Boys, Blues and Shoes

by Cindy Jefferies

  As she and Bohemia unpacked another box each, Ellie had to keep reminding herself to tidy as they went. It was tempting to let the packing tissue, in brilliant reds, greens, blues and yellows, billow around them as they worked. Such flamboyance suited the shoes. The collection was a wonderful celebration of excess. Ellie, sitting back on her heels and gazing at the delights on the floor was quite sure she would never be be able to explain to Hannah how wonderful it felt to be surrounded by such fabulous shoes.

  Angel was cooing over them as they appeared out of the tissue, and the old man was calmly taking all the praise as his due.

  “I think I ought to ask Francesca to take you and your wonderful shoes to the studio where the shoot will be,” she said at last. “You will want to see it, I’m sure, and I expect Karen the Art Director is there now with Joe, so you can discuss the shoot before the models arrive. But could I keep a couple of these magnificent shoes with me for the moment? They are works of art, not simply footwear, and I’d love to have a few minutes to admire them fully.”

  Jacob Frou inclined his head in gracious agreement.

  “Ellie, fetch Francesca for me, will you?” said Angel.

  Ellie got to her feet and reluctantly left the sparkling collection. In the main office, Francesca was busy on her computer, but as soon as Ellie gave her the message she logged out.

  “Are you all right?” asked Ellie, noticing her exhausted face.

  Francesca gave Ellie a rueful smile. “I will be if we get to the end of the day with everything done properly,” she said. She hurried towards Angel’s office and Ellie watched her go.

  “The band is going to be very late, so Angel can’t take them out to lunch, one of the models is sick, and Francesca is probably going to be blamed for everything,” said Piano helpfully.

  “That’s hardly fair,” said Ellie. “It’s not her fault.” That would be just too cruel. After all, Ellie knew that Francesca always had the best interests of the magazine at the front of her mind, whatever she was doing. In Ellie’s opinion, blaming people, especially unjustly, wasn’t the way to make people work harder or better.

  “Angel doesn’t worry about whose fault something is,” said Piano. “She simply expects everything to be perfect, and if it isn’t, people get told off. It would have been better if you hadn’t brought the designer back with you. If he’s here, it makes any problems more embarrassing for Angel, and that makes things worse for us.”

  “I didn’t have a choice about that!” said Ellie. “I couldn’t tell him not to come.”

  “No,” said Piano, in an infuriatingly superior tone of voice. “I don’t suppose you could.”

  Francesca was leading Jacob Frou and Bohemia out of the office. As soon as they’d gone, Angel called for Ellie.

  “Tidy up, will you?” she said. “And when you’ve done that, come back to fetch these. Someone can take them to the studio in a few minutes. I won’t be long with them.”

  Ellie left Angel examining the shoes on the low table, gathered up the packaging and took it to the Heart lobby. She met Francesca there, on her way back from delivering Jacob Frou and Bohemia to the Art Director.

  “All okay?” asked Francesca.

  Ellie nodded. “Fine. Angel says she’ll have finished with the shoes she’s still got in a few minutes.”

  “Good,” said Francesca. “I expect she just wanted to have a good look at the quality without the designer there.” They had just reached the reception desk when they heard a loud scream coming from the direction of Angel’s office. Ellie, Francesca and Piano exchanged bewildered glances.

  “You were in there last,” said Piano accusingly to Ellie.

  “Let’s go and see what’s wrong,” said Francesca in a resigned voice.

  Ellie walked nervously with Francesca to Angel’s door. She’d never heard the Editor in Chief scream before. But when they got to the open door, Ellie had to put her hand up to her mouth to stop herself laughing. Angel was chasing Ferdinand round her huge desk. The little dog was acting like a puppy, evading her every effort to catch him. Then Ellie saw what he was holding in his mouth and went white with shock. “He’s got the Pirate!”

  Something had got into Ferdinand. He was usually so docile, but the sight of all those shoes must have been too much of a temptation. He was galloping proudly around the desk with one of the Pirates held in his mouth, growling playfully as he went. Ellie, Francesca and Angel were all appalled.

  “Catch him!” yelled Angel, sounding beside herself with fury. But her ire was aimed at Ellie. “Whatever were you thinking, leaving them on that low table?” she demanded, as Francesca deftly cornered the dog and picked him up. She held him at arm’s length away from her immaculate silk shirt and handed him to Angel. The shoe dangled from his teeth, but the fun had gone out of his game now he’d been caught. He let the shoe go without any prompting, and it fell to the floor before Ellie could catch it.

  Quickly, she stooped to retrieve the shoe. To her great relief, apart from a small damp patch on the suede, and a couple of tiny tooth marks, it seemed pretty well undamaged. She put it on Angel’s desk. Angel was standing behind her desk, clasping her dog and looking quite shaken, or maybe she was simply furious. It was difficult for Ellie to tell.

  “You. Put his lead on and take him away. Don’t come back until he’s thoroughly exercised. If you neglect his well-being he’s bound to become playful.”

  Ellie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How was it her fault that the poor dog was ignored? Angel professed to love Ferdinand so much, but really she treated the poor thing as an accessory. No wonder he felt like misbehaving occasionally.

  Without a word, Ellie took Ferdinand’s lead from the desk, and snapped it onto his diamanté collar. Angel put her dog down and glared at Ellie. “Off you go. And don’t just drag him round the park. Give him some attention. And while you’re out, take him to have his teeth cleaned. Tell Piano to ring the grooming parlour. They’re sure to fit him in for me.”

  As Ellie left, with Ferdinand in tow, Angel was already completely calm. In her normal voice, she was talking to Francesca about a totally different subject. It was as if Ellie, and Ferdinand, had simply ceased to exist.

  Ellie and Ferdinand made their way out after Piano had rung and found that the grooming parlour could indeed clean the dog’s teeth. Before she let her go, Piano loaded Ellie up with several letters and a small parcel for Sophie to frank.

  “Don’t you run off now,” Ellie warned the little dog as she dug around in the shoe cupboard for her trainers. But Ferdinand was quite content to wait now he was out of Angel’s office. Ellie suspected that Angel would have a fit if she saw the trainers she wore while taking Ferdinand for a walk. No doubt Angel would insist on the highest heels for such a job. But Ellie didn’t care. She couldn’t imagine that anyone would report back to Angel that they’d seen some sloppily shod girl exercising Ferdinand. After all, he wasn’t exactly the most elegant of dogs. He was small, hairy, and his head was a bit too large for his body. If he’d been a Borzoi, or a Dalmation, Ellie might have felt the need to try to look as elegant as him, but Ferdinand, in spite of being owned by a cool magazine Editor in Chief, just wasn’t in that league.

  Down in the post room, Sophie patted him. “Not being used as a handbag today then, Ferdi?”

  Ellie laughed. The first time she’d seen him she had mistaken him for a hairy handbag, as he’d been tucked under his mistress’s arm. “No. We’ve escaped, haven’t we? For a while at least.”

  “Have you met the famous boy band then?” asked Sophie, giving Ferdinand a broken bit of digestive.

  “No.” Ellie explained about her day so far, and the non-appearance of Zone One.

  “So your Editor has abandoned the idea of going out to lunch with them then.”

  Ellie shrugged. “I should think so. But the photo shoot and interview are more important than lunch. I’m sure Angel can talk to them in her office if they’re pushed for time.” She laughed. �
��With luck she’ll send me out to fetch sandwiches for them all. If so, I’ll be able to say hello while I’m handing them out. Chicken tikka wrap anyone?” Then her face dropped. “As long as it doesn’t all happen while I’m out with Ferdinand.”

  “I tell you what…”

  Ellie looked at Sophie. “What?”

  “I’ll text you as soon as they arrive.”

  Ellie looked around the post room. “But how will you know, stuck down here? I don’t mean to be rude, Sophie, but you’re not exactly well placed to know what’s going on.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” Sophie smiled. “Steve in security will buzz me when they come if I ask him too. He’s on duty today.”

  Ellie looked admiringly at Sophie. “I didn’t know you were friendly with the security staff.”

  “I’m friendly with everyone,” said Sophie primly. Then she grinned. “Steve and I got talking one day recently about what subjects his daughter is going to do at school. He’s a big bloke, is Steve, and can look a bit intimidating in his uniform, but he’s a lovely guy.”

  “Wow,” said Ellie. “I always scuttle past feeling as if I must have done something wrong when he’s around.”

  “Well now you know how nice he is you won’t need to. He won’t let us down. And there’s no point in you rushing back. Take your time. I’m sure Ferdi deserves a break, even if you don’t think you do.”

  “Well, okay,” said Ellie.

  “You won’t be too far away to run here in time to see them, will you?”

  “I suppose not.” Ellie thought about it. “You’re right. We’re only going to the park – oh, and to get his teeth cleaned. I’ll be able to get back in about five minutes if we sprint.”

  Sophie looked at the dog’s short legs doubtfully. “Can Ferdinand sprint?”

  Ellie laughed, and gave the dog a pat. “Well I can. I can always carry you if I have to, can’t I, Ferdi? See you later, Sophie. And thanks!”

  It might have been Ellie’s ultimate ambition to work for a magazine like Heart, but after such a frantic morning it was also good to dawdle along the pavement, letting Ferdinand sniff every lamp post and litter bin that attracted his nose. She bought a banana at a stall, and ate it while walking, something else Angel would have hated.

  In the park, Ellie strolled along with Ferdinand in tow, but once she was in the designated dog-walking area she could let him off the lead. While he sniffed around to his heart’s content, and said hello to the other dogs, Ellie thought about the article she would like to write about meeting Jacob Frou. In spite of her panic about missing Zone One, the designer had made quite an impression on her. She could describe going up those narrow stairs, and arriving at his lovely, light workroom. And all those coloured leathers and trimmings had been fantastic. How she’d longed to dip her hands into the boxes of beads. She knew how expensive some of the trimmings were in her local bead shop, so could see that his workshop must have contained thousands of pounds’ worth of materials. She’d noticed lots of foot shapes made out of wood as well. Maybe he used those to design on. She could imagine him cutting the leather, and stitching it, shaping it to fit. What an amazing skill he had – a bit like a sculptor.

  Ellie sat on a bench while the dog snuffled around, and thought about being able to own a pair of Jacob Frou shoes, after the article she was thinking of writing was syndicated around the world and made her fortune. Of course there was the small matter of it not actually having been written yet, or asked for by any magazine, but it did no harm to hope, and to dream.

  It was warm in the sun, and after Ferdinand had run about he was thirsty. So Ellie took him to the ice cream stand, where she knew a bowl of fresh water was always available for dogs. While he drank, she bought herself an ice cream. She was in such a good mood that she didn’t even get annoyed when a little dripped onto her dress. She’d set out that morning so sure she’d meet Zone One. She’d taken her highest heels to wear in the office, and worn her coolest, retro minidress. She’d taken special care with her make-up and worn the most expensive perfume she owned. But after all that effort, here she was, mooching around in the park, with a scruffy little dog for company. She wondered if her dad had a phrase in his notebook for things not turning out as you expected. He probably did, she just hadn’t found it yet.

  Ellie finished her ice cream and called to Ferdinand. “Come on. We’d better go and get your teeth done.”

  In the dog grooming place, Pamper Your Pets, they were expecting Ferdinand.

  “Your office rang up about it,” the receptionist told the little dog, giving him a stroke. Then she looked at Ellie. “His usual pamperer is off today, but Sally knows just what to do. If you’d like to take a seat, I’ll take him straight through…and while you’re waiting, do help yourself to tea or coffee.”

  Ellie went through to the waiting area. Pamper Your Pets obviously believed that it was important for the owners to be well looked after, as well as the pets. The chairs were comfortable, there were china cups for the tea and coffee, and there was even a plate of yummy-looking Danish pastries under a glass dome.

  There was also a collection of pink and black furry beds for waiting pets to sit on. There was no carpet, but Ellie supposed with a giggle that must be in case any of the pampered pets disgraced themselves. Washable floors were probably a must.

  There was only one other person waiting – a man who was intently reading a dog magazine. After a few minutes, his dog, a large golden Labrador with an enthusiastic expression and wildly wagging tail, was brought to him.

  It seemed to be taking rather a long time to clean Ferdi’s teeth, so Ellie went back to the receptionist to ask if everything was all right. Angel would never forgive her if anything happened to her dog. The receptionist smiled at her reassuringly.

  “Oh yes, everything’s fine. He’s such a good little dog. I think he’s just gone in for his shampoo now.”

  “What?” Ellie stared at the receptionist, but before she could say anything else her phone bleeped. “Excuse me a minute.” Ellie flipped open the phone and read the message.

  Zone One just arrived. Be back soon! Soph xxx

  Ellie’s hand flew up to her mouth. She stuffed the phone back in her bag and looked at the receptionist again. “Shampoo? But I only brought him in for his teeth to be cleaned!”

  The receptionist looked flustered. “Oh dear. I just assumed, when your office phoned, that Miss Makepiece wanted the usual for Ferdinand.” She counted off the treatments on her fingers. “That’s teeth, nails, shampoo, blow-dry and style.”

  “Well can you stop the shampoo?” said Ellie in a panic. “Maybe they haven’t started yet.”

  The receptionist looked a bit put out. “Well I’ll go and see if you like, but I’m sure he’ll be—”

  “Thank you,” said Ellie, feeling like rushing behind the counter herself and grabbing the dog. Instead she had to wait, while the receptionist wandered into the back. She was gone for five long minutes, while Ellie paced up and down, trying not to bite her nails in her agitation. If they had already started bathing Ferdinand, how long would it take?

  How long would the members of the band be in the office? Would Angel whisk them off for a late lunch after all, or would they still be there when she got back? Ellie was sure that once the band members went off to the studio for the photo shoot, although they would still be in the building, she would almost certainly have lost the chance to speak to them. And with a pang she remembered about her and Hannah’s CDs. She’d so wanted to get them signed, in spite of what Piano had said.

  The receptionist came back, looking sympathetic. “I’m sorry, but they’ve just put the first lot of shampoo on. We will waive the cost, of course, as you didn’t actually ask for it to be done. But even if you don’t want him blow-dried and styled it’ll take a few minutes to rinse the shampoo off. It has to be done thoroughly, otherwise a dog’s skin can become scurfy with the residue, and that can lead to irritation. I’m sure you wouldn’t want
to risk that.”

  “No!” said Ellie hurriedly. “Of course not.”

  “And then he’ll need to be towel dried and brushed. Or we could do a combination of blowing and towel. He’s got a thick undercoat, so it will take quite a while to get him completely dry. And then there’s the brushing. You don’t want him going home looking like a bottlebrush, do you?”

  Ellie stifled a groan. The minutes were ticking by and she was stuck in Pamper Your Pets, while all the action was going on nearby. How could she bear it if she missed meeting her favourite band? Somehow, she had to get back to the office straight away!

  The receptionist looked at Ellie sympathetically. She seemed to be weighing something up in her mind. “I suppose…”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, it’s not a cold day.”

  Ellie willed her to go on.

  “You could take him damp,” said the receptionist.

  Ellie’s heart leaped. “Could I?”

  The receptionist looked awkward. “Well, we wouldn’t usually recommend it, but if you’re in a hurry it’s certainly possible: if we towel him a bit…to get the worst off.”

  Ellie seized the suggestion straight away. “I expect by the time he’s scampered back to the office he’ll be dry as a bone,” she said. “And I’ll give him a brush later.”

  “Yes, you will need to brush him, and I expect his undercoat will still be…he won’t get chilled, will he?” she asked, sounding as if she might be regretting her suggestion.

  “No way!” said Ellie. “There’s no need to worry about that. I’ll keep him moving on the way back so he doesn’t get cold, and once we’re in the office, well…” She smiled at the receptionist. “He’ll be in the lap of luxury. He’s got a lovely basket with a good blanket in it, and our office is never chilly.”