Chapter 28
WASHINGTON SQUARE FOUNTAIN
‘So, this is going to be great for socials!’ Cheyenne exclaimed, scarf whipping out around her as she led a charge towards this New York monument.
Gabriella took a sip of her black Americano. ‘If I had a dollar for every time she’s said that since we landed I’d be Kanye.’
‘Ye,’ Phoebe corrected.
‘Did you mean to say “yeah”?’
‘No, I know that’s Kanye’s name now. Ye. I also know that if Cheyenne is looking for fountain aesthetics, she’s chosen the wrong place.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it’s winter,’ Phoebe said. ‘They turn the fountain off here in the winter because otherwise it will freeze.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Yes.’
‘But she’s been talking about the fountain since we left the hotel. What was it? Zero Fucks Given is hydration for your soul.’
‘I know.’
‘Do you think maybe you should have said something to her?’ Gabriella asked.
‘She doesn’t listen to me,’ Phoebe answered. ‘I’m insignificant to her.’
The first part of that was true. The second part was probably also true and it showed how Phoebe’s mind worked. Gabriella linked their arms together.
‘Well, you’re very significant to me,’ she told her niece. She pulled at Phoebe’s arm, wanting to affectionately draw her closer but she felt the resistance and then…
Woof!
Phoebe unclasped her arm from Gabriella’s and all of a sudden there was a scruffy-looking dog at their heels, not-quite-white, not-quite-brown, panting, pink tongue lolling out like he might drink their takeout coffees if he got close enough. His eyes were different colours.
‘OK, where have you come from and why do you want to lick my jeans?’ Gabriella asked, dodging out of the way.
‘Aww, he’s so cute,’ Phoebe said, already stopping and petting the dog.
‘Phoebe, just be a bit careful, he doesn’t have a collar on so he might not be used to people and, you know, he might bite. Or have rabies. Is rabies still a thing?’
‘Well, I don’t have a collar on either and I’m not used to people, but I don’t bite,’ Phoebe said, her fingers already deep into the dog’s fur.
‘That’s fair,’ Gabriella answered. ‘And I know I’m not the best guardian, but I am pretty sure you just dribble in your sleep because it’s a habit, not because you have rabies.’
‘He’s hungry,’ Phoebe said. ‘I can feel his ribs. Have you got anything we can give him?’
‘Oh, yes, Phoebe, let me pull a bone out of my handbag or some Pedigree.’
‘You always have something.’
‘Not for dogs.’
‘They can eat some human food. Just not chocolate.’
‘Damn, and I was going to give him a Snickers. That I don’t have. Come on, we need to catch up to Cheyenne before she says “will you look at that” and she’s talking about a fountain that’s not aesthetic, just frozen.’
‘Why are you being mean about the dog?’ Phoebe asked. ‘Look at his cute little face.’
Gabriella looked at the mutt who was now somehow kind of… was that grinning? ‘I’m not being mean about the dog, but I don’t have anything for the dog and feeding a stray dog was not on our itinerary for today.’
‘Well, I want to feed the dog,’ Phoebe said, stubbornly. ‘We can go to a store and buy some dog biscuits. That would be a nice thing to do. A good deed.’
It was exactly like something Lulu would have said.
A vivid memory of Lulu wanting to take a swan home from Hyde Park came to mind.
Gabriella had told her that the swans were owned by the Crown and if they took one home it would upset the queen.
Their mother had said that swans may be beautiful on the outside but inside they were vicious…
‘OK,’ Gabriella said. ‘We can find some food to feed the dog.’
‘Something’s wrong!’ Cheyenne called from up ahead, turning to face them. ‘The fountain’s gone!’
Gabriella looked at Phoebe. ‘Are you going to tell her, or am I?’