Just a few snippets of Jackie teaching Colleen a few things. More to come in a bit. *I had a hell of a time trying to find the right font for this one,ha*
Snippet One: The Art of the Hundred Yard Dash AKA The Art of Dodging Fire“You
can’t be serious.”
“Like a feckin’ heart attack.”
“Oh c’mon, Colleen live a little.”
“I live just fine thanks, Jackie.”
To anyone walking past the pair it looked as if they were just milling about and having a friendly discussion. It was a cold dreary New York evening, spring was running late this year it seemed and the average on looker wouldn’t notice the gas can by the gangly Irishman’s feet or the worried look on his lady love’s face.
“Twenty bucks says you’re a chicken, babe.”
A sound smack and a laugh could be heard as the green eyed woman scowled slightly.
“You’re on, Flannery. But I’m warning you if you end up without eyebrows I get to say I told you so.”
“Deal.”
Hurried footsteps could be heard as they dashed into the abandoned building, gas can sloshing against worn jeans as scuffed motorcycle boots crunched on dried bits of wood and plaster. Five minutes later the scent of gasoline hung pungent in the air as Colleen gagged, her stomach a bundle of knots more intricate than the sterling silver triquertra necklace that was dangling from her neck. From somewhere in the building she thought she heard a whine. She swiveled around looking for Jackie only to find that he was nowhere to be seen.
“C’mon Jackie this isn’t funny. Where the hell are you?!”
The telltale stomp of his boots announced him as he rounded the corner, this time gas can free but hiding something in his jacket with one large hand, the other dangled an old Heineken bottle with the remains of an old t-shirt and a hellish mixture of grain alcohol and gas. Colleen had counted off the time and he’d been gone for the past ten minutes. Just as she was about to ask him where the hell he went he cut her off.
“Reach into my pocket and grab my lighter, will ya?”
“What? Why? Your arms broken all of the sudden or something?”
“No, I’m..Colleen please just do it.”
An eye roll and a minute passed as she finally reached into his pants pocket and snagged the zippo.
“Alright, now take the bottle light the rag and on the count of three we make a wild run.”
Colleen’s face fell for a moment.
“I can’t believe you! Why didn’t you just say ‘here Colleen light this?’ while you’re at it? If you plan on booking out here first you’ve got another thing coming, bucko.”
A roguish smirk flittered across his face as he held out the bottle.
“Here Colleen, light this.”
A mad cackle and the snicking flick of a lighter a whoosh was heard as the bottle was hurled down the empty corridor. A burst of yellow orange light came to life.
“One…two…three…”
It was arses and elbows as the two of them ran for their lives laughing and whooping as they went. Jackie had seen Colleen run exactly three times in her life. Once, after contracting food poisoning from some dodgy shellfish, once when a toddler from their building had escaped from the ground level and almost toddled out in front of a Yellow Cab, and once when he’d told her they were going to be late for mass. He’d never really studied her until now. She was a sight to behold, long dark hair whipping out behind her, arms and legs moving together in fluid time. Truth be told she looked like some sort of champion thoroughbred or a well defined greyhound.
‘Hey, wait a feckin’ minute. She’s beatin’ me!’He thought as he kicked into high gear, the doorway coming into view slammed open as Colleen hit it with all of her weight and shouted for joy as the cold air hit her. Somewhere within the depths of the building pressure built as Jackie stormed the threshold just steps behind his girl, one arm hefting the wiggling lump under his leather jacket. A deafening blast sounded as the pair rounded the corner and hurled themselves into Jackie’s car.
“What…the…
hell…Jackie.”
Was all Colleen could manage before batting at his shoulder as a flurry of rather unladylike words escaped her mouth in rapid succession.
“Hey, hey hey..Watch the jacket. Precious cargo here, Col.”
“Oh shut the fu..what?”
In the dim light of the streetlamp a tiny furry head popped out of the zipped leather jacket. Large brown eyes and whimper were heard and Jackie knew Colleen was a goner. He’d found the tiny pup tied up to a radiator and left without food, water or any warmth. The little thing was dirty as could be and nothing but skin and bones. Jackie knew he couldn’t leave him so he’d smuggled him out in his coat but not before looking for any littermate or other strays that may have been cowering in the area. His girl was a softy when it came to all living things, especially cats and dogs and this little fellow looked like he was in need of all the TLC they could give him.
“Oh my god. Look at you!”
Holding out her hand for the pup to sniff and was rewarded with a tentative lick.
“Is this what you were doing for five minutes when we went in?”
A sheepish look crossed Jackie’s face and he nodded.
“I was checkin’ for his brothers and sisters maybe even his mother. Couldn’t find any so it looks like some kids just trapped him and left him there. Little monsters. He’ll be right as rain once we get him home.”
A flurry of snow came down as the car sputtered to life and pulled into the street. Traffic this time of night was non existent.
“We can’t possibly keep him…”
“Who says?”
“Our lease.”
“Oh please, old man Merchetti doesn’t give a shite about that. The two old biddies above us have a herd of cats and Lottie and Vlad have Sirius. ‘Sides weren’t you the one sayin’ just last week that wouldn’t it be nice to have a pet again? Fergus’s been gone for two years now babe. Let the cat’s memory live in your heart and share the love with this little guy.”
Colleen studied the tiny pup as it curled up into her side on the bench seat. Gently stroking his head she smiled.
“Alright, but we’ve got to stop by that bodega on Delancey. They’re open twenty-four hours and something tells me this little guy’s going to need supplies.”
Forty minutes and nearly one hundred dollars later the newly acquired furry Flannery seemed quite content in his new digs. He was currently snout deep in cooked rice and hamburger as a bath was being prepared in the kitchen sink as his new humans playfully bickered over a name.
“He looks like a Bushmill to me.”
“Jackie, we’re not naming him after a whiskey brand. Why don’t we clean him up first and see what he really looks like?”
“Alright, fine..”
One very messy bath later a little brown and white face stared back at them as his little eyes became quite heavy. He had become introduced to something the humans called a bed and it was quite nice. Between the warmth of the two people he was now sleeping between, a full belly , and a nice bath his eyes were getting heavy. He’d hit the ever loving jackpot with these two.
“We’ll think of something in the morning. I don’t have the heart to move the cute little bugger.”
Jackie sighed as he leaned toward Colleen for a kiss goodnight.
“I suppose. This one really dodged a bullet tonight didn't he? Thank god you came along, I’d hate to think what would have happened to him.”
The gears in Jackie’s mind turned as a grin spread across his face.
“Yeah, I guess he did..and I think we’ve found a name. Dodger.”
A satisfied snuffling noise alerted Jackie and Colleen that the newly dubbed Dodger seemed to like his new moniker just fine.