When they stepped out of the crowded pub, the fresh, cold air seemed like a blessing. A soft spray filled the night giving the silent city and unusual, eerie feel. Soon though, Ava felt cold and started to shiver involuntarily.
May, wearing a crop, pink, faux fur seemed better equipped for the Dublin night.
‘We should really get a taxi, I am so cold!’, Ava’s voice was trembling and pleading.
Leading the way, on chunky, platform heels May turned around to face her.
‘Are you mad? That would be thirty euros at least! We can’t afford that! Or can you?’, and with a mean smile she turned around, continuing to walk confidently in front.
Sometimes, Ava truly resented her friend’s bossy nature, other times she was grateful for it, as it meant she did not have to make a decision.
‘May! I am really cold!’
‘Walk faster then!’, May’s sharp tone cut any further ideas of conversation and Ava felt resentment take over.
Who died and made you boss?! You are not the boss of me!
‘Did you say something?’, May threw at her without turning back.
When no reply came May softened a bit.
‘Come on, we are almost at the bus stop. With just 2 euros we will be home in no time!’
‘I think I need to pee …’ Ava was almost afraid to say the words out loud.
‘Honestly! You are worse than a child!’ all trace of kindness was now gone from May. Ava was just too much all the time!
Ava’s bare legs were frozen and she felt on the verge of losing control when the beautifully lit sign of a Boutique Hotel caught her eye.
‘Oh May! Please let’s go there, they must have a loo at reception! I really need to pee!’
Feeling the desperation in her friend’s voice, May agreed without saying a word and changed direction towards the colorful building.
Up close, the sign was even more striking, and the high, arched windows were also embellished with huge porcelain peacocks surrounded by luscious flowers braided in thick bunches.
Ava was sure she had never seen anything like it in her life, but her bladder did not allow her to analyze for too long. She pushed the thick glass door and stepped into a spacious lobby strangely lit by lamps and multiple glowing statues.
May followed and was surprised by the warmth and wonderful smell. She could swear it smelled like freshly baked cookies.
Ava did not waste any time, she went up to reception but there wasn’t anyone there, she looked for signs and shortly had found what she was looking for.
‘I am going May!’ and without waiting for a reply she disappeared from view.
Not knowing what to do with herself, and being convinced most likely somebody was watching on a camera somewhere, May slid into a huge chair and making herself small, waited.
Unlike the lobby, the loo was brightly lit and so warm, that Ava had a mind of lingering a bit just to get a bit of warmth in her body. The hot water at the sink was divine! Oh how she would have loved nothing better, than a huge bathtub filled with that kind of water and to stay there until she was unbearably hot!
Now that she felt human again, Ava was ready to do the trek to the bus stop.
In the lobby, May was fast asleep in her big chair, snoring faintly. Ava sat down on the chair opposite and decided to rest for a bit. The air smelled so wonderful, like Sunday roast and those wonderful chips mommy used to make. She will call mommy when she gets home, and that is a promise.
Half an hour later May woke up scared.
‘Where are we?’, seeing Ava in front of her reassured her, but still they had fallen asleep in the lobby of a strange hotel, that is just stupid!
‘Ava, wake up, let’s go!’, strangely Ava did not protest and mumble. She got up arranged her very small clothes trying to lengthen them and followed May out.
It was not long till morning, and the air was cold and damp.
They walked in silence, ran to catch the bus, and in the space of 30 minutes they were at home. They each went and crashed in their bedrooms, rejoicing the feeling of security and peace the small terraced house in Cabra gave them.
Thank God for small miracles!
It was late afternoon when Ava emerged from her bedroom, this time clothed so much that she looked like a walking clothes bundle.
After brushing her teeth she turned on the TV to have it talk away while she was making coffee.
News, news and then a familiar image caught her eye. Ava turned up the volume.
‘It is, here, in the back of this building that the attack took place. It is believed that the men were coming back from a pub when they were viciously attacked by a fight dog. The dog seems to have escaped from a basement near by, where illegal fights were being held. The young men are in hospital with serious injuries and the doctors say it is a miracle they are alive. After it attacked the men, the dog wandered the streets close to this hotel for about an hour and then returned to the basement were it was eventually found by the Gardai after a thorough search of the area. Updates to follow!’
Ava was dumbfounded, the building they showed was exactly the hotel they had stopped in, and had they not stopped there, chances were high they would have run into the dog. Ava was not sure how to react, or what to think, all she knew was that she needed to call her mother.
In a strange way, she felt again the whiff of the Sunday roast. Maybe that is how you feel when you are in imminent danger, you feel something that secures you and calms you down so you can function.
‘Mommy?’
‘Hi baby! You all right?’ her mother’s voice was the same as always, warm and level.
‘Yes, I was thinking of coming over this weekend…’
‘Oh honey that would be wonderful! Wait till your father hears about it, he will tell all the neighbors! Bring May if she has nothing better to do!’
‘Thank you mommy! See you soon!’
When May woke up, Ava told her what she saw and they both decided it was just so unbelievable lucky how they escaped.
‘Are you baking?’
Ava looked up from her phone.
‘Nope, must be the neighbours.’
May shrugged and went about her business.
‘Must be.’
