“Most people wake up thinking about how beautiful the day is going to be… me, I wake up thinking how am I going to pay my bills this week.” Facts, my friend. As the bus approaches the curb, I close my book and stuff it in my bag.

I don’t have time to think about Derek when I have rent due in two weeks and $1,000 worth of other bills due at the same time. Time is money, and I don’t have either of them.

My phone buzzes in my hand. A text from Clara. “Guurrrlllllll! The schedules getting loaded today for some reason. Hope you have your walking shoes on.”

I checked my app and saw three new dogs added to my schedule this morning. That’s another $180 in the bank. As the app refreshes, another 4 dogs were added, and a request for availability for a 10 p.m. walk down the street from my house. Usually, I wouldn’t accept any walk after 8 p.m., but money tight, I click accept and block the hour on my shift sheet.

I shoot a text back to Clara, telling her I’m happy they’re booming today. I slide over in my seat as a woman tries to keep her bag from toppling over on me.

Sorry, they had a bit of a sale, so I figured I’d stock up.

No worries, I smile and slip my headphones in. The book I’ve been listening to is a romance set in the Victorian era, all corsets and heaving bodices. Just what I need his morning… victorian drama. I get lost in the story while the bus starts and stops along the road.

4 packages were waiting for me. 2 from Jack, requesting review and dictation notes. And 2 from an unknown source, an address I don’t recognize. I didn’t order anything… I don’t think.

My phone rings as I exit the store. Clara, hi! What’s up?

Did you see the amount of requests we’re getting today? Where are you?

I’m on 5th and Main; I had to pick up some packages this morning before I started. Why?

I’m around the corner, I’ll pick you up, and we can head out from your house. Okay?

Yeah, that’s great, actually; my hands are fuller than I expected them to be. I laugh as I lower the packages to balance on the edge of a flower pot with shriveled flowers and dried dirt.

Great! Give me about 2 seconds, and I’ll be there.

Before I can slide my phone down into my purse, I see Clara pulling around the corner, waving her hands out the window.

Madwoman. I shake my head and scoop the packages up, placing them in the backseat of her Mustang.

What brings you out so early?

Double star day! She points down to the two bright green Starbucks drinks in the cupholders.

Ugh, I slide deep into my seat, slowly take one of the cups, and take the first sip of matcha sweetness. This, my dear, is just one of the reasons I love you.

I know. She laughs and gives me her anime-styled wink and smile.

So, who sent you all those packages? They’re not all from Jack, are they? Those two aren’t shaped like documents.

Actually, I twisted in my seat and snagged the two random packages. I’m unsure where these two are from.

Have you recently come into money and, uh, had a shopping spree without me?

I face her with my hand over my heart, Nope, 100%.

She laughs again. Well, what are you waiting for? Open them up! We’re not worried; it’s a gag gift, are we?

Do you mean like those blow-up-in-your-face glitter traps?

Oddly specific… so, yes! I don’t want to be cleaning up glitter for the next month.

Well… now you have me worried. Maybe I should wait to open it until we get to my house…

Agreed. For now.

I slowly place the packages back in the backseat and notice Clara taking the speed bumps extra cautiously as we drive down my neighborhood.

Once home,

We have an hour before we walk our feet off today. Where do your first few start? I have a lot near the old campus.

Me too, actually; my first six dogs are all there. Oddly enough, the first two are from the same building, and the system set them up as two walks, but both owners made notes saying they could go together as long as I walked them until they were tired.

Sound far enough. She digs out the scissors from a random drawer and places them next to the boxes.

Agreed. Okay, so which one shall we open first?

Wait! Wait a second. She jumps onto the countertop and takes multiple photos from every angle of both boxes before hopping down and sipping her tea.

And that was for?…

Evidence. Just in case. She scoots further down the counter before smiling.

Don’t make me nervous for no reason. I shake off a laugh and go to my phone for distraction.

By the way, have you heard from Derek lately? … she sips her tea a little loud and obnoxiously.

And why do you ask? I say my words slowly and point each word directly towards her.

WOW! Hold the tone, girl, lord. I saw him yesterday when I was at the mall. I didn’t speak to him, but it made me curious… and now. She plops up on the counter and leans towards me. Now I am VERY curious. Why that reaction? What have you not told me? She grabs my shirt with her free hand and pulls me closer to her. What. Have. You. Not. Told. Me? she shouts at me.

Hey! I pull myself away from her. It’s not a lot… I mutter under my breath.

OMG. You didn’t tell me everything? Seriously… she sits up on the counter and stares at me with her best imitation of doe eyes.

I really don’t want to talk about it all right now.

She sighed and handed me the scissors, nodding to the packages between us.

She was always good at realizing when not to push and when I really needed it.

A.G