Page 62 of Dark Endures

“Because life is real when you open your eyes. Until then, you can dream that it’s anything you want.”

We both pretend, but I do it to trick others and he does it to trick himself.

Which one is better?

Neither.

And this conversation is too much. “I better get back to work.” A job I won’t be quitting for a very long time.

With that, the pit of my stomach falls out again and that smile returns in force.

Price Hikes

Mindy

The bills will have to wait. I’m not up to doing anything this morning. Maybe after walking the dogs, I’ll have some energy.

That’s such a lie. I won’t even have time to eat before work. A granola bar will have to be good enough. The unfolded laundry piled up by my dresser haunts me.

But I don’t have time for that. It’ll have to wait for another day.

Time to go. I yank on my ponytail to tighten it and head out the door.

Waiting with rollers in her hair and a cup of coffee in hand, my neighbor smiles as I step out of my apartment. “Good morning, Mindy. I have some bad news for you.”

No. I just can’t handle any more bad news. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m going to be moving in with my sister next month.”

That doesn’t sound like bad news to me. “That’s wonderful.”

“But she lives about twenty minutes from here, so I’m going to need to find another dog walker.”

Oh. That’s what she means. “Don’t you worry about that. I’m sure you’ll find someone soon.”

“But my precious baby loves you so much.”

That dog loves to poop on the steps at random for me to clean up. “I’ll miss the both of you.” But one less dog to walk sounds good right about now.

We head down a flight of stairs and stop for the next dog.

“Morning, Mindy’” Rusfis’ owner lifts his mug in acknowledgment.

“Morning.” I take Rusfis.

“Just wanted to let you know I won’t be needing your services as of next week.”

Another one. “Okay. Thanks for the notice.” It’s not odd to lose or gain clients. People move in and out all the time. But losing two in a day is.

Down another flight of stairs, Muffin wags his tail happily as he waits with his owner. “Morning, Mindy. Did you read the letter from the new owner yet?”

That sounds ominous. “Nope.”

“That may be a good choice. Reading it yesterday ruined my day.”

Not what I need to hear after the day I had on Saturday. Now’s not the time to think about more problems. “See you later.”

There’s no sign of Pretty Girl. She’s always waiting for me. Taped to the door is a note. It’s only two words, ‘you’re fired’.

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