Speeding down the highway, Stacy zigs and zags her way past the slow movers. No honking. Just assertive passes on the left and dangerous ones to the right. No fear. She must be on time. Not even Tim, her scruffy mutt, takes notice. It’s just another day.
The hours have been adding up. Short-staffed and overwhelmed with cases, the clinic faces a constant need. Stacy picks up all the extra shifts she can physically and mentally handle. At least that’s what she tells herself.
Being on your own is not for the faint of heart. Ever since Matt died in the accident, Stacy was a wrecking ball, moving from one clinic to the other, never getting close to anyone. Tim, Matt’s dog, is a constant, bittersweet reminder of her past. A past she would rather leave far behind.
Stacy fumbles for her key card while she precariously holds her freshly cracked energy drink and backpack, with Tim’s leash tethered loosely to her wrist. Sweating it out as the clock ticks down before rounds. One more late punch on the time clock and she’ll be in Diane’s office again. Stacy finally feels she belongs at this clinic, and she is doing her best to keep this job.
The hospital is buzzing with activity. Stacy settles Tim into his kennel. Checking in with the overnight crew, Stacy assesses the day ahead. Excited, Stacy sees on the shift duty board that she is in charge of the hospitalized pets. She will have a day of being with animals, not clients. Strangers who have no idea what she really cares about, let alone what her job actually entails.
Working with animals is Stacy’s love, her one true purpose in life. Purrs and happy tail wags are the way Stacy prefers it. She knows she is sometimes difficult to deal with at work, and she has the warnings to support it. Just the other day, Diane spoke to her again about snapping at her coworkers when she determines they are not performing to her high standards. Stacy startles at the realization she repeats the same pattern of dismissiveness she heard as a child, coming out of her own mouth. She secretly wonders if she’s nearing her breaking point.
Stacy’s hopes and dreams are kept alive by the animals she encounters and treats at the veterinary hospital. Each interaction bolsters energy to her otherwise disconnected soul. At peace when watching birds fly, dogs running in the park, or alley cats gracefully jumping fences. She connects to the world by helping innocent animals. She always sees the hurt animal. She plays this story out on a continuous loop in her mind.
Stacy diligently works through her treatments. Her last patient, Enzo, a usually bouncy, eager Lab mix, would not rouse. Still recovering from emergency surgery, Enzo lay on his blankets, groggy and unaware of his surroundings. Stacy comforts and talks to Enzo as she treats him. Making sure he is clean and comfortable. Enzo ate a rope toy, and it lodged itself in his intestines. No other choice but to go to surgery to save his life.
Just as Stacy exits Enzo’s kennel, Diane approaches.
“Enzo’s owner would like to visit him.”
Stacy, reeling, says, “Ok I just finished his morning treatment. You can bring him back.”
“I have an interview right now, Stacy. Please go get Enzo’s owner.”
“Fine,” Stacy says, as she rolls her eyes. She hates this part of her job. The small talk, the emotions. She never knows what to expect.
Mike, anxious and panicking, paces the lobby.
“Enzo’s owner?” Stacy calls out.
“Here”, Mike timidly replies.
Walking back to the ward, Stacy updates Mike on Enzo. Time will tell how his recovery will go. Enzo has done this before. Mike took extreme steps to keep things out of Enzo’s reach and supervise him during play time. But Mike started a new job, and Enzo needed more exercise than Mike could provide. So Mike enrolled Enzo at the local doggie day care a couple of days a week, mentioning that Enzo likes to eat things he shouldn’t. He must have eaten the toy there, Mike thought. No matter, Enzo is here now.
Mike greets Enzo with a gentle hug and fatherly pat on the head.
“Hey buddy, how are you?” Mike says to Enzo. “Do you think he will make it?” he asks Stacy.
“His vitals were normal this morning, and the overnight staff said he did great during surgery.”
“He’s my world, and I don’t know what I would do without him. He saved me.”
“I understand.” Is all Stacy can stammer out.
Stacy understood the struggles life throws at you. Five years had passed since Matt, her big brother, came back into Stacy’s life. Overjoyed to reconnect with the only person who knew what it was like to be a member of the Thompson family. Stacy relished the moments when it was just Matt and her at home. The air was lighter with unquestioned laughter flowing through the apartment.
Matt had Tim in tow when he returned home. Rescued him at a construction site. His coworkers found the stray roaming the site in the early hours of the day. At lunchtime, they would feed him scraps. Over time, the dog became a fixture the crew called their own. As the project wrapped up, Matt knew he had to rescue him. Besides, no one claimed him from the fliers his buddies posted around town.
Stacy silently reminisced about the story Matt told of the great dog rescue. Such a happy ending for the dog to be taken in by Matt. This is why Stacy loves her job, helping pets.
Mike got up and thanked Stacy for taking care of Enzo.
Stacy walks Mike back to the lobby.
Teary-eyed, Mike tells Stacy, “I was never an animal guy until my buddy rescued a dog and I had a chance to be around one. Now I don’t know what I would do without Enzo. “
Stacy acknowledges him with an understanding nod and the rehearsed smile she gives all clients. “Have a good day. The doctor will be in touch later this morning.”
The end of the shift was in sight, and Stacy couldn’t wait to get home. She has the next two days off, and she is looking forward to the much-needed break.
Diane came out to the treatment room. Asking, yet again, if there is anyone interested in picking up a shift tomorrow. Reluctantly, Stacy volunteers to work. The bills are piling up, and there is no way she is going to give up her apartment. Her fortress of solitude. Besides, Enzo is making great strides today and even ate some chicken when Stacy hand-fed him. She fell for the quirky mutt, and in some inexplicable way for his owner too, and wants to see him again tomorrow.
The alarm blares and Stacy unwillingly drags herself out of bed. She now wonders why she even agreed to work today. Tim excitedly wags his tail and is ready for the day. Thank goodness for him.
Stacy forms a warm smile. “Ok Tim, let’s get this day going.”
Off they go. But today Stacy decides to treat herself to a fancy coffee, and she knows exactly which coffee shop will hit the spot. She needs something to buoy her achy body.
“Mocha double shot espresso iced and a pup cup,” Stacy screams into the drive-thru speaker.
Barreling into the parking lot, Tim sliding on the passenger seat, Stacy hurriedly gathers herself to beat the time clock. Success! Feeling the charge of making it on time one more day, Stacy heads straight to Enzo’s cage.
Enzo bounces right up, tail wagging and eager to greet Stacy.
She opens the kennel door and takes Enzo out for his morning walk. The overnight crew says his owner would be in soon to pick him up. Enzo recovered so well, the doctor is discharging him to help keep the bill manageable for Mike.
Stacy, exhilarated from Enzo’s greeting and her caffeinated morning, surprisingly offers to discharge him.
Mike beams ear to ear when he sees Enzo barreling into the lobby, surgical cone around his head, wiggling his back end non-stop, just as excited to see him.
“Thank you for getting him back to me. Your brother would never believe I turned into such a dog dad.”
Stunned, Stacy mutters, “You knew Matt?”
“Yes, we worked construction together. He told me all about you. I couldn’t believe you worked here. Yesterday I noticed your name tag, but I was so upset at seeing Enzo I couldn’t think straight. Thanks again, Stacy.”
Stacy stood stunned, overwhelmed with emotion, for what seemed like an eternity.
Fighting back tears, Stacy headed to the treatment room and straight to Tim’s kennel.