Without A Pail

by Michelle Marra

  “What the...” She whispered as she slowly walked into the room with a timid grin. The applause seemed to go on forever and as she gazed around the room at all the faces smiling, hands clapping…tears formed in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. The room, her meet and greet room she used for animals and their potential adoptive humans to meet and acclimate to each other was filled to the brim with dogs barking, cat crates and hordes of people…many she had never seen before. Confusion washed over her face as she turned back to Theresa who wore an equally large smile slapping her hands together with vigor.

  “What’s going on?” Jill asked looking to make some sense of what was happening.

  Theresa shook her head and gestured her out into the room with a wave of her hand.

  Jackie watched as Jill nervously looked around the room, her eyes filled with tears and her hands shaking a bit when she placed one to her chest. She hid where Jill’s eyes couldn’t see her, wanting her to enjoy just a little bit more of the display of appreciation. But as she walked further into the room, the noise was almost deafening between the whistles, clapping and dogs barking. It was time to save her so Jackie stepped out into the light with her microphone catching Jill’s eyes immediately and hers began to fill up. Clearing her throat trying to quell the tears as she tapped on the mic.

  “Now that our guest of honor has finally decided to join us, let’s get started.” With that everyone sat down. Those with dogs trying to contain them best they could. Fortunately, Louise came around with dog biscuits and that seemed to do the trick. “Okay so now that the dogs are temporarily quiet, Jill will you come and sit here?”

  Jill looked at her girlfriend quizzically as she closed the distance. She was uncomfortable being out there, on display…the center of attention. She was more of a behind the scenes kind of person and now she wanted to disappear. When she reached the space Jackie stood in she looked at the blonde who had a gleam in her eye. “What’s going on?”

  “Shhhh, just take a seat,” Jackie smiled and winked as she gestured to the chair next to her.

  Theresa smiled and patted Jill on the shoulder as she sat behind her with the other staff members. Jill pushed an errant tear aside and turned her head, “You could have warned me ya know.”

  Theresa leaned up, “Now where would the fun be in that?” With a smile, she leaned back into her chair.

  Jill turned back to face the crowd as Jackie began her speech.

  “I know many of you don’t know Jill personally and you might not be aware of what she has accomplished here at the Manhattan Animal Shelter. Jill started working here about a year and a half ago. Being new to the city, Jill wanted something to occupy her time. And since time was something she had a lot of, she took as many shifts as she could and it didn’t matter if it was the overnight shift or not. In fact, she told me one time that she preferred the overnight shifts because that’s when the animals seemed to be the most frightened and needed the most attention. She didn’t realize that her love for animals and her wanting to help was turning into a calling.

  On her rounds each night Jill would stop by a kennel of an old dog who was surrendered because the family had recently gotten a puppy and didn’t have a need for an old dog any longer. Jill bonded with the dog and soon fell in love with her sweet furry face. Jill adopted Molly not long after and filled each day with love and purpose for that dog.”

  Jackie paused and looked to her right at the woman of her dreams wiping her nose with a tissue as the tears fell freely. “When Jill’s divorce was final, she used more than half of the financial settlement to fund this Shelter and redesign it to hold more animals comfortably. She updated the on-site medical clinic with all new appliances, medication and x-ray machines. Not only did she become the biggest benefactor of the shelter she also became the Shelter’s CEO. But her new title did not keep her from doing what she loved most and that was working with the animals. She has worked for days, weeks and months tirelessly sometimes fourteen hours a day. Never complaining. Her work ethic, benevolence, and compassion are what has made this Shelter an incredible success.”

  “Today marks a very special day, not only is it Jill’s birthday…” Jackie winked at Jill when she looked over suspiciously. “Today is our very first AdoptaPalooza. This is a surprise for Jill, a birthday surprise if you will. I had this crazy idea for a few months and I called Theresa Bennington to see if this was something we could pull off, not only in reality but also under the radar. We came up with a plan, pulled in some connected people for assistance one of them being Jill’s best friend Casey Atwell who is very connected to the LGBT community. And we could not have been more pleased with the first AdoptaPalooza, it is truly a success. There are over thirty animals that have been adopted as part of this program and they are all here tonight. Thank you for making this venture such a success and so memorable.”

  Tears were streaming down Jill’s cheeks.

  “Okay, before I let you get back to the festivities, there is one more…no really two more things. Behind me you will see a set of doors, doors that are brand new today. However the building they are connected to has been under reconstruction for three months and it was completed today, hence the new doors. This new section of the building contains a state-of-the-art clinic where all animals will be spayed and neutered at no cost to the pet owner. We have partnered with a few animal hospitals and veterinarian clinics all over New York which will provide health care, surgical care, and post op care pro bono. These esteemed veterinarian physicians will also provide care for all animals by appointment at a fraction of what it will cost for families with animals that have no other means to afford care for their pets.”

  Jackie paused for a moment listening to the applause and all the oohs and ahs, “We also have a training facility and a daycare facility within those walls. We have also partnered with a reputable animal trainers to not only train the borders of this facility, but to also provide training to low-income pet owners and…” Jackie’s voice raised a decibel for emphasis. “And some of our animals will be selected for a mission while they wait for adoption. Therapy dogs, cats, rabbits…these animals will provide comfort to children in hospitals, the elderly in senior homes, As well as seeing Eye dogs, cadaver dogs and rescue dogs. And last but not least, the day care facility will be for those lower income families, single parents and struggling professionals that need to be out of the home an extended period of time or have a special needs animal.”

  Jackie pulled the microphone from her podium and stepped out from around it, “if you would all follow me…Jill,” Jackie extended her hand and pulled a tear soaked woman to her feet. Theresa came around the other side of Jackie and the three of them led the crowd to the glass doors with a big red ribbon stretched out in front. Theresa handed Jill a pair of hedge trimmers and the three turned around to face the crowd and the reporters taking pictures. “Today is the day we commemorate the significance of Jillian Warner’s mission of animal welfare. This was her dream. A dream to give these animals a second chance. Not only at a family, but for those that were not and would not be adopted, she wanted to give them a purpose. She wanted the animals to feel wanted and useful, not to rot away in a cage. Jillian Warner has made such a huge difference in a short time making the lives of every animal in this facility, those that have been adopted and those who will be here in the future. Every animal that comes through those doors, whether they are lost, stray, surrendered, abandoned or abused. Jill and her mission, her dream will ensure these animals never feel forgotten. We dedicate this building to an amazing woman and her amazing cause.”

  The applause rose up again and Jill’s face warmed as she eyed the smiling face of her girlfriend.

  Theresa turned toward the doors and pulled a large drape from in front and let it fall to the floor. With that she heard the gasps and the flashes going off behind her. As she watched Jill slowly turn toward the wall and the new glass doors her eyes filled with tears. Jill’s mouth was agape as she stared at the wo
rding and the mural proudly displayed above the doors that said “Molly’s House”. Jill couldn’t take her eyes off the image of her beloved German Shepherd ‘Molly.’

  “Happy Birthday Baby,” Jackie said as she leaned closer to Jill and whispered in her ear.

  “Thank you,” Jill said as she reached for the microphone, “Before I cut this ribbon, I have to say that I am blown away and still trying to wrap my head around everything. And I have to let you all know there is someone else here that deserves half of the credit, my manager Theresa because this has really been a joint effort. Theresa has been with me nearly from the beginning, she has worked tirelessly for these animals and I could not have done any of this without her. I want to thank John Cordova or Cordova Industries who became our biggest benefactor tonight. And for those who put this in motion…I can’t believe so many of these furry faces have a forever home. I am just amazed how this was done under my nose.” Then she looked at Jackie, “I would like to thank my beautiful girlfriend Jackie Evans and my best friend Casey Atwell. Without these two amazing women in my life, I would not be what I am today. With their love and support, I know I can accomplish anything. And one more thing before I cut this ribbon, I need to say…” Jill turned and looked at Jackie, “never in all my days have I been so happy and so blessed as I was the day you walked into my life. You have given my life direction and purpose…you’ve helped me to find my reason. You are the one I’ve been waiting for when I didn’t know I was looking.” Jill dropped the mic and pulled her girlfriend into an embrace. “I love you,” she whispered into Jackie’s ear.

  “Okay, now let’s check this place out.” Jill said with a smile as she cut the ribbon and watched it fall to the floor. She felt like she was in a daze, and she was afraid it was just going to be a dream. Looking at the smiling face of her girlfriend as she opened the door to the new facility Jill closed the distance between them and kissed the blonde on the mouth. “No, definitely not a dream,” she muttered as she walked through the doors and was nearly swept away in the sea of people behind her. She stood in complete awe of the building and wondered how all this was done without her knowing any of it was going on. The area she stood in was filled with dog toys, faux trees and shrubs…there were balls of all sizes, water troughs, partitions for different sized dogs, hammocks to relax on and rubber turf to provide cushion as well as a feel of grass.

  The cinder block walls were painted different colors, each seemed soothing and inviting while pictures of animals were painted all over. The day care center had a line of rooms along the wall and over them displayed the words ‘doggie hotel,’ the training facility was equipped with every device needed to train a dog show champion. But as Jill walked through the building toward another door with the wording in large block letters, ‘Molly’s Clinic’ she could hear a faint bark. She wondered how a dog would have gotten itself into the room, since as far as she knew it wasn’t open for business just yet.

  She walked through the doors and marveled at the exam room with the state-of-the-art items, an exam table which raised and lowered, an x-ray machine, and every medicine, stethoscope, needle, thermometer needed for a visit. As she left the room and walked through the corridor, she noticed three other rooms like it, all with the same equipment, and all with comfortable seating for the owners and pet. Passing the lobby she stopped momentarily to peek inside, the darkness of the room didn’t take away from the warmth and welcoming presence.

  Jill heard the bark again and immediately she wandered toward the operating room, she knew the look of the stainless steel tables and crates and as she opened the door, the barking and whimpering were loud and clear. She was immediately met by a scruffy brown and white dog. His tail was curled up like a crescent moon and wagged so intently that his hind legs followed suit. His ears stood on end save the right one which looked to have been chewed half off. He was a thin dog and stood on spindly legs. And when she crouched down the scruffy brown dog whimpered and jumped into her lap.

  “How did you get in here little fella?” Jill said as she cradled the dog while he peppered her with doggie kisses to her cheek.

  “He was brought in two weeks ago,” Jackie said causing Jill to nearly jump from her skin. “He was used as a bait dog to train other dogs how to fight. Fortunately a neighbor saw the puppy being attacked and called the police. ASPCA brought him here.”

  Jill stood up with the dog in her arms. “Why didn’t I know about him?” She eyed Jackie suspiciously.

  “Theresa called the night we had our ‘date night.’ You were asleep and I took the call when I saw the caller ID.”

  Jill remembered the night, it was supposed to be their night since they hadn’t seen each other except for a quick meal, morning kiss ‘goodbye’ or a fast impromptu sex romp to satisfy nagging needs. That night was going to be a date night, filled with romance but Jill ended up falling asleep as they snuggled on the sofa, she had worked fourteen days straight and was exhausted. “You could have told me the next morning.”

  “Yeah, but I wanted ‘Boomer’ to be a surprise.”

  “Boomer? And what do you mean surprise?”

  “He’s ours.”

  “Ours….” Jill smiled as she looked at the shaggy mutt with the light brown eyes and happy pant face. A tear slid down her left cheek, “Well little guy, guess that means I get to spoil you rotten.”

  “Among others,” Jackie said as she pulled them both into her arms. “Happy Birthday Jill. I love you.”

  Chapter 35

  Nine months later…

  Jill sat in the second row of the Catholic Church with Casey and Nicole at her side. She could faintly hear their conversation as she marveled at the architecture of St. Peter’s Church. The cathedral ceilings and the walls adorned with exquisitely stained glass windows which depicted each station of the cross. The lovely white marble pillars and life-sized replicas of the saints standing at and behind the altar. The Holy Mother captured holding the Christ child and the figure centered directly behind the altar and the reason for the church; the crucifixion…Christ on the cross.

  The volume of the church organ bellowed through the open atmosphere taking Jill’s attention to the groom and his best man standing at the base of the altar. Jason looked so handsome and a tad nervous. But when she saw the smile cross his face, she immediately stood. Craning her neck past the other guests in the aisles behind her to see the guest of honor and the love of her life at the rear of the church. Jackie had spent the night at her sister’s so they could work on the final touches of Joni’s big day. Jason wanted to honor tradition, so he spent the night at his brother’s place and Jill spent the evening with Boomer and working on her special plan for the day. So she was not able to see Jackie get fixed up and she had no idea what her bridesmaid dress would look like since she was forbidden to see it. Jackie had told her time after time how hideous it was and she didn’t want to spend any more time in it than she had to, Jill would see it at the wedding.

  So when Jill’s eyes captured Jackie standing in a form-fitting black tux with a royal blue corset and a one-button jacket with thin satin lapels and three-inch heeled boots, her knees nearly gave out. “Oh my God,” Jill said aloud as the wedding march began to bellow through the air.

  With Joni on her arm, ready to walk her sister down the aisle…the woman that raised her, basically the only mother she really had ever known, Jackie had to fight the tears from falling. It took too long to get her makeup just right and she didn’t want mascara streaks on her face. It wouldn’t look too good in pictures she figured, so she swallowed the lump and took a step forward.

  Jill was mesmerized by the blonde slowly coming down the aisle. Jackie looked stunning. Her hair, which she let grow longer for the wedding, was pulled off her face and tied back into curly tresses which swayed as she took each step. Jill’s eyes diverted to the bride for a moment and she marveled at Joni and thought she was the most beautiful bride she had ever seen. The wedding dress was stunning, just off the shoulder
and dipped low between her breasts to display a tasteful yet sexy view of her cleavage. The bottom part of the dress was white chiffon which was intertwined with blue and purple sequined lace. Her hair in the similar fashion of Jackie’s was pulled back with tresses of long blonde curls cascading over her shoulders and down her back. Her bouquet of flowers was blue, purple and white roses arranged so aesthetically, Jill found it difficult to pull her focus away for a moment. In the true fashion of a gypsy, Joni was mystical and beautiful.

  As they came within a few feet where Jill stood, she had to contain herself when Jackie winked and smiled at her. She had never seen anyone look so sexy in a tuxedo and she couldn’t wait to tear it off her body.

  As with all Catholic weddings, the service was long and tedious. Jill didn’t hear much of the invocation as her eyes seldom left the blonde in the tux with a mind full of thoughts and images which were certainly not conducive of being in a church. Jill smiled to herself as she thought about her life with this amazing woman and how happy she was that she allowed herself to pursue a curiosity she thought would only ever be alive in the back of her mind. But now at forty-seven years old, she truly understood what all the fuss was about and how amazing love could be.

  In keeping with traditions which spanned decades, the reception held no surprises; even on the first of June in New York, the weather had cooperated. It was sunny and warm with a promise of a great sunset over the park of the exclusive banquet hall, Terrace on The Park. The ballroom was adorned with blue and purple lighting as each table placed elegantly with linens of white accented in Joni’s bridal colors. The sweetheart table with a setting for two strategically sat in the center of the room for all to see the beautiful couple. The buffet tables filled with a king’s feast of freshly carved meat, Italian specialties, and seafood to pleasure a variety of pallets.