The Shoestring Club

by Sarah Webb

  ‘You shouldn’t have to change, Jules. That’s the whole point. You’re perfect as you are. We’re just not perfect together. Come here to me.’ He reaches out and pulls me towards him, my bum sliding across the wood until I’m just in front of him.

  He fixes me a strong drink and hands it to me. I rest my back against his chest and he wraps his arms around me from behind, making soothing ‘shushing’ noises and stroking my hair. I can feel his chest moving up and down as he breathes in and out, the warmth of his fingers on my scalp. I close my eyes and breathe in his familiar smell. Then I open my eyes, bring the plastic cup to my lips and take a long slug.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ he says softly. ‘I really miss you.’

  I give another sob. ‘I miss you too. So goddamn much.’

  Twisting his body he leans forward and kisses me on the cheek, and then gently on the lips. For a second we sit there in suspended animation before he slides down on the cushions, taking me with him. I know I should push him away, tell him to stop, but it feels so comfortable, so familiar, so good, that I kiss him right back.

  Chapter 14

  ‘Morning, Jules,’ Pandora says as I walk into Shoestring the following day. ‘Look, I’m sorry for coming down so hard on you last night. I found the wine bottle in the living room when I was looking for Iris’s shoes earlier. Practically still full. You really did have only the one glass. I’m proud of you, Boolie. And I’m sorry I didn’t give you enough credit.’

  ‘Thanks, and sorry I’m late.’

  ‘Only ten minutes, I’ll let you off.’

  She smiles at me and I feel as low as a slug. Plus, there’s a sharp pain behind my right eye like a little man is chipping at my optic nerves with a pickaxe, and my tongue’s like sand-paper. Normally I’d have rung in sick, but I really need to work on my elephants for the doorway today.

  ‘You OK, Jules?’ Pandora looks at me carefully. ‘Your eyes are bloodshot and your glands look a bit puffy. Maybe you’re coming down with something.’

  ‘I don’t feel great,’ I say.

  ‘Maybe you should go home.’

  I shake my head. ‘I’ll survive. I need to make a start on the elephants.’

  ‘If you’re sure.’

  I nod. ‘I’m positive.’ I feel disgusted with myself for all manner of reasons. At least in work I’ll be busy and I won’t get the chance to think too much.

  Pandora smiles at me. ‘Great. I can’t wait to see them. And I found this wonderful voile at the curtain exchange for the entrance, not the exact colour of the swatches you gave me, but pretty close and . . .’

  I nod, pretending to listen, my mind miles away.

  Ed and I managed to finish the Grey Goose last night, a fact I’m not proud of. But it was hardly my fault, he kept filling up my plastic cup. However, I’m starting to think that maybe Sheila is on to something, maybe I am using alcohol as a crutch, but there’s no way I could have dealt with Ed sober. Who knows what I might have said? No, the drink was a necessary evil. I try to push Sheila’s concerns to the back of my mind. But kissing Ed, now that was wrong. The problem is, during the few hours we spent together I began to forget how much I hated him. We laughed and flirted and drank, and it felt good. Like coming home. Now it’s the morning after, I don’t feel so hot. I’m hung-over, stressed and very, very guilty.

  I know Ed and Lainey both betrayed me, but what I did was unforgivable. Ed made me swear I wouldn’t tell a soul about spending time together or the kiss, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Yes, it was only one short, if furious, kiss – I put a halt to things before they went any further – but surely it meant something to him? I’m so confused my head hurts from thinking about it.

  ‘What do you think, Jules?’ Pandora asks. ‘Cushions or no cushions?’

  I look at her. I have no idea what she’s talking about. But Pandora has a thing about cushions, she even has them on her bed.

  ‘Cushions,’ I say firmly.

  ‘Perfect,’ Pandora says smiling. ‘Cushions it is.’

  By my coffee break I’m starting to feel a little better, mainly due to the painkillers Pandora pressed into my hand earlier. She’s convinced I’m fighting something off and is being terrifically nice to me, making me feel even more guilty. So I’ve been hiding at the back of the shop floor, working on the chicken-wire frames for my elephants. I open the door a crack and check there’s no one in the staffroom before walking in and flopping down on the sofa. I take out my iPhone. OK, I know it’s a long shot and I’m probably being stupid, but after last night . . . I scan my messages. Nothing from Ed. But there is one from Jamie.

  Working on a new skin for you. Can we meet up later? What are you doing this eve? X J

  I press my head into the back of the sofa, hugely relieved he still wants to be friends after all the shenanigans last night. I know he said we were OK, but when it comes to our friendship he seems to be blowing hot and cold at the moment. What am I doing tonight? I’d say there’s every chance I’ll be sitting at home on my tod, obsessing about Ed and the kiss. I certainly don’t want to face Jamie in person yet. He’s bound to guess something’s up. And if he does guess he’s unlikely to speak to me again. A risk I’m not prepared to take, not when I’ve just got him back.

  Sorry Jamie, I have to work on my elephants for the shop tonight. Thanks for all your work on the skin so far. Shop closed tomorrow for revamp – all hands on deck. I’ll catch up with you during the week. J X

  No problem, good luck with the revamp! he texts back. I lie down on the sofa and close my eyes, willing the throbbing to disappear and my dark thoughts to lift.

  ‘Wakey, wakey,’ Bird says, flinging open my curtains on Sunday morning. ‘Revamp day. Ready for some hard work, Boolie?’

  I groan and open my eyes, shielding them against the light with my hand. ‘Ten more minutes, Bird.’

  ‘Then you’ll have to cycle. I’m leaving in five minutes sharp. Up to you, darling.’ She peers down at me. ‘Glands any better?’

  ‘A bit.’ The monster headache has finally gone. Shame I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, my mind churning like a food mixer. And when I did finally drift off, I had a horribly vivid nightmare – Iris lying on the pavement, her head smashed open like a pumpkin. I was standing over her and then blood started pouring from my palms and merging with the pool of her own blood. Terrifying. And that’s just the one I remember. No wonder I feel so drained this morning. As soon as Bird’s out of the room, I check my phone for messages. Nothing. But I do have an email. Ed? I sit up and quickly click on it.

  From: Alex Cinnamon

  To: Shoestring Club

  Re: Faith Farenze dress

  Sunday 17th September

  Dear Shoestring Club,

  Thank you for sending on details of the dress. It sounds perfect. I would like to purchase one share at €300. Will you accept a personal cheque? My other half says I should ask for a contract with full terms and conditions and your contact details to secure my share (sorry!), is that OK? He’s afraid it’s one of those Nigerian give me your bank details and I’ll deposit all my money in it scams.

  Let me know who to make the cheque out to and your address. I look forward to the first handover dinner, and even more to my ‘turn’ with the dress! It looks heavenly and I’ve always dreamed of wearing a Farenze!

  It’s our wedding anniversary in December – the 15th – and my husband wants to take me out somewhere special, all being well. He won’t say where, but apparently it’s très swish. I do hope the dress is available around then.

  Kind regards,

  Alex Cinnamon

  My God, it worked. A complete stranger – Alex – is going to give us 300, and she doesn’t need the dress until December, which is perfect. I feel a sudden surge of positivity. For a second I’m almost happy. I check my watch. Ten to ten. Too early to ring Arietty? What the hell.

  ‘Hi, Jules.’ Arietty sounds wide awake and pleased to hear from me, even on a Sunday morning.


  ‘It worked!’ I say excitedly. ‘I got an email this morning from someone called Alex Cinnamon. She wants to buy a share.’

  ‘That’s fantastic news. One down, one to go.’

  ‘Ah, I was going to talk to you about that. I think I’ve found girl number four, only it’s a bit complicated. I’ll need to explain in person.’

  Arietty gives an excited squeal. ‘Really? You mean this is actually going to happen? That’s fantastic! What are you up to right now? We should celebrate, have brunch in your café or something.’

  ‘I’m working I’m afraid. I have a pair of three-foot elephant frames to cover in papier mâché. And the shop’s closed today, including the café. Dad’s fitting some new shelving.’

  ‘Why don’t I give you a hand? And then we could have lunch in Avoca, yes? It’s just down the road.’

  ‘Are you sure? It’s a messy business, the wallpaper paste gets everywhere.’

  ‘Who cares?’ She gives a rumbling laugh. ‘And how else can I be sure you’ll get the tusks right this time? And complications? Ha! My whole life is one big complication.’

  ‘I know what you mean. And in that case, I’d love some help.’ I click off my phone, smiling to myself. Things are finally looking up – I’m one step closer to being the proud part-owner of the Farenze. And then I remember why I want the dress in the first place and the smile quickly drops off my face.

  I lie back and think about Ed. He hasn’t contacted me since Friday night and I don’t know why I ever thought he would. He’s getting married in just under a month, Jules, I tell myself firmly. And he doesn’t care about you. He told you himself, he’s in love with Lainey. You have to stop all this stupid obsessing and forget about him. It’s not rational.

  Bird marches back into my room. ‘Up! We’re wasting precious time. We didn’t close the shop for you to malinger in bed all day. Now, young lady!’

  I’m kneeling on a flattened cardboard box, slapping strips of newspaper soaked in wallpaper paste onto my first elephant, when I hear a voice behind me.

  ‘Reporting for duty, sir.’

  I swing around. Arietty is standing there, grinning, in old denims, frayed at the knees, and a blue sweatshirt that looks at least two sizes too big, still managing to look amazing.

  I stand up and brush my hair back off my face with the heel of my hand as my fingers are horribly sticky.

  ‘Hi, Arietty,’ I say. ‘Now, are you positive you want to do this? Look at the state of me.’ I hold up my gooey hands.

  She grins. ‘Yes. You can tell me all the dress news while we work.’

  ‘In that case . . .’ I hand her another flattened box and point at an elephant’s rear end. ‘You start at his bum and work your way forwards. I’ve put the first layer down, which is the tricky bit. We just need to build up the body with two or three more layers, then spray it with a thick layer of grey paint. That’ll have to be done first thing tomorrow morning, after the newspaper has had a chance to dry. And then I’ll add eyes and maybe decorate their necks with bows or something to brighten them up.’

  Arietty scowls. ‘Bows? That will look stupid.’

  I laugh. ‘Don’t hold back, Arietty.’

  ‘Sorry. But bows? You’ve seen my elephants up close and personal, Jules. Could you really imagine Beatrix with a red ribbon around her neck, like a Christmas present?’

  I shake my head. ‘What about a bright rug on their backs? Would that work? I could use the material left over from the curtains.’

  ‘It would be better. Although it’s still a bit circus-like. They used to dress them up in enormous red jackets and pill hats in the olden days. In fact, Dublin Zoo was still running elephant rides until the 1950s. I just think elephants deserve our respect. The only thing on their backs in the wild is dust or sand. They spray it on their skin to keep themselves cool.’

  ‘I just want to make them eye catching. I’ll think of something. I could always surround each of them with a ring of glittery poos.’

  Arietty stares at me. ‘That would be weird.’

  I smile. ‘I’m joking.’

  ‘How are you getting on, Jules?’ Pandora walks towards us, then spots Arietty.

  ‘Hello, again,’ Pandora says to her. ‘I wasn’t expecting you till tomorrow. I’m afraid we’re not open today. But if you really need your Farenze dress I’m sure we can make an exception.’

  ‘That won’t be necessary,’ Arietty says politely. ‘I can wait. Tomorrow is good.’

  Pandora doesn’t move. She looks from Arietty to me and then back again.

  Arietty smiles. ‘You’re wondering what I’m doing here then, yes?’

  Pandora’s cheeks colour. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to be nosey.’

  ‘I’m helping Jules get the elephants right,’ Arietty says unperturbed.

  ‘Of course, you work with them, don’t you?’ Now that Pandora has her answer, she relaxes a little. ‘Iris was very taken with you, won’t stop talking about you in fact. Did you get the picture she drew for you?’

  Oops, I knew there was something I meant to bring with me today.

  ‘Arietty is going to collect it later,’ I pipe up. ‘The drawing Iris did for you, of the elephants. Remember I told you about it?’ I give Arietty a please play along look.

  ‘No, you didn’t,’ Arietty says. She’s obviously a lot better at reading elephants than people. ‘I would have remembered. But I look forward to seeing it. Nice to meet you again, Pandora. Iris is very sweet by the way, smart too, but you really should get her a proper pet. Insects are fascinating, but they don’t give much back, not the way mammals do.’

  Pandora opens her mouth to say something, but then closes it again. ‘Thank you for that advice,’ she says stiffly, glaring at me. I’m sure she thinks I put Arietty up to it. ‘We’ll see.’ And with that Pandora marches off.

  I laugh into my hand.

  Arietty looks at me. ‘Was it something I said?’

  ‘Not at all. But I think our Shoestring Club handover dinners have just got a whole heap more interesting.’

  Realization dawns over Arietty’s face. ‘Are you saying Pandora has bought the final share?’

  I click my tongue against my teeth. ‘My granny, Bird, has put up the money on Pandora’s behalf, on one condition. That we find Pandora something, or more precisely, someone, to wear it for.’

  Arietty grins. ‘Are you serious? She’s pretty, that shouldn’t be a problem, should it?’

  My eyebrows soar. ‘The fussiest woman in the universe when it comes to men? I would have to say it’s a challenge.’

  ‘There must be loads of single men out there who would happily date Pandora. Look, I bet he’s single. Let’s ask him if he’d like to meet her.’ She points down the street at a man walking towards us.

  As he gets closer I realize with a start that it’s Jamie. I wince with guilt. He’s obviously come looking for me. Maybe he knows something about me and Ed. At least Arietty’s lunacy might distract him.

  I say, ‘Go on, ask him, I dare you,’ then dive behind the elephant. I crouch down and peer through the gap between the trunk and the mouth.

  Arietty steps out a little, blocking Jamie’s path. She’s a good two inches taller than he is.

  ‘Hello,’ she says.

  ‘Um, hello,’ he answers nervously.

  ‘Are you single?’

  He looks around him. I’m sure he thinks it’s a wind up, that someone is videoing him for You Tube.

  ‘Yes,’ he says suspiciously. ‘Why? Is this some sort of marketing thing?’

  ‘No. Would you like to meet someone? A girl I mean. But you have to be single. And solvent,’ she adds firmly. ‘Her name is Pandora Schuster and she owns this lovely shop.’ She waves her hand at the shop window. ‘She’s smart and funny and a great business woman. What do you think? Would you like an introduction?’

  ‘Jules?’ Jamie says loudly, whipping his head around. ‘Is this your idea of a joke? It’s not funny. Where are you hiding?’


  Arietty puts her hands on her hips. ‘Jules! You might have told me you knew the guy. Come out right this second.’

  I step out from behind the elephant, chuckling away to myself. ‘You should have seen your face, Jamie Clear. Priceless.’ I turn to Arietty. ‘Sorry, Arietty, I couldn’t resist. This is Jamie, an old friend of mine. Jamie, meet Arietty. She’s kindly helping me slap soggy paper onto this fellow.’ I nod at the elephant.

  Jamie smiles. ‘Seems the Schusters have dragged in anyone willing to do their dirty work. Your dad asked me to help him build some new shelving, Jules.’

  I feel a wave of relief. Makes sense.

  ‘And does Pandora know you’re trying to solicit boyfriends for her on the street?’ he asks me.

  ‘’Course not. But we do need to find her someone. Fast. There’s this dress you see . . .’ I fill him in on the potted details.

  Afterwards, he whistles. ‘All that work just for one dress? It must be some frock.’

  ‘It is,’ Arietty says. ‘And wouldn’t you even consider dating Pandora?’

  He guffaws and I join in. Soon we’re both falling around the place, holding our stomachs.

  ‘It’s not that funny.’ Arietty looks annoyed.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ I manage, breathless from laughing so much. ‘But honestly, they’d be like the odd couple. Pandora’s into cheesy karaoke music, she sings in a choir, she’s anal about timekeeping, likes her men wearing suits. And Jamie—’

  ‘Would rather shoot himself than go near a karaoke bar,’ he puts in helpfully. ‘And does not own a tie, let alone a suit. Jules is right. Sorry, Arietty, it would be a disaster. You’ll just have to keep accosting innocent guys on the street. But there must be easier ways of finding single men. You should try the bike shop down the road, or I know, Monkstown Aquatic Centre. I did some work for them on their website and loyalty cards a few years back, it was always teeming with lads buying tropical fish. The owners call the big tropical tanks bachelor tanks; apparently they’re the first thing to go once a guy gets married. That and the pool table.’