Help Wanted

Short Story

The ad said they needed a dog walker for twice a day, every day. I needed some extra income and loved dogs, so I really thought the job would be perfect for me. I called up the number right away. A man’s voice was the one to come on the line.

“This is Charles,” he said.

I cleared my throat. “Hello, Charles. My name is Charlize and I came across your ad online and thought I might be the perfect candidate.”

“Oh…hello, Charlize. Will you be able to come by this evening for an interview?”

“Of course,” I said. I didn’t want to sound too excited, but we agreed to meet at six o’clock. He gave me his address and I hung up the call. I worked full-time as a bookkeeper, so I finished off my duties at the office and couldn’t wait to meet up with Charles and his dog, Lady.

His house was just five minutes from work, which was another great reason to take the job. I could walk Lady over my hour lunch and then after I got off work. I couldn’t think of a better scenario.

When I turned down his street, I was greeted by rows and rows of houses, all in a perfectly straight line, and each with a nice manicured lawn. I felt like had entered a sitcom from TV. I looked at the house numbers, until I spotted the one that matched his address. I turned into the driveway and sat there for a moment, staring up at the house. It wasn’t large by anyone’s standards, but it was nice. It had a white picket fence around it and the landscaping was clean.

I got out of the car and headed up to the door. The minute I knocked on the door, I heard yelping coming from inside. It sounded like a small dog on the other side of the door, so I giggled, because the dog was obviously going for ferociousness. When he opened the door, I stared at him. He had to be one of the most handsome men I had ever laid eyes on and his eyes seemed to wander over me, but then quickly snap up to my eyes.

“Um…Charlize?” he asked.

I wanted to laugh and ask who else he was expecting, but just nodded. He stepped back and allowed me to enter the house. When I did, I spotted the Beagle on the floor, yelping at me. I leaned down and started petting him and he immediately calmed down. “Good girl, Lady,” I said.

I then turned around and found him staring at me, a look of confusion on his face. “I’m sorry, but how old are you?”

I arched an eyebrow. “Um…legally you can’t ask that,” I said.

He smirked. “I get that, but I’ll be honest that I was expecting a teenager to apply for this job. You must be at least…”

“Twenty-four,” I blurted out. I didn’t want to start off in a bad way with him guessing something totally beyond my age.

He nodded. “I would have said twenty-two, but twenty-four it is.”

He gave me a wary look and I crossed my arms in front of me. “How old are you Charles?” I asked.

He laughed. “Twenty-eight!”

I nodded. “Now, that we have that out of the way,” I said, snickering as he seemed shocked that I was so forward. “I work at Marco’s Insurance. It’s just around the corner basically. I could come every day at lunch and after work.”

He nodded. “That would be fine! You seem safe enough.”

I ignored his comments. “I would probably need a key though.”

“Your wish is my command!” I noticed the laughter in his eyes as he reached into his pocket and withdrew a key that he had probably already prepared for me. Before he handed it to me, he raised an eyebrow. “Do you have any bad habits that I wouldn’t want my dog to pick up on?” he asked. He was grinning, so I knew he was teasing, but it made me snicker.

“Well, I don’t bite, if that’s what you mean.”

He laughed, tossing his head back. I immediately could tell he would be someone I would be interested in getting to know. “That’s what I wanted to know.” He handed me the key. “You’re hired.”

I pocketed the key and found myself lost in staring at him as he walked me through the job duties, which also included making sure she had plenty of water and food. When he was done talking, finally taking a breath, I asked, “Is this the first time you’re hiring a dog walker?” I asked.

“It is,” he responded. “I haven’t really ever had the need for one, but my job is changing and more will be expected out of me and I’ll be working lots of late nights. So, I won’t be around to give Lady the proper attention.

“Okay, then I’m glad to help out,” I said. I proceeded to tell him a little about myself, starting off with how I had dogs all through my growing phase and that Lady was in good hands.

I left his house, feeling great to have the opportunity to make more money and knowing that I would start the job the next day.

I did start the job and for two weeks it was exactly how I thought. I picked Lady up at noon and five o’clock every day. We took a walk around the block, making our rounds, and I even got to know some of the other dog owners and dogs in the neighborhood. I never saw Charles, because he was always working, but each week he had a check for me on the kitchen counter.

At the end of two weeks, when I was bringing Lady home from the walk, I noticed Charles’ car was in the driveway. It was unusual, so I treaded cautiously into the house. He looked up when I entered the kitchen. “Hey!” he said.

He had a smile that lit up the whole room. “Hey!” I looked around, then back at him. “What are you doing home?” I asked.

“Work gave me a reprieve and the rest of the night off. I’m taking advantage of it.” He lifted up his glass of wine that he poured. “Want one?” he asked.

I was nervous around him, but I also didn’t want to leave. “I would love a glass,” I said.

Lady went over to her water bowl and started lapping up her water, while he poured me a glass. “I ordered a pizza. Stay for supper.” It was more of an order than a request, but I immediately said yes.” We sat the kitchen table and talked, while we waited for the pizza to arrive. The conversation was casual but nice. He asked me how things were going and I told him they were great.

The pizza arrived and we continued the conversation, never missing a beat. However, when the glass of wine was finished and the pizza was gone, I hated to say goodbye.

“Thank you so much for the pizza,” I said.

He walked me to the door. “You’re welcome, Charlize.”

I turned to him when I reached the door. I was at a loss for words, with the way he was gawking at me. “You have a great dog, Charles,” I said. It wasn’t the only thing I could think of to say. He laughed.

“Lady thinks you’re pretty great, too.”

“Oh…she’s talking to you now?” I asked, laughing.

He snickered. “Doesn’t she talk to you?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Not yet! Maybe once our bond grows stronger.” We laughed, until it slowly died.

“Well, if she could talk, I’m sure she would say you’re pretty great!”

I blushed. The look in his eyes was magnetizing. “Thank you!” I stepped back, but stumbled when my foot caught on the door stopper. I started to fall backwards and he grabbed me by the arm and steadied me. Our eyes met in this fiery passion sort of way and before I knew it he was coming to my lips and we were kissing. I fell back against the door, never wanting it to end. This was the best job I had ever had and things were about to change.