At the garage, there is a man named Jacob. He is...a jerk. Not much is really said about him, but one thing is for sure is that he likes to play around with people's buttons: screwing them over in return for his own amusement, just so he knows that he is up top. He is an embarrassment, but somehow HR still keeps him around - and nobody knows why he still stays. It really does scratch the back of a person's head from behind thinking. Man, when can that bitch just die already. But he mustn't die......because that'll be worse for the news station, and no one wants that to occur.
But on the bright side, Jacob has recently stopped his jokes (these includes Alice and Luna only affected) for reasons that he doesn't want to disclose. Some speculate that HR finally got the hit on him, others think the cops are on him and why wouldn't he be.... some folks even think that he has dealings with the gangs. However, all those options are fake. only Alice and Luna know of the real reason and evidence to back it up. So much for being a hot shot.
When the girls entered the garage, they were greeted with the jokester himself appearing right off the corner side of the wall. Jacob.
"Well well well, if it isn't my two best friends," Jacob said jokingly with a grin. "What can I do for yah?"
"Well, what you can do is fill in this list and we'll be on our merry way. Sound good," Alice said.
"Yeaahhhhh," Jacob said lazily and slowly. He then moved a bit closer and spoke, "But there is reason I might not do it, unless you guys are willing to pay up."
"OnThe19thOfJulyJacobHidAaaa - "
"Shhhsshhhhh," Jacob silenced Alice. "Shut up, shut up! Fine, FINE....I'll do it."
"Don't have to be so rough about it," Jacob tried to play it cool. Just like that Jacob surrendered immediately.
"Alright, alright, don't worry. No one's going to hurt you, buddy," Alice playfully said. And she could hear the growling disappointment of Jacob as he left off.
The girls then followed through to get what they needed: audio and video equipment, smartphones (they already have those), field recorders, cassette recorders, audio and video editing tools, broadcast production tools, media editors, playlist scheduler software and multi-viewer, and an equipment case or bag.
The equipment was usually kept in a secure location. Other than a plumbing leak that occurred on the third floor, the equipment and devices had to be moved downstairs effectively. And who did they think to give supervision over the equipment other than Jacob. Thankfully, Jacob is generous enough to comply - even if that means blackmailing him or otherwise.
"Here's your list of equipment," Jacob affirmed lining a trolley of stacked boxes and bags.
"Anything else...before you leave," he sounded goofy.
"No that is all," Alice said and took off with one of the trollies. Luna followed.
They exited the garage through an opening and went the other way to their van. Before they were out of sight, Jacob spoke.
"You know this isn't over!" He shouted at the girls.
"Yeah, whatever you say," Alice said. Ignoring his complacent attitude.
"Idiot."
Luna opened the rear of the van, and she put the equipment - boxes and bags - inside the van. Alice helped.
The very first thing they could do was packing their clothing and package; and so, they returned to the apartment to so just that.
Bbbffff! - the door burst like it was meant to be a battling ramp.
"Alright, get everything necessary for the trip!" Alice commanded.
"Shoes," Luna picked up and showed it.
"Yes," Alice agreed.
"Shirts and pants."
"Yes."
"Bras and a pair of panties."
"Yes, everything goes."
"How about our dog?1" Luna asked and looked down at their dog.
"We have a dog?" Alice asked confused, looked at Luna, then to the floor. "Oh yes, Ruffus, damn it, I forgot about him."
As much as the dog was the concern, Alice was walking around and thinking. She was thinking where would they put their dog at. They could take the dog with them but that didn't sound very comforting. What are their options? They gotta think of something. Fast.
"Don't worry buddy we won't leave you," Luna picked up Ruffus and kissed him on the head.
"Thats it. Pet Daycare," Luna said.
"Realllllyyyyyy?" Luna said. "The daycare Centre just around the next street cost like a hundred bucks."
"Yeah, I know," Alice said. "Let's go."
"I feel as if I'm the one whose paying."
"You're paying? Nooooooooo.......I'll help. Half," Alice said.
Shirts, shoes, pants, bras, jeans, make-up tools, toothbrush - whatever they fitted in their bags and suitcases, it was all the necessary luggage that they intended to carry. The bags were heavy to carry but a necessary need for the trip. The load was too much that they had to take stops mid walking. Ah, heavy. One would say. Regardless, they made it to the van and loaded it at the rear of the van where all the equipment from the news station was placed at. The bags had to be carefully slotted in as not to damage the equipment.
"Ah, that's done," Alice said suffocatingly.
Then it was to the Pet Daycare Centre.
"Hello and welcome. What can I do for you?" the lady at the reception desk kindly asked. She was a middle-aged woman with short, dark hair and a friendly smile, wearing a neat blue polo with the pet daycare center's logo embroidered on the chest.
"Yes," Alice said to the Receptionist, "We'd like to book our dog Ruffus."
"And how long would the stay be?" the receptionist asked, her pen poised over the form as she waited for their response.
A year," Alice said flatly.
"Uhm sorry, can you repeat, I thought I heard you say, 'a year,' right," the receptionist asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. She gave them a confused, almost apologetic look, clearly not expecting that kind of answer.
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"A year," Alice said one more time, the words lingering in the air as if she were making a definitive statement about the universe itself.
"J-just hold on, I'll be back," the lady receptionist stammered, her eyes flickering between Alice and Luna as she quickly stood up from behind the desk. She gave them an apologetic look before rushing away through a door at the back of the reception area.
Daycare businesses can vary widely depending on the size and location of the facility, as well as the type of services offered. There are a lot of factors that come into place when deciding the operation for certain tasks. The same reason could be said for the receptionist fleeing. For a person to look after their dog for a year, sounds crazy. Only those high above with too much on their hands can spend as much as they want. The rich and the wealthy.
Fortunately, Alice was ready for the moment, her preparedness matching that of someone accustomed to wealth. she slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a thick bundle of cash, neatly bound together by a plastic tie.
Raising suspicion, Luna was bewildered. "Alice, where did you get that money from?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. Her wide eyes locked onto the bulky stack of cash that Alice had just pulled from her pocket.
"What! Am I supposed to say I robbed the bank?" Alice shot back, her tone a mix of irritation and defensiveness. "No, this is my savings."
"What, you thought I always spend, spend, and nothing else?" Alice ridiculed, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she raised an eyebrow at Luna.
"Wwweeellllll, sort of," Alice said, drawing the word out, but she didn’t mean it in a bad way.
But as if the conversation could last longer, there was a shift in the air—the soft sound of footsteps echoing from behind the door at the reception area. Alice and Luna both turned in unison as they knew far too well that the receptionist was approaching.
"Just like I said, you pay a quarter, I pay 3/4. Deal?" Alice offered, the assuring glint in her eyes making it clear she wasn’t about to back down from the agreement.
"Sure, deal," Luna accepted with a smile on her face, her eyes gleaming with a mix of relief and satisfaction. She felt a little lighter now, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It was a rare moment—a reminder that Alice, despite her sometimes-chaotic nature, she did have her back when it counted. This wasn’t the first time, the second time, or even the third time that Alice had stepped up to help out with money, but it still felt significant.
"Sorry for the wait," the receptionist apologized for the wait.
The receptionist processed this for a moment, clearly thrown off by the sudden, extended timeframe. She cleared her throat, adjusting her posture. "Well, that’s... certainly not a problem. We can definitely accommodate him long-term, let me just pull up the details for you."
The receptionist quickly typed something into her computer and then looked back up at them. "Alright, we do have long-term boarding options. I’ll set up a plan that includes everything Ruffus would need—regular play sessions, grooming, and even special care if necessary. I can email you the details later, but if you’re sure about the timeframe, we’ll reserve a spot for him."
"And how much would the payment total?" Luna asked, her hands moved shakingly. She felt as if it were about to freeze.
"Let me see," the receptionist lady scanned the computer. "16,000 dollars."
"Well, that isn't much, now is it," Alice looked over to Luna and smiled brilliantly.
Fully paid, the paperwork completed, and the final goodbye said, Ruffus was left in the care of the daycare staff.
"Are you sure about this? I mean, I really feel like Ruffus might be worried," Luna said, stepping out of the daycare entrance and glancing back toward the door as if expecting to see the little dog peering through the window.
Alice didn’t seem bothered by Luna’s lingering doubts. "Look, I'm sure Ruffus is doing good. Trust me," she said, her tone reassuring but not overly soft.
They both climbed into the van, the weight of the moment settling over them for a brief second.
"I'm hungry. Want to eat?" Alice asked glancing over at Luna.
The van rolled down the quiet road until they reached a small food stand at the side of the highway, tucked between a couple of scattered trees and a worn-out sign that read "Big Al’s Roadside Eats." The place was nothing fancy—a wooden shack with a few picnic tables scattered around—but the smell of grilled meat, fresh-cut fries, and sizzling onions filled the air. It was exactly the kind of spot they were looking for—simple, unpretentious, and promising food that would hit the spot after the long day.
Luna pulled the van off the main road and parked on the side of the highway. It was a quiet spot, just enough to stretch out for a moment and take a breather. The air was cool. The late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the roadside. A few cars passed by, but the area was peaceful and calm.
Alice, without missing a beat, marched straight up to the food truck’s window, ready to place their order. Luna, still feeling the remnants of hunger and the pull of her stomach, hung back a little, surveying the area for a place to sit.
"Here you go," Alice said with a satisfied grin, carefully placing the tray of food down on the table.
She set the large cheeseburger in front of Luna. Perfectly grilled patty peeking out from between two toasted buns, stacked high with cheese, lettuce, pickles, and onions. Next to it, a tall chocolate milkshake topped with whipped cream and a cherry sat, glistening in the afternoon light.
"Cheers!" Both of them enjoyed a bite or two.
"Okay," Luna said, "You ready to leave."
"Ready, as I'll ever be," Alice confirmed.
Alice and Luna drove toward the seaport, the sound of the van's tires humming softly on the road. It was late afternoon, the sky painted in hues of orange and purple, as if nature was signaling that their journey was about to begin.