wc 1167 Nano/Writing Doodle/Bernie/Daniel ... Who is Louie?

At the sound of his name, the backdoor pushed open.  

"Don't be shy, Louie," Daniel called.  "Come on in."

Was Louie addled or just slow? Why would I ever want to be stuck with an instant roommate when I just got finished with a one sided relationship?

Louie was a dog, a cocktail table of a dog.  Her father used to say that dachshunds were half a dog tall and a dog and a half long.  That about summed up Louie, except that Louie was a full size German shepherd from his nose to his tail with short, stubby legs.  

Daniel patted his leg and wiggled his fingers at the dog, "Louie, what a good boy."  The dog walked to Daniel and stepped between his spread legs.  Daniel commenced rubbing the dog's sides and back.  "Who's the biggest dog?  Who's my best boy?"

The dog wiggled and whined.  Had he been taller, Louie's bushy tail could have doubled as a feather duster.

"Louie belonged to XZY (can't remember the name insert here)."

I looked at him, at Vic, and back to the dog.  He was cute, in a Rin Tin Tin kind of a way. "Why don't you take him?  He's obviously in love."

"I bought a condo at the top of the market and I'm upside down in it."

Ah, so there have been advantages to being a renter.  My rent may go up from time to time, but I can walk away.

"Why not rent it and take the loss on your taxes?" Vic said.  "You and Louie could live happily here, together."

"He's got friends, he's got a routine, he's got a schedule," Daniel said. He looked at me like that should mean something significant.  

"Sounds like he's in high school and he doesn't to move when his parents have to relocate," Vic said.  "I resemble that remark."

"A bit much sugar for a cent, if you ask me," I said.  

"What does that mean?" Daniel asked.

"Easy.  You have a schedule and a relationship with the dog, you should find a way to make it work. If you really loved him  you would."  Ok, guilt may not be my best tool, but I have learned a little how to wield it and who to inflict it on.  I am no where near so talented as my grandmother or my father, but I have learned at the masters' knees. "You're asking a lot of anyone who will live here."

I leaned down and scratched the dog behind his ears.  He sat and grinned at me.  

"He's good security," Daniel said.  "He doesn't like men."

Vic rubbed his fingers together and the dog came to him.  He rubbed his palms together and the dog sank to the ground and rolled on his back.  Vic commenced the belly rub.  

"Really?  He doesn't like men?" I asked.

"Suits.  Men in suits.  Men with attitudes," Daniel said.

I smiled at Vic.  "He'd hate Bozo wouldn't he?" I decided Grady's name didn't need to be used when something more descriptive could be used.  Bozo was one of the kinder names I've bestowed on my once true love.

"Probably eat him for lunch," Vic said.

"Is there a security system with the place?" I asked before Vic extolled on the lack of virtues of Grady.  "The neighborhood looks OK."

"Meh.  It is a neighborhood that's in transition.  It was great, got a little run down and is making a return. But XXX didn't want a security system as long as she had Louie." Daniel slapped the side of his leg, Louie immediately rolled back over and sauntered to Daniel's side.  "I get an electrician to install some better lighting by the front and back doors. But this guy here will hear anyone long before they get to the door."

Again with Louie.

"Sweets, if you need to think about security, maybe you should stay where you're currently living," Vic said. 

Before Vic could elaborate on the hours I work and the fact we weren't planning to live together, I decided it was time to make our way to the salon. "We need to get going," I said.  "We've got another appointment."

"What would it take to make you change  your mind?" he asked.

"I need to think about it," I said.  

"I'm serious," he said.

"So am I.  This place needs a lot of work, mostly elbow grease, but it's time consuming." And I wasn't volunteering to do the work so he could rent it to someone else for more money.  Been there and if I wasn't getting paid, no way I'd do it.

"Give me a list," he said.  "Or you can." He nodded toward Vic.

Vic said, "Ten minutes and we need to go, but I'll give you my list."

By the time Vic and Daniel had gone over Vic's list of must haves which had nothing to do with the fact I was going to be saddled with a dog in a bungalow I wasn't sure I wanted to live in, thirty minutes had passed and the mani-pedi appointment had been lost.  

"The floor plan should be more open.  The appliances in the kitchen should all be new," Vic said.  

I glared at Vic.  "Who is going to pay to move the walls? And most of them are load bearing," I said.  "I mean, it can be done, but it's a lot of work and the return wouldn't necessarily be worth it."  Besides, too open a floor plan and I wouldn't be able to hide dirty dishes in the kitchen if someone came for dinner.  He or she would know I don't clean as I cook. "I'd start with the wallpaper and the paint." I motioned to the ugly, faded pattern of sunflowers in the kitchen.  "Maybe even better carpet, but for a rental, the bones aren't too bad."

"Mirrors in the bedroom all get to stay, right?" Vic asked.  

"Only if I can put stickers on them that say something about the reflection not being life sized," I said.

"Ouch," Daniel said.  "Are you two sure you want to move in together?"

"Why would you think we want to live together?"

"You answer each other's questions, get along well, and both seem to like the same things," Daniel said.

"I've got someone at home," Vic said.  "I'm here for moral support and to encourage Bernie to take a chance."

"You know you like the place and Louie's already attached to you," Daniel said.

"Yeah, I'm sure he won't be much trouble."

Of course not.  Not at all.  "Is he allowed on the furniture?" I asked.  

"No.  Of course not."

"Will you pay his vet and license fees?"

"Sure."

Daniel reduced the rent again, told me he'd pay for the paint, and have the place power washed before I moved in.  I'd get stuck with ugly shag and get the fun of removing the wallpaper, but it would keep my hands from being too idle at night.

~~~
tbc

word count 1167