‘Thanks, Cass, you’re being great about it. I was .?.?. Never mind. I’d better go now. We’re going down to the Duck for Sunday lunch. It’ll be mashed potato and flat water for me. Pal’s so excited, he’s planning to go for the full-on all-you-can-eat buffet to celebrate. With beer. I’m not sure I can watch him.’
Despite her wish to be sensitive, Josie’s joy and excitement bubbled through and for a split second Cassie hated her. Then she laughed.
‘That is so adorable.’
Josie was one year younger than her. Was that what had made all the difference?
‘Bye, darling, you take care of yourself.’
She could hear Josie speaking but the words weren’t going in. ‘No, you take care, sweetie, thrilled for you.’
She clicked ‘End Meeting for All’ and burst into tears.
* * *
‘Dog walking?’
After the shock of the phone call with Josie, Cassie had had a good bawl and a shower, and was now standing dressed in a tracksuit, holding a mug of not-particularly-warm coffee from Mam’s 2002 coffee maker.
‘Now, hear me out.’ Mam was on a mission. ‘It’s a gap in the market. That’s the number-one principle of any successful business. See a need, fill a need.’
‘Right now, I need to be left alone. Does that count?’
‘No. Listen to me: Maura’s had her hip done so she’s out of action and your auntie Patricia’s had her bunions done so she’s going to be on that scooter thing for weeks. They can’t all keep relying on neighbours and, God help us, friends. And between ourselves, neither of them’s short of a few bob.’
Cassie opened her mouth to protest then closed it again. It wasn’t actually the worst idea in the world. She wasn’t really qualified to do anything apart from act, or maybe teach – she’d made her peace with that. But dogs needed to be walked, and she had two legs so that was a start.
‘You’ll need a catchy name. Some sort of a play on words. Now, let’s think .?.?. Waggy Walks isn’t bad.’ Mam began a list of excruciating alliterations: ‘Waggy Wanders—’
‘That makes them sound lost.’
‘Pooch Parade.’
‘Too .?.?. up itself.’
After twenty-seven versions, they finally settled on the first one. Mam scanned her phone.
‘There’s a Waggy Walks in Melbourne and one in Solihull, but that’s grand – it’s nowhere near here. Look, I’m not saying you have to do it forever. It’ll just be a nice thing to do until you decide what to do with the rest of your life.’
‘Exactly. WhatIdecide to do, Mam.’ Cassie knew she was being childish and ungracious, but she just couldn’t hold it in.
‘Now, you’re going to want a nice colour scheme for your branding, something that’ll appeal to your clientele.’
‘You meanyourclientele.’
Mam gave a martyred sigh.
‘I could be out enjoying myself and instead I’m here on a wet Sunday, helping you to get a business off the ground and the least I could hope for is the remotest bit of gratitude.’
‘Sorry, Mam.’
‘That’s all right. We’ll start afresh.’
In fairness to Mam, she mocked up a template which Cassie had to admit looked passably professional.
‘That’s nice, Mam, thanks.’
‘Right. Time to get started.’
