Public ads hadn’t worked. Flyers around town hadn’t worked. I could not figure out where Gordie’s person was. I finally decided that direct marketing was the way to go: Reaching out to individuals who may know someone looking.
I remembered that my last boss had had an assistant with a small dog who had passed away just before our last production. It had been a year, so maybe she was ready for a new pup.
Doris’ response to “Do you know someone looking for a little nugget of a dog?” was unexpected: “Well, that little dog is the cutest thing ever! Shit. We’ve talked about getting a dog…”
I hadn’t even considered that Doris may want him. She had never had a dog, so I didn’t even think of her. I just knew she knew a lot of people, and possibly one of them was Gordie’s person.
But then a vision popped into my head: I saw her walking from behind, and Gordie walking beside her. Just a flash, but it stuck. Maybe Doris was his person…
I remembered that my last boss had had an assistant with a small dog who had passed away just before our last production. It had been a year, so maybe she was ready for a new pup.
Doris’ response to “Do you know someone looking for a little nugget of a dog?” was unexpected: “Well, that little dog is the cutest thing ever! Shit. We’ve talked about getting a dog…”
I hadn’t even considered that Doris may want him. She had never had a dog, so I didn’t even think of her. I just knew she knew a lot of people, and possibly one of them was Gordie’s person.
But then a vision popped into my head: I saw her walking from behind, and Gordie walking beside her. Just a flash, but it stuck. Maybe Doris was his person…
She wanted to meet him, but then had second thoughts as she and her partner Kevin were going to Europe for a couple weeks in July, and she didn’t want to adopt a dog to just leave him again in two weeks. But if he was available when they got back, they would like to adopt him. It was quite thoughtful of her to think of the emotional impact the trip would have on him; that’s exactly who you want adopting a dog!
I told her I understood and asked if she wanted to meet him anyway. And, if it was a match, she could watch him for the weekend while Tucker and I went to San Francisco. She hadn’t ever had a dog—throughout her childhood or in her adult life. Having to get up every day, go for multiple walks (especially since she lived in a condo), take him into consideration when going out of town or just taking a day trip… it was all things to think about. I certainly thought about it when I met Tucker. I thought about my bucket list, like things people want to do before having children. But like children, your soul dog doesn’t always show up at the most opportune time.
I told her I understood and asked if she wanted to meet him anyway. And, if it was a match, she could watch him for the weekend while Tucker and I went to San Francisco. She hadn’t ever had a dog—throughout her childhood or in her adult life. Having to get up every day, go for multiple walks (especially since she lived in a condo), take him into consideration when going out of town or just taking a day trip… it was all things to think about. I certainly thought about it when I met Tucker. I thought about my bucket list, like things people want to do before having children. But like children, your soul dog doesn’t always show up at the most opportune time.
She agreed to meet him and thought the weekend dogsitting was a decent idea. And it helped me out tremendously. I also said that should she fall in love over the weekend, she could keep him, and then I would watch him for the couple weeks while they were away. WGA was still on strike, and I didn’t see SAG making a deal by the end of the month. I had no doubt I would still be unemployed come the middle and end of July.
She came in the front door and said hello and after a brief greeting in return, Tucker and Gordie promptly ran out the back door to show off their running around skills.
Doris and I sat out on the deck and talked about Gordie . I called him over, and he politely met her then agreed to sit on her lap for a spell. She naturally pet his ears as she talked to me, and Gordie seemed content there. Then he hopped off and went back to chasing lizards on the cinderblock wall while Tucker negotiated with our resident squirrel.
I couldn’t get a read. There were no “Oo”s and “Aah”s. But Doris isn’t an overly emotive person. She’s pretty stable (or hides here peaks and valleys of emotion well). So when it was time to go and I asked if she wanted to do the weekend dog sitting, I was surprised that she replied with, “Sure. Let’s do it.”
I said goodbye and she went out the front door. As she walked away, Tucker went back to whatever he had been doing, but Gordie stopped in the front window and let out a little whimper as he watched her go.
I said goodbye and she went out the front door. As she walked away, Tucker went back to whatever he had been doing, but Gordie stopped in the front window and let out a little whimper as he watched her go.
Huh.
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