Dog Days

I wish I remember the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday. My memory picks up on Thursday. You know what's ridiculous? I'm of bigger help to my German class than the professor. I wrote out a subject/direct object chart for der, die, das, and plural die on the, it, a, and these forms and my whole row got more out of that than they got out of the professor this entire semester. So during the break, I asked him if I could write the chart on the chalkboard for the rest of the class. My arm got so tired so quick.

Not soon enough, we were finally let out of class. I am so bored in that class right now, it's not even funny. Fortunately for me, I got to go straight to work.

Jamie asked me if I could come in the following morning to give Jess an extra hand. I think we had over a dozen dogs coming in. I told her I could. And then I think she left me and Tori to our own devices. I love how independent this job is. There were, like, eight dogs left. Needless to say, I had a lot of time. I guess I could have swept and mopped and shit, but I didn't want to. Besides, Tori wanted company, and I like her. We talked a lot about me and Abbi. How we met is one of the main things I remember. We also talked a bit about how I pay for tuition, books, gas, but not rent or car insurance. Tori thinks I'm nuts for paying for school myself.

We would have gotten out on time, but we found Spooky - the bird - spilled her water and I needed to fix it.

As soon as I got out of there, I made my way to Classic. Firstly, I was hungry and wanted food. I figured as long as I made my own pizza, Wes wouldn't mind. Secondly, and more importantly, Abbi was working. We don't get to see each other as much now that we both have school.

I helped with the mini-rush they got when I walked in. I had my hat, so I hip-bumped Abbi aside and topped a pizza or two. Once the peoples' orders were done, I slapped out and topped my very own BBQ chicken-half western pizza. As I waited for the pizza to go through, I proceeded to hang out. It's amazing how much better Classic is when you're not on the clock.

Abbi was given the order to leave just as I grabbed my first slice. So I offered the pizza to Kevin, whom took three slices of the BBQ chicken, and followed Abbi out the door. I planned on following her home as well, but that plan was modified. Vander didn't want to start up again. Since my jumper cables were still out of commission from the last time I jumped him, we had to wait around for Matt or Jess to show up and provide them. I drove home real quick and grabbed the fingerless gloves I (practiced on) finished the past couple days for her mom as an appeasement gift. When I got back to Classic, we tried jumping Abbi's car with Catelynn's, but he locked up. Eventually, maybe an hour later, we gave up, saran-wrapped Abbi's open window, and I drove her home.

Abbi-mom-Andrea and Tyler left to go check on Abbi's car when we got there and told them what happened. I hung around for a bit. I cleaned the litter box while Abbi took a shower and lounged a bit around her room as she did homework. Eventually we decided I should leave before Abbi-mom-Andrea and Tyler got back. As soon as I got home, I crashed. To wake up at six to get to work.

Jess wanted small dogs, so I got to take care of the big dogs. I was more than fine with that. Apparently I like the big dogs a lot better.

The play time list wasn't that bad, especially for two people, but as dogs slowly came in, the list expanded by quite a lot. I feel like I got a generous portion of work done during my shift.

Around ten, Tori and I decided we wanted food, so we started plotting a breakfast/lunch run. We pulled Jess into the plan, and soon after the three groomers as well. I was the lucky one to go on the run. I went to Taco Bell for me, Stacy, and Melissa. I then found my way over to Panera - getting stopped at every light - for Jess, Tori, and Amy.

Tori, I guess, was freaking out because I was gone for so long. Not my fault. Ann Arbor traffic sucks.

Jess took her break once I got back. So once I basically finished my food - giving one taco away to Tori - I worked with the dogs alone. I got as many play times as I could get done. I brought a couple dogs back. But I couldn't clean the one or two dirty kennels. Someone brought in a standard Schnauzer in and I instantly fell in love. She's a fourteen year-old girl named Casey. She's so sweet. I want her. I really want her.

I left later than I really needed to. Planning out the rest of my time, I went to Classic first to get my paycheck. I didn't realize they docked my pay until I got to the bank. I was pissed. I told Wes that I would cover for Jake Friday and Saturday, but after seeing I only got paid $7.40, I didn't even want to do that. I called Ralph and asked if he could find someone to cover for me earlier, and even though that turned up with naught, I didn't go in. I'm helping those fuckers out, and I guess Ralph doesn't appreciate how much I hate it there, how much I can be doing other things, and how much I do for that shit hole.

In the time I would have been working, I spent it with Abbi. After school, she came over. I don't remember what order we did anything in. I think I followed Abbi to Marc's in case we dropped off her car that day first. Her and Abbi-mom-Andrea made an appointment. Abbi then went to Classic to pick up her pay check, I went to the post office to get a money order deposit for a three-hole carrier I'm getting at the Marshall show. To avoid in-town traffic, I took Dexter-Chelsea to the back way home. When I showed up at home, Abbi was already there and struggling to turn Vander off. She eventually succeeded.

Mom told me I needed to babysit Ben. Abbi needed to stop at home. We tried to take Vander to her house, but he wouldn't start up. So we took Zip.

I did the litterbox again while Abbi did the dishes. Ben bounced between me, the cats, and Abbi, When I finished, I showed Ben Doopey - whom bowled the kid over - and the outside cats. I also showed him Missy and asked if it was weird to see indoor cats. Snicks and Streaks got kicked out a long time ago.

Chores done, Abbi grabbed her softball stuff and we went back home. Her home is now my home. She belongs there more.

We played catch for a while. Abbi laughed at my glove that I've had since I played softball as a kid. It's small. But I know how to use it. I've had it for over a decade. At first, I missed every single ball she threw and had to run after them all. After a while, I finally had it under control. I haven't played catch with a softball since I played so long ago. It felt good to still be able to catch. It's been so long. If my glove wasn't so small, I would have been able to catch a lot of the balls I just dropped. For no apparent reason.

Later, we switched to field hockey. I kind of taught Abbi some of the basics. How to dribble, how to pass, and how to receive. I went over the turn-overs I can remember off the top of my head: high-sticking, dangerous-sticking, feet, wrong side of the stick, third party. We chased each other up and down the back yard a couple of times, playing keep away. I usually got the ball from her, but that was the first time she's properly handled a stick and I played defense for two years. Getting the ball is my job.

I missed field hockey so much, it's not even funny. Unfortunately, I'm so out of shape, it's not cool at all. Although a part of me thinks that it is my anemia coming back. I couldn't get my breath back for the life of me, and I barely did anything.

With me unable to breathe, Abbi got out her bat and hit a softball back and forth across the lawn. I watched form the swings a while, just grinning. It was nice watching her play. She enjoyed it so much. And I got to admire her and the way she moves the entire time. I've been telling her lately about those thoughts in my head. I find her so sexy. I really, really do.

I joined her after a couple times, but with my stick and balls. I needed to work on my drive. My drive and my reverse pulls were my strengths in the game. But I really struggle with my drive, too. I wiff it so much. Friday was no different. Well, it was worse. I got so frustrated with myself, but when I did hit the ball, it didn't feel bad. They definitely weren't my best. Not even close. Then again, it's been two years.

Friday was fun. Really fun. I want to do that again.

For some reason, I don't remember Friday night or Saturday. I know I took Abbi to work, dropped her off, and didn't go in.

Wait. Maybe everything sports I explained was Saturday. I have no fucking idea.

But I know Nate saw me come and go Saturday from work because he stared at me the entire minute I was there, and so did Wes. I wasn't going in.

While Abbi was at work, I tried working on my physics homework, but I couldn't do it.

Yeah, sport stuff was on Saturday. Because I had such a good day until physics. Friday after setting up the appointment, Abbi and I ran her errands.

Physics made me cry. I gave up on it so hard. I just don't understand it. At all.

Not soon enough, Abbi told me she was almost done at work. I quickly drove my ass over there, walked in the front door to show her I was there, and asked Kayla how pissed Wes was at me. I didn't really care; I was curious. She rounded on me and told me she was pissed at me. She was a person short last Saturday, and then this Saturday. I didn't expect such a reaction from her. It didn't even look that busy, and Abbi was getting out early. Taken aback, I shot half my reasoning at her. I told her they cut back my pay, showing me they obviously didn't appreciate my help, so I didn't come in. I didn't appreciate their move. I left the building, on the verge of tears again, before Kayla had a chance to reply.

Once again, Nate was staring at me intently the time I spent on the premises. I wanna know why.

When Abbi joined me in Zip, we didn't really say anything. She grabbed my hand, and that's what I needed. As soon as I pulled onto Mast, I silently cried and drove. Once I was sure my voice wouldn't betray my struggle, I finally asked Abbi about work.

We didn't spend a whole lot of time at Abbi's. I talked with Tyler and Abbi-mom-Andrea for a while as Abbi gathered stuff to bring to my house. Abbi-mom-Andrea pretty much told Abbi to stay the night. We weren't going to argue.

I had to work all day Sunday. Basically alone. Jamie showed up for office hours and helped clean a couple kennels. For the most part, I did play time after play time. I talked out loud to nearly every dog. I talked about the quilt I'm building for Abbi to one of the dogs. I listed off variant color patterns I can use. I talked to one of the dogs about Abbi. I talked to one of the dogs about a jam CD I wanted to build. A few dogs got to listen to music with me. And the cats.

The day doesn't get busy until the afternoon shift. Or maybe because I realized how much more I had to do by then. Because I did taken an hour and a half break. I didn't know for sure if I'm allowed to do so when I'm at the kennel alone, but I was hungry. And when I did get back, I realized I needed to go back to where I just was and buy pads at Target. First time I ever bought my own. And I got the wrong ones. The company advertises their product poorly.

In the last hour, I still had to let the dogs out, prepare breakfasts, water the plants, and a couple other odd jobs. Oh - and clean two kennels. I was rushing so bad. I didn't clock until ten after. I did get twelve and a quarter hours, though.

I went home and had enough time to eat dinner and start changing the bulb that burn out in my room light.

[CONTINUED THROUGH NEXT JOURNAL]