The following is a story written by the Gateway Creative Writing Group and was read out by Tutor Maria Jones at the recently hosted Farewell to RPCP Thank You Party. It's a great piece of work, and an excellent read. Well done to all involved!
‘Rocket Rickety – The Wonder Greyhound’
‘Operation Spot’ took its first infant canine steps back in mid-March when Martha informed the Gateway Creative Writing Group about the Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership’s (RPCP) financial situation.
When Martha had left, one voice after the other offered their opinion and even asked if the Creative Writing Group could do anything to help the RPCP. After all, RPCP had been so helpful and professional in providing essential services to Gateway over the years.
“Did any of you see the job those lads did in London when they emptied out the contents of the Safety Deposit Boxes; they got millions!” uttered Gregoria in her gentle voice. The silent thoughts which followed were palpable.
“Sure we could do a Bank Job here and give the funds to RPCP” replied Tom.
Ideas on how to raise funds ‘flew out of the mouths of babes – sixty to the dozen!’
“There are some lovely Galleries in Dublin and some of their Art work goes into the millions,” replied Suzanne.
“Ah no Suzanne; paintings would be difficult to ‘fence’; a very much closed community those arty people!” voiced Kevin.
The group just turned and looked at the amiable Kevin and he using the word ‘fenced’!
“Weirs have some lovely pieces in their window in Grafton Street. I passed by the other day and had to stop and take a look. Oh my God, they shone out the window and dazzled my eyes. Can you imagine what they have in their stock room! It’s not worth thinking about – or is it!” said Gregoria.
“Will you ever forget Shergar going missing back in the eighties?” said Patrick. “We could look out for another Shergar!”
“Ah not at all Patrick” replied Eilish. “Where would we store a horse for God’s sake?”
“A Greyhound is a beautiful animal. I see them from my back window flying around the tracks,” came Geraldine.
The same palpable silence again fell within the room. Thoughtful looks, glinting eyes and then the odd smile and grin that suggested, this sounds coacher!
It took minutes to start planning ‘the borrowing of a greyhound for financial gain for a good cause!’ voiced Carmel
“Folks, whichever way you look at this or word this, it’s kidnapping” said Maria.
“Not really Maria. People would understand our needs and distresses.
“It’s ‘A Cause’ rather than a kidnapping!” sounded Linda.
“We should call it Operation Spot” suggested Clodagh “because, we won’t want people to know what we’re speaking about over our coffee in Café Moda if they overheard!”
“I recall passing a dog pound or rescue centre while out walking in the Dublin Mountains” Jonathan whispered. “The volunteers were walking in and taking the different dogs out for walks. I saw one or two greyhounds amongst the pack and asked the volunteers how such beautiful, graceful and priceless dogs could end up here!”
“I know that place Jonathan” said Elizabeth. “It’s called The Getaway & Rescue Centre. This centre also kennels dogs for owners who need to travel on business etc or those who are holidaying.”
“That’s exactly right Elizabeth. The walkers said that some foreign owners leave their greyhound in this centre due to its remote location and the great spaces around to exercise etc. The volunteers made me laugh when they said that some of these greyhounds had a bodyguard keeping an eye on them” Jonathan stated.
“Well there’s where we head up to” came Gordon in the gentlest of voice. “I know the area very well. We use to camp up there as children so I would be in on this for certain.”
“I could be the ‘Grab Man’ as I have experience working with greyhounds since a young age. My father kept them for years. You do know that some greyhounds can have behavioural issues and can be erratic and unfriendly to handle!” informed Patrick.
“That won’t be a problem though. I’ve seen Jonathan at work as a ‘Horse Whisperer’ when we were down in Glendalough. I’ve no doubt he could have a go at the ol’ greyhound. It can’t be that difficult!” upped Kevin
“Great,” said Jonathan. “That’s my roll so;, the official ‘Greyhound Whisperer!”
“But where we will we keep the greyhound?” asked Suzanne.
“That’s not a problem” Carmel replied, “because I know that Geraldine would let us use her apartment as the ‘Safe House’
“Yes, that’s right” said Eilish and “I’d pop around each evening when the track is closed and take him for a run. Geraldine even has a spare key to the side gate.”
“Everything is really falling into place” said Gordon. “Who’d have thought that a Creative Writing Class could be this interesting? Sure it’s great excitement!”
Wednesday, April 1st was a bitterly cold day as the ‘heist’ got underway.
With Maria, the official CDETB ‘Get Away Driver’ at the wheel, the ‘Grab Team’ set off at 8am.
Gordon sat up front with Maria, giving directions while Patrick sat anxiously in the backseat. “Jonathan said he’d spend the night camping near the centre and he’d go to the rear of the dog’s kennel early on so that he can begin his ‘Greyhound whispering” exercise,” confirmed Patrick.
Linda, Carmel and Elizabeth, the official ‘Decoys’ had set off even before Maria to establish their ‘Animal Rights’ protest. They brought with them life size, cardboard cut outs of Lions and Tigers. Linda used these regularly on her different missions and we felt that they would be just as helpful here. Who’d notice the difference between a Lion, a Tiger and a Greyhound anyway!
Eilish, Suzanne & Tom called into Geraldine’s ‘Safe House’ and they began to prepare the canine accommodation. While John Laverty wasn’t in a position to take part in ‘The Cause’, he did say that he would offer prayers so that everything would work out for all the right people.
At 10.30am the ‘Get away car’ had arrived and Gordon went straight over to the bodyguard to being his distraction technique of asking the way to a local hostel. Patrick then strolled into the pound and took ‘Rocket Rickety’ from his kennel. He was very calm following Jonathan’s earlier intervention therapies. Rocket Rickety appeared to enjoy his drive back to Harolds Cross, sitting in the back, wearing the lovely Aran jacket which Suzanne had knit him knowing that the morning was very cold for the animal and there he was, trying to look out the window!
By 11.30am, Rocket Rickety was happily ensconced on Geraldine’s double bed and showing no signs of erratic behaviour. He slept there and that evening, when the flood lights went down, Eilish took her ‘butchers bones’ and led Rocket Rickety out for his run around the track and his exercise regime. Later that evening, when Rocket Rickety appeared to be a big lonely, Clodagh brought her bitch, ‘Madonna’ over to the Safe House, just for a little entertainment!!
This was the practice for the few days when the Gateways Creative Writing Group ‘guardianed’ Rocket Rickety!
Kevin, The Negotiator, kept busy emailing the Russian millionaire owner of Rocket Rickety and assuring him that he was being very well looked after, housed, fed and exercised.
Kevin set the ransom at €250,000 and on receipt of same, in cash, left in a wheelie bin on Parker Hill; Rocket Rickety would be released unharmed.
Sadly for the Creative Writing Group, Rocket Rickety was returned to Mr. Vladamir Poutin by the Gardai, who had traced Kevin’s email contact back to the Internet Café in Rathmines. Kevin brought the Gardai to the Safe House and by noon on the 6th April, the entire ‘team’ had been round up and were brought up in front of Chief Justice, Judge Rob Rinder in the Supreme Court.
After all, this was a Kidnapping!
As one by one, each member of the team explained their roll in the ‘crime’ and expressed their regret but reiterated their reasons for taking part in such an activity.
Chief Justice Rinder proceeded to take a handkerchief from his breast pocket to wipe the tears from his eyes. These were not tears of sadness at our story but tears of hysteria as Judge Rinder cried out with laughter.
The Russian owner of Rocket Rickety also wiped his eyes and the Creative Writing Group stood there in amazement.
Vladamir, as he wanted each member to call him, begged the Chief Justice for lenience and asked if he would drop all charges. Vladamir thought that the actions of the group were admirable and the safe way they guided and looked after Rocket Rickety made him think that maybe Rocket Rickety could have new ‘carers’ when Vladamir was out of town.
Vladamir decided to donate €10,000 to ‘The Cause’ and said, while it was probably too little too late, he did feel that the Creative Writing Group would make good use of the funds.
So, rather than being ‘sent down’, the Gateway Creative Writing Group ‘marched happily up’ Parker Hill to the Farewell Event on May 7th where they handed over the €10,000 to their new fund agency.
While ‘crime’ doesn’t pay, the thoughtful actions of the Creative Writing Group were a further demonstration of how grateful they felt to RPCP for their kind years of loyal service.
Adh maith agus buiochas a ghabhail leat go leir.
Good Luck and Thank you all.
Written by The Gateway Creative Writing Group 07/05/2015
