“You’re not a wall street banker,” Leo says.
Ethan walks in blowing on a hot cup of coffee. He stops when he sees me. “What are you wearing?”
“It’s for my TV interview with the local news,” I say, running my hands awkwardly down my dress slacks. “That will be on TV. It’s for TV,” I say, hoping the third time will drill it through their heads. “I should be all professional and shit.”
“Nah,” Ethan says, taking a sip of coffee. “You need to dress like yourself. They want you to show them around the facility, which is hot and sweaty territory. You’re gonna get pit sweat right through that cute little shirt.”
I groan. Maybe he’s right. “So what should I wear?”
“Ask your girlfriend,” Max says, winking at me from his lounged position on the couch.
“She’s here?” I look out the window, and sure enough, her car is here. I knew she was stopping by for last minute barn preparations but didn’t think it would be until later.
“He admits it!” Max says, pointing at me.
“Shut up. She’s not my girlfriend.”
The guys collectively whoop and holler in the most annoying way possible. If Owen weren’t at college right now, he’d surely be joining in. “You’re all idiots,” I say as I go back upstairs to change. I kick off the pants and put on tan BDUs and an Alden K9 T-shirt, fresh from the package. Most of my shirts are worn and holey so this one looks better.
No one says anything when I walk downstairs this time, and I don’t ask their opinion. They don’t have to be on TV today. They don’t have the stress of this whole thing on their shoulders. Outside, the sun shines with a bright summer glow, having dried up all the rain. Our grass is a little tall, but no one’s had time to mow it since the yard was drying out. I check on Rex, who’s doing great in his newly renovated kennel.
When the local news arrives, the sight of their large box van sends a shiver of nervous energy through me. Luckily, this isn’t live. It’ll be filmed and then edited down to a brief news story.If I totally screw up and look like an idiot, hopefully they’ll have some mercy on me in the editing room.
Joan Sanders, local news reporter, steps out of the van wearing a massive smile with even bigger, perfectly white teeth. “Hi there,” she says, shaking my hand. “We’re so excited to be here today. This is Manny, my camera guy.”
Manny nods while hoisting a massive camera out of the van. Joan is a total professional. She walks me through her idea for the segment, which will focus on my past experience as a K9 handler, our parents leaving us the property, and how all five brothers joined together to create a business catering to dogs.
“Then of course we’ll do the pièce de résistance,” she says, holding up her hands. “Where is that cutie pie I’ve heard about?”
I take her to meet Rex, who is cautious but on his best behavior as he meets the two new strangers. I think he knows they’re just here to watch and aren’t interested in adopting him. He hasn’t been nearly as welcoming with the people who did come here for that purpose.
After showing Joan around the property, she falls in love with the barn and the giant oak tree in the back. “Both places would be fantastic for our interview. Manny, which one has better lighting?”
“The tree,” he says. Internally, I relax. Charlotte is in the barn and it’s kind of unorganized with tables and chairs and stuff.
We head out to the tree and the interview goes surprisingly well. Joan doesn’t ask any confusing questions, and everything flows smoothly. Out here in the sunshine on the land I grew up on, I can calmly talk about my passion of working with dogs and saving retired working dogs. We even get Ranger out and take some pictures and clips of him and me hanging out. About an hour later, Joan checks her iPad and then looks up at me and smiles. “I think we’re ready for the retired dog.”
“Is it okay with you both if I don’t put him on a leash?” I ask, having painful flashbacks of that first day Charlotte met Rex. “He’s a lot better off leash.”
Manny and Joan agree, and I send Charlotte a quick text to let her know Rex will be roaming free. She responds with a thumbs up emoji.
Things really can change a lot in two weeks.
Our news guests oooh and ahh over how handsome and well-behaved Rex is. I let him out of the kennel and we have plans to walk back to the oak tree, but Rex has other plans. He takes off running toward the barn. Manny pans the camera to film the whole thing.
“Rex!” I call out. “Blieb!”
Rex skids to a stop, his body obeying the command out of habit but you can tell he doesn’t want to listen. His tail wags so fast it’s basically a helicopter blade, threatening to lift him off the grass. He whines and whimpers in that classic German Shepherd way, desperately looking back at me to give him permission to go inside the barn.
“No sir,” I say. “We’re going to the tree.” I point in that direction. He sits.
Charlotte walks out of the barn. “What’s going on?” she asks, eyes widening when she sees Joan and Manny. She shrinks back. “Are you filming? Sorry!”
“You’re fine!” Joan says. “I’m Joan Sanders, Houston News. It’s so nice to meet you.”
Still wide-eyed, Charlotte shakes her hand and looks at me. “Are they filming?”
“Yes,” Manny answers. “But we film everything and cut it down in post.”
