Dogsitting (Part 3)

If you haven't read the first two parts, go do so. No seriously.

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The sun somehow managed to come in full blast through the curtain-less windows despite their dirty coating. Josh glanced at the clock: only ten til six. He groaned and rolled over, pulling the covers over his head. He could not have spent a more uncomfortable night. The matress was hard and lumpy, the room was hot, and the covers smelled like dog breath. Even now he felt uncomfortable. His feet felt pinned down beneath the heavy blanket. As if someone were pressing on them. Someone with paws.

As he looked up into the face of Charlie, there was a sudden general concurrance that getting on the bed was the best way to wake him up. Josh was pinned beneath the weight of the four dogs.

"Fine lay on me. See how much good it will do you. I'm not getting up. I don't have to obey you."

This was answered in a simple, curt, and extremely effective response: Max bit his leg. Hard. Screaming with pain, Josh bolted from the bed. He stared in shock as the dogs raced downstairs to breakfast.

"Un-fucking-believable." Grumbling as he filled their dishes one by one, Josh turned to see his grandfather on the stairs.

"What, not dressed yet? Hurry up, you'll need to start their walks soon before it gets too hot." Before Josh could even whine the old man was back up the stairs and out of sight. The dogs looked back at him with interest and bemusement as if saying, "Yeah Hurry up!"

It was almost ten when he finished taking Max on his walk. Max was always last because he needed the most attention. As Josh filled two plastic baby pools with water, his great grandfather came out of the house with paint buckets.

"What are those for?" Josh asked stupidly.

"Didn't you read that list? You're painting the house and washing the windows today. Now don't give me that look, I don't expect you to finish today. But you should try to get at least one coat up."

"What are you going to be doing?"

"Drinking lemonade and distracting the dogs. Give that second one a bit more water; it's almost 85 degrees out here."

"Tell me about it."