Selma Roselyn Tracey | 24 | F | Frankie & Romeo | Location: Clinic
Romeo would splash in the slush that had gathered along the roadside, an amalgamation of mud and melted snow. Selma thought it was funny at first, but when he literally stopped to paw at the liquid mush, she set him straight with a pull on the reins.
Selma didn't have a rough hand, but was firm. Either way, she made sure never to apply enough force that would hurt him. That's also why she rode bitless.
Romeo let out a petulant snort and trotted back onto the right path.
Eventually, Woodward's Clinic came into view. The second o on the sign above the front entrance displaying the clinic's name had been blown off during a rough storm, so now it read Wo dward's Clinic. There hadn't been any time to fix it.
The property, which included the barn, was flocked by trees and dense brush. There was enough open space for about three pastures, with the first two separated by gender (Romeo was kept with the mares). The third was farther from the others, used as a quarantine pen for new arrivals.
Selma steered Romeo over to the large barn doors and dismounted, leading him inside to remove his tack, brush him, pick his hooves. She then put on his halter, clipped a lead rope, then threw a blanket over him (it was olive green, to match his saddle pad). She'd taken the bag of cat feed and placed it outside, in case there were any mice in the stables, and added a barn cat to the list of things that were needed around the place.
She brought Romeo outside, to his designated pasture, turned him out and took off his halter. She watched for a bit as the mares greeted him with jovial nickers. Selma chuckled as they all pranced and played in the snow, then she took the bag of cat food and brought it indoors.
"I come bearing gifts!" she announced to the empty lobby, though the chime on the door had already made her presence known. Dr. Margolis popped in through a door that led to the back area, took the offering from Selma's arms, and thanked her assistant.
"Were there any patients while I was gone?"
Dr. Margolis shook her head. "Not yet, but the day's far from over."
"Do you need me to do anything else?"
"Not at the moment... but I'm going to feed the animals now, but some of the cages are going to need cleaning later."
"Got it!" she stuck out her pinky finger in a thumbs up. "I'm gonna let Frankie out of her cage for a while."
Then they both went their separate ways. Selma went into another room, where Frankie was kept. It was actually an examination room that had been put out of use. It had been that way since Selma started working here, and Dr. Margolis avoided the room like the plague despite it being perfectly safe. Selma didn't know why, but she did know to keep away from the subject.
She entered, and walked to the birdcage along the back wall. Frankie was sitting on her perch, preening at her feathers, which were a gradient from dark to light grey, patterned with white splotches.
"Hey, pretty girl," Selma murmured, opening the cage and holding out her hand. Frankie waddled onto her palm and Selma pulled her out. She stroked the pigeon's head, at peace.
Clear with Temps dropping into the Teens
