It's been days of me being cooped up in this loft, driving myself insane staring at the brick walls that were so interesting to me days ago. The only downside is, I've found out why Roofer is named Roofer. My first night, lying here awake, in an unfamiliar bed, suddenly there was this God awful racket. The dumb beast of a dog, was howling at my door, his incessant scratching adding to the noise.
I finally climbed out of my bed, and opened my door. Big mistake. This behemoth of a dog barreled through me, dragged a blanket off the window seat, and laid down like he owned the place. I immediately threw on a shirt, padded my bare feet down the cold ass steps and rapped on Agnes’
door.
The sight of her in her curlers and thick terry robe, rubbing sleep from her eyes, caused me to pause. There I was, bothering this little old lady over a dog.
"Ohhhhhh... I'm so sorry. Roofer got up there, didn't he?"
"He did, Agnes, and is now settled into my apartment like he owns the place. Can we get him out of there, please?"
"It's Momma A, Joel, and unfortunately not. He will just keep the rest of the tenants awake if we move him."
She rested her shoulder against the door frame, and continued.
"I don't understand it. Ever since I rescued him, he has to sleep in that apartment or he howls. It's why I don't usually rent it out."
Sighing in defeat, I rubbed my hands up and down my arms in an attempt to warm myself.
"So you're saying that every night I have to deal with him sleeping in my place?"
The uncomfortable feeling of missing TJ washed over me, and my head dropped.
"He's not my dog. What the hell do you want me to do?"
"Language, Joel. Just open the door, lay a blanket on the floor, and in the morning, let him out again. He won't bother you for anything else, I promise."
I thought, and thought some more before slowly nodding. It's just a thing. A dog sleeping. Nothing to get my boxers in a bunch over.
"Alright, Ag- umm Momma A. That's it. Sleep only. Nothing else."
Her brilliant grin, minus her teeth that I just noticed, made me smile on the inside.
"Okay. I'm going to bed, dog and all, so I will see you tomorrow, I'm assuming."
"Goodnight, Joel, and thank you."
I waved as she shut the door, and headed back up to my apartment. The snoring dog, sprawled on his blanket, caused me to shake my head. I climbed into the bed, shivering and trying to warm up, but damn his snoring! Pulling the pillow over my head, I tossed and turned until the light started shining over the horizon.
----------
Four days of this, along with being cooped up inside the loft due to a massive snow storm has me going crazy.
I've taken on the job of shoveling the snow for the house, and Momma A always feeds me some nasty cabbage soup that I choke down, and then head back up to my place to do nothing but think, and I can't think anymore.
Grabbing my new cell phone, I call Chuck, pacing as I wait for him to answer the phone, muttering to myself until I hear his curt greeting.
"Chuck, I'm going fucking insane. I need something to do. Anything."
He laughs and asks me if I want to help him unravel the mess Jason left, or if I needed a more physical kind of work?
Shuddering at the thought of dealing with the estate, I immediately blurt out, "Physical. Something in the evening or nights."
I hear him flip through papers and laugh.
"I have just the thing."
He rattles off an address that I quickly memorize, and continues.
"Uniform is black pants, preferably jeans and a black Henley. The rest will be given to you when you get there tomorrow at eight pm. Got it?"
The relief of getting out of there, away from the lack of sleep, and the dog that makes me miss TJ, calms my antsyness.
"No problemo... And Chuck? Thanks."
"No worries, man. Just be there with what you can muster of a smile. Talk soon, Joel."
He hangs up, before I can get another word in, and I lay on my bed, beer in hand. Turning on NESN, I see there is a Bruins game starting.
Realizing I missed Boston sports, I settle down, and just lose myself in the thoughtless enjoyment of it.
---TBC---
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