The Companion

“Marie, you don’t even know this man. He broke into our store!” I said, trying to reason with her. He had sounded genuine but you don’t often take someone on just like that, even if he did make an entrance with a do-it-all contraption he’d apparently invented. Normally I was the impulsive one around here.

“Do we ever really know anyone who applies? Besides he doesn’t seem all that bad and his application was pretty good… well, the parts that I understood anyway. I mean, he has a reference from the Archbishop of Canterbury! Oh and by the way, he technically didn’t break in,” Marie replied as she began to double check that everything was ready for opening.

“He used his sonic-y thing to unlock the door! And the arch what of who?” I said.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury,” Maria repeated.

“Hey Kylie, relax,” said Harry, coming up to rub my back. “He’s just a little eccentric, is all. You’ll get used to him, I’m sure,”

“I just… but… he’s just… oh, I suppose,” I said, letting out yet another sigh. “But what was all that stuff about a TARDIS, who doesn’t have a registered vehicle these days?”

“It’s probably some sort of new motorcycle, innovation is always speeding up. People like to try different things. But a vehicle doesn’t define whether or not people can scoop ice cream. Let’s just give him a chance,” said Marie.

“Ok fine, I’ll play nice,” I said, just as the door opened again.

“Hello, I’m back. Glad I arrived at the right time. TARDIS can be a bit off occasionally,” said the Doctor as he entered once more.

“Go give him a briefing while I do this,” said Marie.

“Why me?” I whispered.

“Just go, maybe this’ll help you warm to him.”

“Fine,” I said and I walked around to the other side of the counter to where the Doctor was stood waiting patiently. Even if I disagreed I had to do my best to be professional. This store was important to Marie and I guess I just had to trust her judgment.

“So, Doctor,” I began, gesturing him to follow me around the counter. “I’ve been told you need a briefing. Basically we open at ten, which is soon. We scoop ice cream; the flavours and sizes are all there, nothing too fancy. Make sure you give the scooper a rinse in the hot water containers when you change flavours and after each use. There are serviettes to wrap around the cones here. If any flavours run out, the freezer is out the back, pretty big, can’t miss it. Don’t worry about the cash register… unless you’ve used one before?”

“Yes, I’m familiar with how it works?”

“Good, well in that case I’m sure Marie will trust you to use it. We have a toilet out the back, sign posted so you shouldn’t get lost and I think that’s about it,” I finished off.

“Well, I’m sure I can manage. Its not much of a hard task anyway,” he said, straightening his bowtie.

“Right, well, I suggest you get ready for store opening then,” I said, leaning on the counter. I watched as he looked at all the flavours, sussing everything out.

“You don’t like me, do you, Kylie?” he said suddenly.

“What do you mean?” I said. I didn’t want to be rude. I wasn’t exactly keen on him being employed but despite everything I’d said earlier I didn’t have the complete capacity to be rude to someone when it was just them taking notice. Not that it’s ever my intention to be rude; sometimes I just get a bit carried away.

“Well, you were being awfully hostile. Is it because you haven’t had another employee in here for a while?” he said.

“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… I mean, if I hurt your feelings, I didn’t mean to,” I said quickly. Gaahhh now I’ve gone and done it.

“Oh no, not at all. I’ve been called all sorts of things over the years. These things just bounce off me,” he said, smiling.

“I… I’m sorry.”

“You’re going to have to learn to stop apologizing, Kylie.”

“Why?”

“You can only apologize so much.”

At that moment Harry came over to where the Doctor and I were stood.

“Hey, babe, I’m going to have to get going. Got some recording to do with the lads. I’ll see you tonight, hey?” he said, giving me a peck on the cheek.

“Ok, love you,” I said, giving him a hug.

“Love you too. Nice meeting you er… Doctor,” he said before shaking the Doctor’s hand and heading out.

“So he’s your boyfriend, is he? Or ‘kind of’ boyfriend? I’ve been given that in the past,” said the Doctor once Harry had left.

“Just my boyfriend,” I said. “So why did you apply for the job?”

“I’ve been wandering around on my own for a bit, thought I’d pick up a job. Ice cream seemed up my street so I said ‘Hey why not?’”

“Is that all?”

“Gotta live in the moment, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“So how long have you and Mr. Curly been together for?”

“Almost a year now, I… why are you asking?”

“Curiosity.”

There was something intriguing about this man. A nagging thing and I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad. The way he talked… I just wasn’t sure.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I’m the Doctor,” he said once more as if stating the obvious.

“Anything else I should know?”

“I always have a reason,” he said mysteriously but I couldn’t ask him any more because Marie had opened the store and our first customer of the day had come in.

“Hello, I’m the Doctor, here to help? What would you like?” he asked and I watched him curiously. He seemed nice enough, well traveled and appeared to leave an impression on people. But there was something else about him that I couldn’t quite put my finger on… like he was an old soul in a young body.

Notes