The Companion

It was a nice summer morning. Sunny, as it should be at this time of year. Good weather for selling ice creams, most certainly. I’m sure all the kids would be out, begging their mothers for a double chocolate cone once we reach the heat of the day. We’ve had more or less the same scenes all week at the ice cream shop I work in. Quiet mornings, for the most part, but when people started to feel the heat just before lunchtime, we’d have a rush from then until almost closing time. You wouldn’t think a job like this could be demanding, but when you work in a small family owned store with very little room for employees but a fantastic reputation is what draws the people in. Did I mention, it also pays reasonably well?

That morning, just like most mornings in recent times, Harry accompanied me to the shop. It was so sweet of him. He always performs every gesture, however big or small, with the loveliest intentions.

I let us in the back door and found that my best friend, Marie was already there. It’s her family who owns the store. Apparently it’s been around for a couple generations now but there has never been any plan for expansion, until determined and ambitious Marie came up with the idea. Her parents wouldn’t just let her run with the idea straight away, however. They insisted she study business if she was truly passionate about making the family store more than just a local attraction. This, of course, suited her to a tee, so, she’s currently in the middle of a business degree and working in the store part time with my help as well as her parents on the odd occasion when no one is left to manage the counter. You’d think, with very few employees, we’d be up to our ears but really we all make it work pretty well. We were, however, in need of an extra helping hand as this is the busy season after all.

When Harry and I walked in, everything was ready for the day. She is ever so efficient, our Marie. She was now leaning against the counter reading a sheet of paper with a slight frown on her face.

“Morning, Kylie. Morning Harry,” she said, not taking her eyes off the paper.

“Hey, Marie,” I said as I went to put my bag in my cubbyhole and at the same time, checking if there were any messages for me or jobs that I needed to do.

“Ever heard of Gallifrey?” Marie called as I went back out to the counter.

“Gallifrey? Nope, doesn’t ring a bell,” said Harry.

“What’s it supposed to be?” I asked, walking over to stand in between the two of them.

“Some sort of… place I suppose,” said Marie.

“What are you reading?” I asked.

“A job application. I found it in the cubbyhole.”

“Who’s application?” said Harry.

“Someone called… The Doctor.”

“The Doctor? Doctor Who?” I said just as the little bell rang that meant someone had entered the store.

“You know, I do love it when people say that. You don’t mind saying it again, do you?” said a voice and we all spun around to face the door.

A man stood there and was just tucking something into the pocket in the lining of his tweed jacket. He wore a slightly maroon tinged shirt underneath the previously mentioned tweed jacket with a burgundy bowtie, black jeans and brown boots. He also had brown hair that sort of flopped to one side.

“How did you get in? The door was locked. Who are you?” said Marie.

“Well yes it was. Pretty simple to open, really. A little method I like to call sonic-ing and entering. Made that up a while back, I quite like it. That question you said before, could you say it again?” the man said, all very fast, directing the last part at me.

“Uh… Doctor Who?” I replied, a bit confused.

“I love it when people say that. Although sometimes it’s “Doctor What”, which sounds a bit strange after you’ve heard “Doctor Who” for so long. Ah but yes, I’m the Doctor, very nice to meet you all,” he said and he came over to wring our hands. “I’d give you an air kiss but past experiences suggest I shouldn’t. Ah, I see you received my job application.”

“This is yours?” said Marie.

“Well, its says The Doctor doesn’t it? Who else would it belong to?” he said as if it couldn’t have been more obvious.

“So you’re the Doctor?” said Marie.

“Yes, I thought we’d covered that. I am the Doctor. You know, I do love saying that but it does get a bit wearing after a while. Especially when you have to repeat yourself.”

“So… Doctor. Do you have a criminal record?”

“A criminal record? Not to my knowledge. Not here anyway.”

“Not here? Have you been convicted abroad?”

“No, no, no, not at all. I’ve always been on good terms with the police… from memory.”

“So how did you get in?” asked Marie.

“I told you, I used the sonic. You humans take your time keeping up, don’t you?” he replied. He sounded, in my opinion, just a bit pompous. Humans? Like he’s not one himself.

“The sonic?”

“The Sonic Screwdriver,” he said as he pulled a metal device out of his pocket, pressed a little button and a little green light lit up the end and it made a whizzing noise. “It can do anything at all. Just doesn’t work on wood.”

“Never seen one of those before,” said Harry.

“Well, of course you haven’t. It’s of my own invention… in a way.”

“It’s impressive, I’d like to see it at work,” said Harry, looking genuinely fascinated.

“Well, if you ever need anything fixing, scanning or unlocking she’ll do just the trick. Not too bad, medically, either. But I really would like a job if it’s no trouble,” he said, turning back to address Marie with this last sentence.

“You’re clever. Your entrance shouldn’t impress me, but it does,” said Marie.

“Yes, well… they do say I like to make an entrance. I can’t really see it myself but, if you say so,” said the Doctor.

“Can you scoop ice cream?” she asked.

“Yes, back in Italy. Well, it was Gelato which is a bit different in consistency but still very-“

“You’re hired,” said Marie, cutting him off.

“What?” I said.

“He’s hired,” she said quietly.

“You’re going to hire a pompous professor who thinks that breaking into the store is a bit of showing off? That’s not very you.”

“Kylie, we need someone. He has great credentials even if he is a little eccentric.”

“Marie, he’s wearing a bowtie.”

“Hey, bowties are cool!” said the Doctor, defensively.

“Yeah, they kinda are,” said Harry.

“But you know I like it when you wear them, anyway,” I said to Harry.

“Look, you know we need the help, Kylie and the Doctor seems to be capable enough. I’m sure he’ll do a great job,” said Marie.

“I’d like to see that,” I said.

“Well, you will. Doctor, do you mind starting today?” said Marie.

“Not a problem, I’ll just move my TARDIS. It’s taking up one of the parking spaces. You know it really should be a recognised vehicle. I come here often enough,” he said before going outside.

“TARDIS?” said Harry.

“Probably another invention,” I replied, sighing.

Notes