Rick Potter turned into his driveway, shit it was eleven o’clock. He had told Sheila he would be home no later than eight. She was going to be mad, but he was getting use to it. Ever since this new project was given to him, he had not been home before nine O’clock. He had been working on it for two months and it would probably take another two months to finish. Sheila may not like it, but that’s why he was an executive vie-president earning a rather large six figure salary. He got where he was by hard work and not letting anything stand in his way.
He hit the garage door opener, hoping she was a sleep and would not hear the door go up. As he started to pull his Mercedes into the garage, he noticed Sheila’s car was not there. Good he thought, she’s probably out with one of her girlfriends and I got home before her.
He opened the door that led from the garage into the kitchen where their dog, Magic greeted him. Magic was a two-year old black Labrador retriever that Rick had gotten Sheila to keep her company. Magic seemed to like Rick more than Sheila. If Sheila went to bed before Rick got home, Magic would be waiting in the kitchen to welcome him home. After Rick petted Magic, the dog ran to the backdoor and asked to go outside into the fenced in back yard.
Only after letting the dog out did Rick see the note lying on the kitchen table. He sat down and opened the folded piece of paper and read it.
Dear Rick,
I am sorry that I have to write you this letter, I have tried to talk to you but you are
never home. That’s the big problem, I thought I was moving in to be with you,
not to sit home waiting for you. I know it’s your job and you can’t help it, but
it doesn’t mean that I have to put up with it. I loved you very much and I thought
you loved me, but not I guess, as much as you love your job.
I packed my things and I moved in with a girlfriend. I have been thinking about
this for almost a month, so please don’t try and contact me, it will only make things
tougher. My mind is made up and I will not change it; just like you won’t change
your mind about you work..
I hope you find someone that can put up with you not being home, although
I doubt it. Most women want more out of a relationship than a nice house in which
to live. The women that will put up with your shit are nothing more than gold-diggers,
they want your money not you.
I left you the only living creature that can put up with you and not leave you
because of your late nights. I hope you and Magic will be very happy together.
Your EX-Girlfriend
Sheila.
Rick put down the letter. He wasn’t that upset, he had seen it coming. Sheila was only twenty-eight years old. She still wanted to go out and party every night. He was forty-five, way too old for that shit. Even when he wasn’t working late, all he wanted to do was sit on the sofa and watch sports on television or read a book. He had done the club scene; that became old and tired. Oh well, the sex wasn’t bad, at least in the beginning.
He probably should try and date an older more mature woman. Someone more his own age, who would be more career oriented. He tried that several times but he liked younger women. The older he got, the younger his girlfriends became. What could he say; he liked young women with tight bodies.
Rick was brought back to reality by Magic barking; he wanted back in. Rick opened the door and let him in. “It’s just you and me boy,” he said to Magic, ”just you and me. Let’s go to bed.” Rick went to his bedroom followed by Magic. Magic always slept on the floor on Rick’s side of the bed, but tonight he must have sensed something was different. Before Rick could say anything, Magic jumped on the bed and lay on Sheila’s pillow. Rick started to tell him to get down, then he thought, fuck it! He can sleep there if he likes, at least I won’t have to hear a raft of shit about my snoring from him.
Rick woke up the next morning and was greeted by a happy Magic. Magic jumped on Rick and started to lick his face. Rick played with the dog, for a shot time and then got dressed. When Rick opened the back door for Magic to go out into the back yard, Rick realized he had a problem. Who was going to let Magic out in the afternoon? Sheila did that when she came home form work, but now he had no one. Maybe Magic could hold it until he got home. He would give it a try.
When Rick got home that evening, he was greeted by Magic, but he could tell something was wrong. Sure enough, Magic couldn’t hold it. He had pissed and shit on the kitchen floor. Rick couldn’t yell at the dog, it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t hold it that long. Rick would have to make other arrangements. After cleaning up the mess, he decided he would advertise for a dog walker; someone that could walk Magic seven days a week if needed. He needed someone who was dependable and honest and from the immediate area. He decided he would put an ad on the local bulletin board that the civic association maintained. It was set up that anyone in the association could use to get a message across to the people in the area. Tomorrow was Sunday and he didn’t have to work. He would make the ad up tomorrow morning and place it on the bulletin board. With some luck, he might have his dog walker within a few days.
He got up Sunday morning and immediately wrote the ad.
Wanted:
A person to feed and walk my friendly lab. Needed Monday through Saturday and some Sundays. Good pay. Call the following number and arrange an interview.
555-1213