus of meows. Frank grinned...he loved that noise.


"He’s gotta see that this wasn’t anyone's fault...right?"


"Gerard doesn't care about anyone but himself. He's a selfish bastard and if he was in the hospital I would be overjoyed."


Mikey spoke through gritted teeth as he walked past the cat houses. One of the newest kitten reched out to him and his face immediately softened and he picked it up and started cooing to it. Frank frowned.


"You don’t mean that Mikey. I know you. You hide it, but you do care about him. Admit it, if he was really sick or hurt, you’d be devastated."


Mikey ignored Frank is exchange for playing Boop with the kitten and having it catch his fingers in an attack and then lick them. Mikey laughed. He was in his world.


"Okay so you have the itinerary for them. If you need help or have a question, you can call me or just walk over."


Frank sighed, carefully taking the kitten from Mikey’s hands and giving him a sad look.


"Deny it all you want Mikey...but he’s still your brother, and you still love him..."


He kissed the kitten's nose then placed it back with it's brothers and sisters.


"I’ll come over if I need anything, Ok?"


"Alright, see you later."


With no more words Mikey left. Frank sighed heavily, shaking his head, and began his day.



(time passes)


"Fuck fuck fuck FUCK!"


Gerard was pissed! He had a phone interview today that he had to cancel and he couldn't write anything because he had to take care of the stupid dogs. He didn't pay any attention to them and just locked himself in the office. The barking was deafening. Gerard stormed out of Paws and walked over to Purrs. As he got closer his eyes started to itch and water.


"Shit!"


He had to retreat. Frank was sat at the front desk of Purrs as he wrote up the last of the paperwork on a trio of tiny kittens that had just been brought in. He glanced up at the door, just in time to see his boss turn away. He almost looked like he was crying...but that couldn’t be, could it?

He deserted his paperwork and left the desk, moving to open the door.


"Mr. Way?..."


He called out to the man's back.


"Do you need something?"


Gerard turned around and saw Frank.


"Uh...yeah, three of the uh...black dogs keep fighting over this toy and when I take it away they all start howling, but then I give it back and they fight again."


Frank giggled.


"Oh yeah, that’d be Eenie, Meenie and mo...Miney found a home yesterday..."


He looked at his watch.


"It’s gone ten...have they had their treats yet?"


"Treats...oh I mean I fed them..."


"I didn’t think you’d let them starve..."


Frank chuckled.


"No, I mean their biscuits...the ones in the box under the counter?...I make them a load every week. They won’t settle til they’ve had one..."


He frowned slightly.


"I did leave a note."


"You make...?"


Gerard did see the notes, but he shoved them away in his anger. Frank nodded, walking toward Paws.


"I like to bake. I make a batch of brownies for my mom's reading group, and a batch of dog safe biscuits for the babies on Sundays..."


He smiled as he looked back at Mr. Way, who was a step or two behind him.


"I could make you some brownies if you’d like?"


"Oh, I don't eat sweets that often. Not really a...well I don't have a sweet tooth..."


Gerard watched Frank walk in and grab the treats. They were adorable little bones dipped in what looked like chocolate and colored candy.


"Wait...you can't give dogs chocolate."


Frank nodded his head.


"Yeah, I know. All types of chocolate contain things called methylxanthines...they’re mostly caffeine and theobromine, and dogs can’t metabolise them. That’s why this..."


He pointed to the coating on one of the little bone shaped biscuits.


"...isn’t chocolate. It’s a soft, sugar free, caffeine free icing...and it tastes more of beef, than chocolate."


"Really?"


Gerard picked up one of the shaped bones and sniffed it.


"And the coloured ones?"


Frank grinned.


"The pink ones taste of salmon, the yellow are vanilla, the green are grass flavoured and the blue...well they’re supposed to be blueberry, but they taste more like lavender to me."


"Wait...taste...you eat them?"


Frank laughed, shaking his head.


"Well I don’t snack down on them, but I do taste test them while I’m making them...to make sure the batch is good."


"Oh..."


Gerard looked in the coloured ones and pulled out a yellow.


"Vanilla right?"


Frank nodded.


"Yeah. The biscuits are really hard though, so be careful."


Gerard nodded and then took a small bite.


"It is hard, but it's pretty good, even for a dog biscuit. I noticed you have smaller boxes under there too. Do you give them to the clients?"


Frank grinned.


"Yeah, I give each new family a box...but I was thinking of maybe selling bigger boxes if people wanted them. I was gonna speak to you about that, but I’ve not had a chance."


He looked down. There was never a right time.


"You would have to list the ingredients on each box."


Frank looked up hopefully.


"I can do that. I created the recipe, so I know exactly what’s in them. I can print the labels on my computer at home too."


"Yeah, I think that would be good. We need to add a card too."


"A card?...oh, the new business cards..."


Frank grinned and picked up the box of new cards, handing them over.


"Mikey showed me. They came out great."


"Mikey..."


Gerard looked at the cards. He never even knew about them.


"I’ll give the pups their treats if you like, but then I gotta get back to Purrs. You’d never believe how much trouble those little guys can cause when they’re left alone for ten minutes."


Frank grabbed the big box of biscuits and headed toward the kennels and puppy pens, leaving Mr. Way to himself. Gerard watched Frank walk away. Here was a guy who had been working for him for the past two months and he knew nothing about him at all. Gerard walked back to the office still munching on the treat.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how’s you?

Ok, so it’s only been a few minutes since I asked that, but I do really want to know how you all are (all four of you), and no one's ever told me :(

Anyway, so this is the second post of ours tonight and there might be a third but I’m not sure yet. Hope you liked it.

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

Comments

@domebedward
True and true!...we're having fun writing this.
xxx

Oh boys!! Frankie is so super sweet and caring. Gerard and Mikey are such assholes!!

domebedward domebedward
5/12/18

@domebedward
Yep, he really really is :)
xxx

@Gee'sCLUELESSgirl!
Girl he's CLUELESS Gee!!

domebedward domebedward
2/1/18

@domebedward
Yeah, he’s not exactly our regular fluffy little Gee, now is he ;)
xxx