Hey guys :D New story, this is an idea I couldn't get out of my head for a very long time, so I'm just putting it out there and seeing where it goes :) It's not cliche at all, and I hope you guys enjoy it :)

Also, dedicated to Alice for being the first person with whom I share my writing ideas :)

“MY ROSEBUSHES! GEORGE! GEORGE DO SOMETHING! IT’S THAT BLOODY DOG AGAIN! HE’S AT MY ROSEBUSHES! GET HIM OUT OF OUR BACKYARD OR I WILL SHOOT THAT DOG I SWEAR!”

I giggled while I brushed. What a perfect way to start the first day of summer vacations.

Unlike me, Mum was not a morning person. Monday mornings especially, were the bane of her existence. And this particular Monday morning, the neighbors’ dog had wandered into our backyard again and was peeing all over her precious rosebushes.

You never touched Mum’s rosebushes. You could trash the entire house, burn the grass in the backyard, shit in the hall on the carpet, but you never touched the rosebushes.

“WHERE IS THE RIFLE, GEORGE?! WHERE IS IT?! GIVE ME THE RIFLE RIGHT NOW I’M GOING TO BLOW THAT BITCH’S SLOBBERING, PANTING, HEAD OFF!”

While I went down the stairs for breakfast I could hear Dad’s soothing voice trying to calm Mum and explain to her that the Gardiner’s pet was not a bitch, but a dog.

 “One day, I’m going to go over to the Gardiners’ and have a chat with them about tying their bloody dog up.” She said as she took the seat next to Dad.

“You know Ma, they say pee is actually manure for the plants.” I smirked while eating.

Dad had long gone and picked up Bruno the dog and returned him to the Gardiners next door and Mum had finally calmed down. She was cooking up breakfast for us.

“That dog is evil. His pee is evil, and God knows how many evil things he must have transferred to my poor rosebushes.” I swear her voice almost cracked as she spoke.

I kept quiet, not wanting to point out the fact that Mum thought all dogs were evil.

You ever have that one thing that you’re truly afraid of, but you pretend like you’re not? Maybe you just shun that thing. Maybe you pretend like you hate that thing or person so that you don’t have to associate with it.

For Mum, that thing was the Gardiners’ dog. She was terrified of that fellow. She covered up her fear of dogs with a cloak of hatred so that to the outsider, it would look like Mum hated dogs when, in fact, she was just plain scared of them.

We all knew she’d never go over to the Gardiners’ to tell them to tie up their dog, because the first person that greeted you at the door was Bruno, and Mum was terrified of dogs, specially enthusiastic ones like Bruno who had no idea about the concept of personal space. He jumped, wagged his tail, and demanded the attention of everyone who ever stepped into that house. You either loved the dog, or you didn’t go over, simple. Mum took the latter option. It wasn’t like she hated the Gardiners; they were actually really nice people. Their carelessness just annoyed her sometimes.

Dad and I shared an amused look and he winked at me across the table as Mum muttered something about that Gardiner dog being Satan’s spawn.

The doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” I volunteered, hopping off the table and going to the door.

“I’m so sorry!” Was the first thing Mrs. Gardiner said, before I could even fully open the door. When I did open it fully, she enveloped me in a bear hug.

I think the lack of information about personal space ran in the family.

After successfully cutting off my blood circulation for three minutes, she released me and thrust a box into my hands. It was warm.

“Today’s baking day!” She clapped her hands enthusiastically, and I flinched from the loudness of her voice.

I pried open the lid, the aroma reaching me two minutes before the sight.

Chocolate chip cookies. Specifically, Mrs. Gardiner’s chocolate chip cookies- my weakness.

“Thank you, Mrs. Gardiner!” I said happily, already munching on the chocolate chip cookies.

“Your mum home, kid?” She asked me.

“I think you must’ve heard her screams next door too.” I chuckled, leading her into the kitchen.

“Martha!”

“Ellen.” My mum greeted her sullenly.

“I really am sorry about today morning! We’ll start tying him up or something, now.” Mrs. Gardiner said. “It’s just that he likes to roam freely around, and a leash is so constricting for the poor thing!” She said, getting emotional.

“Maybe he needs a little constriction.” Mum muttered under her breath.

“What was that? Oh never mind. I just baked some cookies, so I popped over to give you guys a box. Peace offering?” She said and turned to me and motioned to the box.

I looked down at it. There were only about ten cookies remaining; I’d eaten the rest already.

Well shit.

Everyone turned to me, and the sound of me chomping on the cookie resonated around the otherwise silent room as I frowned.

Ellen Gardiner found that exceedingly funny.

“Well looks like you loved them, eh? I’ll be getting you another box later! See you guys around.” She patted my head and was out.

“You still want the rest of that pancake?” Dad said amusedly, pointing to my plate.

“Don’t touch my pancake!” I rushed to my food’s rescue as Dad’s hand descended to pick it up and molest it with his mouth.

“Honey, I know you’re good looking right now, but you might want to go easy on the food, otherwise you won’t stay like that.” He chuckled, withdrawing his hand.

“I don’t care. I will always have food by my side, even if the rest of the world leaves me. My pancakes won’t judge me; they will just love me unconditionally.” I said emotionally, tucking into the last pancake.

Dad snickered as he mumbled something about the fact that no one would love the person who eats them. I ignored him.

Mrs. Gardiner generally kept her word, I realized that afternoon. Apart from the fact that she always promised us she’d tie up Bruno- that was one promise she never kept.

That afternoon after Mum and Dad had gone off to work, I reclined on the sofa, watching old Glee reruns. I sang along as Finn serenaded Rachel. My singing was cut off by the doorbell. Still humming under my breath, I threw the door open to be faced by my neighbor.

Grinning, Mrs. Gardiner held up another tin of the things I dream about at night- her chocolate chip cookies. I pounced on them and immediately cracked open the tin, stuffing one in my mouth, before I remembered my manners and invited her in.

When I’d swallowed the cookie and my mouth wasn’t full of chocolate, I asked her if I could get her something.

“Well, no, but there is something I’d want you to do for me.” She said, and I nodded so she continued. “I need you to housekeep for me this vacation. Neil and I were thinking of going away to Europe for a little honeymooning, you know? We’ll need someone to check up on the house now and then, and you’re our neighbor, so it wouldn’t be much of a problem for you. We’ll pay you, of course.”

My eyes widened a little- this would’ve been my first job, so I was a little bit excited, but housekeeping was a major undertaking!

I thought about it carefully. Mum and Dad wouldn’t mind, it wasn’t that big a job because it was just next door and all I had to do was just check up on the house now and then- shouldn’t be tough at all.

“I think I’ll do it.” I smiled. “Won’t be a problem at all.”

“That’s perfect!” She rose from her chair and clapped like a child. Going to our window, she yelled out, “Neil! Get the bags, we’re good to go!”

Wait, she’s leaving right now?!

Looking at my confused face, she colored a little and said, “Yes, it was a little last minute, but come with me! I’ll show you where everything is!”

And so saying, she dragged me out of my own house, without even giving me a chance to lock it.

After showing me where the keys and all the basic things were, she went out to help Mr. Gardiner with the bags. They’d packed quite a lot.

I looked out them from the door, smiling at how unorganized yet cute they were.

“So I heard you’re housekeeping for us.” A voice behind me said, almost sneering.

I recognized the voice immediately.

Ugh, it’s him!

Closing my eyes, I controlled my temper.

“Good to see you too, asshole.” I turned and glared at the not too unattractive form of Jack Gardiner.

Jack was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and my worst nightmare. He had a mental condition which caused him to flirt with anything that had two legs and breasts. Sadly, I fell under that category.

How such a sweet, cute couple could make such an annoying baby was beyond my understanding. I guess sometimes his parents’ weirdness rubbed off on him.

“Always good to see you too, babe.” He smirked and came closer, making a move to hug me.

I moved away, my mouth twisting in annoyance. “I’m not your babe.”

“Jack, honey! Stop troubling the poor girl! She’s just starting off, don’t scare her away already!” Mrs. Gardiner scolded.

"Yeah, cause all the trouble after we’ve left.” Mr. Gardiner grinned and thumped his son’s back.

“I’m just kidding! You be nice to her, okay Jackie?” He added, looking at my aghast face.

“Wait, you’re staying back?” I asked, alternating my gaze between Jack and Mr. Gardiner.

“Of course! Didn’t my wife tell you? Jack, Tracy and Bruno are staying back. Can’t have much of a honeymoon with kids and the dog around, can ya?” He winked naughtily and I shuddered at the implications of what he just said.

“I don’t think they’ll be too much trouble. Tracy’s a good kid and Jack can manage with her. If Bruno gives you trouble, you have full permission to smack him.”

“Neil, we better get going. Gosh, I’m so excited!” Mrs. Gardiner called from the car.

I didn’t have any time to react as Mr. Gardiner gave me a small hug, bid us farewell, and jumped into the car.

“Enjoy yourselves!” He said, waving to us.

And then, he was off. I’d just started off on my first job ever.

“How long are they going for, again?” I asked Jack.

“Two months.” He grinned. “We have two whole months to do whatever we want to, and you have open access to my room, you lucky girl!” He winked at me.

I shuddered again. I doubted I’d be enjoying this summer.