- What kind of appearance, Koshkina? Olga Mikhaylovna reprimanded. And most importantly, again in front of customers and their nervous pets.
- I'm sorry, but you called me on the weekend. I was in a hurry.
In vain she tucked a stray strand behind her ear. The rest of the hair did not even dare to straighten because of the high neck of a warm sweater. They got into such terrible tangles, which you will not find even among a lazy Persian.
If only I didn’t have to cut it off, if only I didn’t have to cut it off, she mentally conjured the universe, not listening to the boss’s grumbling and insults.
Nothing. I'm going to put on my work robe and take care of the patients. Animals don't care how you look: even with runny mascara, even with a tangled mane.
- You're behind the counter today. Lika took sick leave, and the store should not be idle.
- Sick leave again? She couldn't contain the anger in her voice. Due to the ever-ill Angelica, I had to sacrifice my own days off more than once. But the funniest thing is coming home and seeing ten Instagram alerts about her new nails, boyfriend and dessert at the coffee shop.
- Any problems? Olga Mikhailovna's thin eyebrows arched menacingly.
She shook her head. What problems? Lika is the boss's niece, am I suicidal to express my displeasure? I would rather do an internship and tear my claws out of this clinic, preferably somewhere where I don’t have to sell food and dog overalls. It’s dumb on such days to meet one of your classmates and count their change. Here's a red diploma from a veterinary university. The bottom of the bottom at the bottom of the bottom, not otherwise.
I take comfort in the fact that this is temporary. Temporarily... And this customer in a mink coat is also a temporary phenomenon.
- Are you sure you want this food? - I try not to figure out in my mind how many animals were killed to create a fur garment. - It has a lot of carbohydrates, it's bad for your chinchilla's liver, take it here, - I nod at the box with granules from Germany. - A little more expensive, but your beast is not cheap either.
- Why are you selling bad food then? - the owner of the chinchilla asks shrillly.
- This is a budget option. But it's better to take this one, - I move the German to the visitor.
- It is fifteen rubles more expensive. You are specially taught to clients to impose expensive feed.?
I start to boil. Expensive?! Yes, this fur coat can really feed the entire Moscow Zoo.
- I think you can afford to overpay fifteen rubles, and then your chinchilla will live longer than the average hamster.
- Are you rude to me? - she raised her voice, and they already began to look at us from the reception.
- Not. I'm just worried about your pet.
- And it's none of your business - she deliberately narrowed her eyes and read the name on the badge. - Intern, Anna, can I talk to your superiors?
Shine! Olga Mikhailovna does not even need to be called. She's only too happy to put me down one more time. And why exactly today?
She stared at the toes of her sneakers in anticipation of the imminent reprisal.
- You don't have to talk to anyone. Your name is Anna, right? a male voice asked softly.
How I wanted to snap and grumble something like: What is not visible?
She looked up and saw him.
Something magical must have happened that day. Blue eyes with a green rim around the iris, a perfect straight nose, a gentle smile, hair in the daylight pouring from the windows, seem golden. It was as if all the air had been sucked out of me, and I was very stupidly grabbing it with my mouth, like a fish.
The stranger noticed my reaction and smiled sweetly.
"I'll buy this food," he tapped the box with his finger.
- One hundred and fifteen rubles, - I rapped out on the machine, struggling with the blush flooding my cheeks. Like at school...
The man let out a soundless chuckle and pulled out a plastic card.
- I'll take ten boxes at once, - he turned with Olga Mikhailovna, who came to the rescue, who also began oxygen starvation at the sight of a handsome blond. If I looked even a little like a flounder thrown on land, like my boss, then shoot me right away.
- Enter PIN code...
Watched the dance of long fingers, and only the cash register made me wake up.
- Your check.
Well, why exactly today, when I shamefully pour out standard phrases, I met him.
Already at the door, the man turned around, and his piercing gaze knocked out the remnants of my intellect:
- Anna?
Neanderthals moo more melodicly than I did in response. I have already forgotten that there is Olga Mikhailovna in the room, who urgently needs an inhaler, judging by the dumb wheezing instead of breathing. And somewhere nearby was a mink coat, nervously tapping its heel on the tiles. Mentally christened her the sister of my savior. Sister! Not a girl!
- You seem to understand ... - he shook the bags of food.
-... chinchillas? continued for him.
- Yes, do you have something like a business card? Can I call you if I have questions?
In general, such things are prohibited here. You can't take clients away from the clinic, but the boss solved this moral dilemma for me, and almost yelled:
- Koshkina, give him your phone!
She quickly scraped her number on the back of the check, under the fur coat's fucking look.
"I'll call you, Anna," the man promised.
- Call, - I said in chorus together with Olga Mikhailovna.
“Oh, and one more thing,” they gave me the prettiest smile in the world again. - Happy birthday, Anna.
*.*.*
I admired the closed front door for a long time, wondering how miraculously the stranger found out that it was my birthday today. Caught my stupid reflection in the glass. Even two reflections... One belonged to a sleepy girl dragged out to work on her day off, and the second... Honest mother!
She turned around sharply. There was a huge poster of congratulations from the employees on the wall, and in the center was the most terrible photo I have ever taken. On it, I hide my eyes behind two vigorous orange tangerines, and a banana sticks out of my mouth. I have no idea what I planned to show with this installation, only this picture has long been resting at the very bottom of my albums. It was a pity to delete, and who would have thought that he would ever emerge. That's the whole secret of the charming smile of today's visitor. She slid under the counter, catching the victorious look of Olga Mikhailovna. I have no doubt that this is the work of Lika. It is unlikely that the girl wanted to offend me. Her Instagrammed head certainly wouldn't have had that thought. Most likely, Angelica thought it was funny, but no one stopped her. Let them go!
She worked until late at night. Received several mean congratulations from colleagues and one long-awaited call from granny. In my voice, she understood everything, but she didn’t show it, gave a couple of original and incomprehensible congratulations and predictions of early changes in life, and after we said goodbye, I received a message about crediting money to the card. And who taught her? She grumbled a little at the extravagance of Koshkina senior, but still hid the phone with a smile.
They didn’t let me go early, but, above all, they ordered me to close the premises and turn on the alarm. She followed the boss with the most eloquent glance, trying to remember if I had drunk her yogurt from the refrigerator the day before, otherwise how to explain such a relationship?
Left alone, she breathed a sigh of relief. I counted the cash register. Well, at least there are no surprises here. She overcame a burning desire to give the camera the middle finger and hung the apron with the words "Favorite" in the closet. A cap with the image of a cat's paw also flew there. How wildly her head itches! I hate.
Fresh air rushed into the foyer, laced with the smell of medical supplies. I was only a few steps from freedom when a huge black carcass blocked the road. She was breathing rapidly and abruptly with wheezing and whistling. I wasn't afraid. Think dog. When every day you vaccinate Alabaevs or put catheters on pit bulls, the sight of an overgrown mongrel is somehow not very scary. Another scarecrow, I had to leave him here alone. Like a mantra, I repeated the announcement hanging on the door several times.
Do not leave animals at the clinic's doorstep. Their death will be on your conscience.
She moved away from the dog. Each step was given with incredible difficulty, and an unknown force pulled back. You can not do it this way...
This death is not on my conscience?
I didn't drag the sick animal in and leave it here.
This death is not on my conscience!
But how can I let someone die on my birthday?
I'm definitely in big trouble. The cameras will definitely capture what I'm doing. Spit! Dragged an unconscious animal into the waiting room. Can't even identify the breed. A huge black dog, only it does not smell like a dog. Something pleasant, a freshly washed T-shirt, neutral deodorant, a guy. Haha. How long have I been sniffing guys, maybe for me dogs already smell like people?
She felt her patient, no special marks, no collar, no club tattoos or chips. Tramp?
- And how have you not been caught and castrated yet, huh?
growled.
- Touchy what. And what happened to you?
Measurement.
Looks healthy in every way. It doesn't look like poisoning, the bones are intact. If I were a man, I thought I was fooling around.
She turned her black-eyed face towards her. He looks so creepy, as if he is going to eat. Maybe he's really hungry, and I'm here with my examinations? Or did he lie down to sleep, and then the super-caring girl dragged him to the devil knows where?
She backed away just in case, and my evening visitor suddenly jumped up on all four paws and pushed me in the chest with his muzzle. She collapsed onto her shoulder blades and found herself directly under a terrible beast. I'm a lousy veterinarian. It’s right that they don’t allow serious operations, I couldn’t cope with a simple dog. Now he will bite off half my face ...
I closed my eyes as hot breath touched my lips and white fangs parted.
Do I regret something? Maybe. I wish I could kiss that blond before he dies. Well, moronic thoughts come in the end! I laughed nervously, and immediately felt a wet tongue run down my cheek.
The dog grinned mockingly and, I swear, burst into the nastiest laugh in the world, and then rushed to the side and kicked the metal door off its hinges.
Nobody believed my story.
The cameras didn't pick up anything.
The entire supply of conakion stored there was gone from the refrigerator.
I was immediately fired, depriving me of my salary in order to replenish the first-aid kit of the clinic.
Fucking birthday.
Chinchilla Handsome didn't call that long evening either. And why am I not surprised?
Also, my cheek is itchy. Full set!
*.*.*
I spent the next two days in a semi-comatose state. She actively ate food from the refrigerator and a few kitchen cabinets, watched batches of downloaded TV shows, felt sorry for herself. Olga Mikhailovna informed all the nearby veterinary clinics about me, and I, in turn, came across a cold reception wherever I called.
My life is officially ruined. And I can't figure out how it happened? Just a second, and the dog was gone from the waiting room, along with the drugs and any traces of his stay.
Now we have to move, and for this we need money. Although I have nothing to pay for this apartment. It is also desirable to change the name and appearance, and I liked my long brown hair so much. Get a haircut, repaint, grow a beard and mustache. Is there more trust in mustaches than in a girl babbling about a huge black dog?
She sobbed and tucked another dry cookie into her mouth. I don't remember buying this pack. Maybe from past tenants left? Not without difficulty, she gnawed a dessert of not the first freshness and again buried her face in the screen, carefully ignoring the beeps of a discharging mobile phone. It eventually went out, and I dozed off right on the floor.
I'm sure I even salivated and grunted in my sleep. Here they are the long-awaited weekend! And after all, no one wakes up, does not force you to go to work!
Of course, I got excited about waking up. Very soon the apartment was filled with overflows of the doorbell. Too softly my ears were touched by a melody that sounded surprisingly beautiful, and not like the trill of a crazy nightingale.
It's definitely not the hostess for the rent. When it comes, the sound is like styrofoam on glass.
She scratched her other foot with her bare toes and barked in a hoarse bass:
- I'm coming!
She stood up on tiptoe and leaned against the peephole to look at her late visitor. The eyepiece will definitely leave a deep mark on my face, I pressed myself against the door so hard that there was not enough room in my chest for an extra breath of air.
How did he find me?!
Yesterday's blond, the companion of the "fur coat". That is, not yesterday, but the posture of the day before yesterday. For me, the last days stuck together like a vile shapeless dumpling, and here it is - a ray of sunshine is on my doorstep! And I'm frozen and not breathing, partly because my breath smells. I didn't dare to take a shower either. I only tried to wash my cheek, but it only started to itch worse, and in addition, it became covered with a rash.
Anna, are you at home?
Not! I am not here! I won't open it like this for anything!
- This is Alexander. You left your phone for me, but you don't pick up the phone. Excuse me, I found out the address at your work. I hope you didn't get fired from the clinic because of me? An ugly scene...
Oh god, let him keep talking. My stomach is filled with warmth from this unfortunate and tender voice. Looked for me, worried, called. Campaign cookies are very stale, I have intoxication and delirium.
- Anna, are you angry? Let me put in a good word with your boss, shall we?
She opened the door on a chain and combed her dirty hair over her pimply cheek.
- If it's not you who surrounded our clinic during my shift, then there is nothing to be angry about.
- Were you attacked?
Is that how he does it? Genuine anxiety, mixed with rigidity and determination, as if ready to break loose and get my offenders out of the ground.
- Everything is fine.
- Did you get hit? - he reached his hand to my hair and touched the bumpy skin.
She pulled back, pressing her hand to her cheek.
"It's okay," she repeated, feeling a lump in her throat.
- I know how to cure this irritation.
- You didn't come for that, did you?
- No, Anna. I have a big request for you. Do you like animals?
After recent events, not so much.
- Love!
*.*.*
For the past five minutes I've been staring at a huge cage with a chinchilla of the most beautiful shade in the world. Beige. Handsome, just ugly. Crawled into a far corner and drills me with black beads of eyes. Vibrissae twitch nervously, tiny paws with pink fingers are drawn to the fluffy chest and clenched into fists, and the tail is twisted into a big tight ringlet.
So. Stop. How did it come about? I drove away the conversation with Alexander in my mind again. The guy was desperate. The day before, he gave the animal to his girlfriend, but that pet didn’t like it: noisy, rubbish from the cage is scattered all over the house. As a result, the “fur coat” delivered an ultimatum: either she or that ...
For me, a pig in an apartment would be better than that boorish woman in furs. Alexander took the third path: he took the chinchilla and left his girlfriend. Ha! Who else is the biggest loser? No boyfriend, no animal.
The request of my new acquaintance was to look after and care for a pet. The man even wanted to pay for my work, but I politely refused, asking only for a supply of food. With my finances, I just can not pull it. I'll be starving myself soon.
Alexander nodded with feeling and rushed to the pet supplies. A great chance to improve yourself.
Having admired her unexpected companion, she rushed to the bathroom and quickly, quickly sensed herself all the blues along with sweat. She hid her ugliness behind her wet hair again. Too late, Alexander had already seen this horror. She moaned in annoyance and rested her forehead against the wall.
Anna, are you all right?
My unexpected guest was already busily placing a three-year supply of food for chinchillas in the hallway.
- Order, - she quickly lied and took on a relaxed look. Will the landlady kill me? Animals, we did not discuss with her
- Then I'm for hay, - he again disappeared into the entrance, giving me a chance to catch my breath.
The male! At my house... With a gift! And do not care that the rodent was originally given to another girl. Interesting, what's his name?
- Like?
Alexander clearly has a talent for sneaking up silently, or am I falling out of reality?
- Pretty.
- Can you think of a name for him?
- Can i? She stroked the cell with her fingers.
- I'll be happy. Anya, can I come with you?
- Sure you can. Can...
And I also allow you to take a kidney, an empty refrigerator, a computer ... in general, everything. What poster did this handsome man come from in my removable odnushka?
- Excellent. We figured out the chinchilla, now let's save you.
She backed towards the kitchen.
- What about me?
- Don't be afraid. I've seen this kind of reaction before. This is the most common allergy. Have you eaten anything new? The boy narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
- Do expired cookies count?
He laughs, and from this simple laughter everything inside trembles pleasantly.
- Maybe. Sit somewhere in the light.
I sat down on a stool right under the lamp in the kitchen.
- Are you a doctor?
- No, but the exact same thing appears on my skin if I eat nuts. Terrible sight, will you?
His hands gently pushed the hair out of my face and tilted my head back slightly, and then I heard the sound of the tube being unscrewed. His fingers gently rubbed something viscous and pleasantly smelling into itchy skin.
I promise it will be over in a couple of hours. And I advise you to get rid of the allergen, you are clearly in contact with it.
- Thank you, Alexander.
He winced slightly.
- Alex or just Sasha.
- Alex! She quickly corrected herself, bringing a sweet smile to the boy's lips.
He doesn't look like Sasha. Doesn't look like anyone at all.
- If I buy a normal, not expired cookie, can I count on a cup of tea?
Doomedly, she glanced at the mountain of unwashed dishes and only two clean mugs. Just two!
- If not embarrassed by my mess? - she asked, pushing her heart bubbling in her throat back to its place with frequent sips.
- Not at all! Be right back.
