Dog Days by Donna Ball

and past employers … but a trust fund kid? Really?
    He said quickly, “I’ve been grooming dogs since I was eight years old. I can clip to standard any breed in the AKC. I won my first championship with a King Charles Cavalier when I was twelve and I’ve been showing dogs ever since. I also took two semesters of business and I majored in computer science for about six months, so I can be a real asset to you in the office. I don’t mind cleaning kennels. It would be an honor to clean kennels for you. I can—”
    “I know, you’re very qualified, and I’m sure you’d do a good job,” I was compelled to interrupt. “It’s just that—”
    “Miss Stockton,” he said earnestly, pressing his hands together between his knees. “My dream is to open a rehabilitation facility for abused and neglected dogs and train them to perform specialized tasks for disabled servicemen. If I could apprentice under you, get hands-on training in a genuine operating facility like Dog Daze, that would put me light years closer to what I was put on this earth to do. Let me prove myself to you. Give me a chance.”
    I looked at him for another moment. Even I couldn’t believe the words that came out of my mouth next. “All right,” I said. “We’ll give it a shot. Twelve dollars an hour for the first two weeks and if it works out, fifteen dollars an hour after that. Ten to three six days a week.”
    His face lit up like Christmas morning. “Do you mean it? I have the job?”
    “Well, there’s paperwork. I have to check your references, I need you to fill out a W-4 …”
    “Thank you!’ He jumped to his feet and grabbed my hand, pumping it enthusiastically. “Thank you! You won’t regret it, I swear! I won’t let you down!”
    Taking everything into consideration, there was no way he could.
     
    ~*~
     
    With Corny’s bouncing-ball energy and hamster-like speed, the kennels were cleaned, the boarders were exercised, and the day care clients were brushed, treated, and ready to go home by four thirty. Mrs. Sullivan loved Peaches’s puppy cut and gushed over the peach nail polish. She tipped ten dollars and I gave it to Corny. He protested, but I am always fair with my employees. He volunteered to stay until all the kennel dogs were fed and tucked away for the night, but I sent him home as soon as the last day care dog was picked up. He strapped on his paw print helmet and pedaled off happily on his bicycle, promising to be back bright and early the next morning.
    I was thinking how a helmet like that would make a nice birthday present for Melanie when I realized I had forgotten to call Miles back. I promised myself I’d do it as soon as I closed up the kennel for the day, but I think I knew even then I wouldn’t. I just didn’t have the strength to deal with one more man today.
    At five o’clock I let Mischief, Magic, Pepper, and Cisco out for one last romp, then took them up to the house to introduce them to the new dog. The best way to introduce two unfamiliar dogs is on leash, one at a time, and in neutral territory. Cisco and the Aussies are so accustomed to meeting strange dogs that they are practically disinterested, but I wasn’t so sure about Pepper. She was not even a year old and still full of puppy golden retriever exuberance, so I took her out to meet Cameo first while the other dogs waited in the house.
    I had no sooner opened the gate to the rescue run than I heard the clack of claws against the kitchen window, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Cisco standing on his back legs, scratching at the window and grinning at us. As soon as Cameo trotted into view, he started barking and clawing at the window again; clearly, he felt he was entitled by virtue of rank to be the first to meet the new dog. Of course, once Pepper heard her idol bark she lost all but the most cursory interest in Cameo and started lunging happily toward Cisco. We had to have a few obedience reminders before I took Pepper back inside.