I glance behind me. ‘That’s Pee Wee. Gran started a Rent-A-Dog initiative where we rent the dogs to customers who can loll outside with them and read in the sunshine. We donate that money to the shelter to help care for the other dogs they rescue. It’s proven really popular and we’ve raised a great amount of money for them.’
‘Your gran sounds like a great lady.’
Just as I’m about to answer, I see Pee Wee on screen, cocking his leg about to do what he does best and pee on the books. ‘Sorry, one sec!’How mortifying!‘Pee Wee, no!’ I admonish him as I scoop him into my arms and take him outside. What must Jerry think? This is a professional call and I’ve got a pooch peeing behind me!
When I return, red-faced, I find my laptop turned the other way and a noxious scent that can only mean one thing – oh God I hope it wasn’t audible. I quickly turn the screen back to face me and pretend everything is A-OK. ‘Sorry about that, Jerry. Pee Wee is still learning his manners.’
Jerry’s laughing, a deep chortle, and I’m guessing that means he heard Pork Chop. ‘While you were gone another dog appeared, a brindle fella and let off a sound so loud your laptop did a one-eighty.’
I’m dead.Kill me.‘Oh, my apologies. That’s, erm, Pork Chop. He’s got a few issues with his—’ Is this interview etiquette, talking about a dog’s digestive upset? ‘—verbosity.’
It can’t get any worse, so I cough and clear my throat, ready to wow him with my brilliance when Zeus appears and jumps into my lap, sending me sprawling backwards. The peacock chair tips over and we go flying. I hate to think of the angle Jerry’s got on screen as we tumble backwards arm, legs, paws and tail a tangle.
Jerry is a mess of laughter, which is sweet and all, but the chaos surrounding me doesn’t exactly show me in my best light. All I need now is Houdini …
I’ve done it again, summoned him with my mind! I stand, dust myself off and right the peacock chair. Houdini sticks his head up to the camera, his mouth wide with a wallet stuffed with euros.
‘Whoisthat?’ Jerry sputters, his eyes watering from laughter. I’m not quite sure how to gain control. I right the peacock chair and sit, patting down my hair and act as if this is just another day in paradise. ‘Is that a wallet in his mouth?’
‘Ah, that’s Houdini. He’s got a slight issue with stealing wallets, purses, phones and the like. We’re working on it but it’s proving to be quite difficult. We still haven’t found where he stashes the cash.’
Sir Spud doesn’t want to be left out and enters the frame, before dramatically rolling over, letting out a bloodcurdling howl and playing dead.
‘Is that fluffy fella OK?’ Jerry asks.
‘That’s Sir Spud. He’s playing dead for a treat. Ruled by his belly, that one.’
The dogs chase each other and bark up a storm. I can’t think straight while they’re yapping and dodging and doing circles around my chair. Little Lily enters the fray and yaps once, and they all go quiet. What on earth? Lily stares them down with a beady eye as if warning them to behave. Is she their leader? Well there you go! I’m grateful for the quiet and rush to fix this interview.
‘As you can see we’ve got an eclectic mix of personalities here and …’
He cuts me off. ‘You’ve certainly got your hands full there, Evie.’ Jerry’s screen stutters as if he’s picked up his laptop and is moving. Oh no, has he lost interest because of the chaos here?
Jerry walks down a hallway into a large sunroom. ‘Meet my unruly bunch.’ He slides open a door and a group of canines go berserk, barking and jumping, vying for this attention. ‘We’ve got Sir Mix-A-Lot here, who would take on Pork Chop for breaking the sound barrier. Then there’s Jumanji, who rules the jungle. Little Kitty who meows like a cat but is in fact a dog. And Buster, who likes to bust stuff up because he’s the biggest. All rescues who have made their way into my heart.’
I laugh as I watch them interact with him. Maybe this hasn’t been an unmitigated disaster? ‘They’re gorgeous.’ And just like the gang of six, they go crazy in front of the camera, trying to get my attention.
‘They’re a handful but I wouldn’t have it any other way.’ He sits at an outdoor table and Little Kitty, the smallest dog I’ve ever seen, jumps up on Jerry’s lap. ‘So, Evie, tell me about what you’re looking for?’
Jerry has a realness to him, an open and honest face. Already I feel secure with him. Anyone who adores dogs like we do must be a good person. ‘I’ve loved books since my gran introduced me to fairy tales, and that love has never waned. My passion is finding those hidden gems – books that haven’t made all the bestseller lists, that haven’t been truly discovered yet – and turning them into films. There’s so many beautiful stories that get overlooked for various reasons: lack of marketing, publicity and the likes. I want to share them with the world. There’s a lot to be said for those quiet tomes, those forgotten stories that may shine the brightest if given the chance.’
‘I agree.’
He does?
‘Let me tell you a bit about the way I run things here, and if you like the sound of it, the job is yours.’
It’s hard to keep cool but I manage it as Jerry enlightens me on his company and the way in which they work. The best part, my role is mostly autonomous!
‘So what do you say, Evie?’
‘I say when do I start?’
And it’s as easy as that. There’s an energy about Jerry when he talks about books that mirrors my own. We’re going to get on just fine. Once I end the call I text Gene and thank him for finding me the perfect job.
He replies:
You deserve it. Now go find those beauties so I’ve got something to watch. G
