The Spare Room

“No mom please! I had plans tomorrow night with my girlfriend.” I begged to my mom.

“I’m sorry Amanda but I promised Jennifer and Chris I would watch Fito, their dog, tomorrow night and I got called into work tomorrow night and can’t watch him, so you need to. Trust me it will be easy. He will probably just sit with you while you watch TV the entire time and you’ll make 40 bucks. You can take Sarah to a nice dinner with that type of money. And, as a 19-year-old student, I’m sure you could use 40 bucks right now.”

She did have a point. I was kind of broke, so I reluctantly agreed.

“Oh, thank you honey. Be at their house at 6:15.”

“Ok. I’ll go out with my girlfriend tonight then,” and I turned and walked out the door and texted my girlfriend.

—The Next Day 6:15 pm—

I walked up the concrete steps to the big house in front of me and lightly knocked on the big oak door.

Jennifer answered the door.

“Hello Amanda. Thank you so much for coming. We wouldn’t have been able to find another dog sitter on such short notice, so we really appreciate you coming.”

“Yeah no worries. Happy to help.”

“Well my husband Chris isn’t ready yet so why don’t we get to know each other?”

“Oh, ok sure.”

“So, you’re 19, right? A student?”

“Yeah I go to Bachnor’s Community College. I’m a second year there.”

“Nice.”

“Jennifer, I need help up here and hurry up!” I heard Chris yell from upstairs.

I heard her sigh deeply. “Alright I’m coming!” and she disappeared upstairs.

I just sat there in shock of how he just treated her. Maybe they do need a night out to help get things back to the way they were.

She came back downstairs and sat back down next to me.

“Sorry about that. Where were we?”

“I’m sorry but I have to ask is everything ok between you two?”

“Not really. Ever since Chris got a new job things have been stressful around here so Chris resorted to drinking, which means he gets drunk every night and that means no sex and no sleep for me because I can’t sleep if I’m horny so I have to masturbate to fall asleep. I can’t drink because someone has to be sober in this relationship. So, I’m just so tired. I haven’t slept with my husband for the past 6 months and I try to release myself but it’s just not the same. I just hope tonight he won’t get drunk. He made me a promise, but I should know by now he breaks promises a lot. Sorry to dump all of this on you but I have no one else sober to talk to.”

“Well, if you ever need someone, I’m always here. Just know that.” I said putting my hand on her shoulder.

“Oh my gosh, thank you Amanda. I might just take you up on that.” And she gave me a hug.

Chris then came downstairs. “Hey Amanda. Good to see you again! Thank you for doing this for us. You ready to go honey?”

“Yep.