The Landlord's Dog
You scrape your knee on the fence, carry Pepper upstairs, give him cool water. Then Mr. Hollis's car pulls in early. He's standing in your doorway.
Hollis offers $200 off rent if you care for Pepper daily.
Do you take the deal?
The story so far
You expected yelling. Instead Mr. Hollis stood there in his work boots, looking at Pepper stretched out on your cool kitchen tiles, and his face just folded. "Ruth did all this," he said. "The walks, the vet, all of it." His wife died in April. You went to the funeral. You didn't think about who was feeding the dog. He sits at your table for the first time ever and tells you he doesn't know how to do any of it, and that Pepper reminds him of her every time he looks out the window, so mostly he doesn't look. Then he makes his offer, almost embarrassed. It's a good deal. It also makes Pepper your job, maybe forever.
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