After I Started Working at a Pet Kindergarten - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The second stop was an old apartment complex.

The dog was named Rice.

Apparently, a son had worried that his elderly parents were lonely and decided to buy them a little dog for company. Unfortunately, he hadn’t done his homework and came home with… a Bluetick Coonhound.

Also known as a moldy-eared dog.

Or the city’s loudspeaker.

From the moment his eyes opened, it was arooo this and arooo that.

The old couple couldn’t endure the torture, but they couldn’t bear to give him away either. Once they did some proper research, they enrolled him in the pet kindergarten. He was picked up every morning and brought home every afternoon. After playing all day, he returned so obedient and exhausted that their problems vanished.

I parked downstairs and reminded Soda, “Wait nicely in the van, okay?”

Soda grinned. [Go ahead, Miss Teacher. Dog will wait right here. That moldy dog is howling again, Miss Teacher. He’s so noisy. Dog doesn’t want to sit next to him today.]

He wasn’t exaggerating. The moment I stepped out, I heard a deafening arooo.

Thank goodness most of the residents here were elderly and woke early. Otherwise, Rice would have driven them mad.

I hurried upstairs. A wonderfully kind-looking grandmother opened the door.

“Are you the new teacher?”

I nodded. “Yes, Grandma.”

As she put Rice’s collar on, she carefully explained his habits and allergies, but she still hesitated to hand him over.

Rice kept urging her on. [That’s enough, Grandma! Stop talking, Grandma! Dog has to go eat, Grandma! If Dog is late, there won’t be any food left!]

[Food, food, delicious dog food.]

I smiled. “Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll take good care of Rice.”

Rice let out another arooo.

Only then did she give me the leash. At the same time, she grabbed a handful of candy from the entryway cabinet and pressed it into my hand.

“Here, have some. My son brought it back from abroad. It’s very sweet.”

I paused before accepting it. “Thank you, Grandma.”

On the way downstairs, I unwrapped a piece and put it in my mouth.

It really was sweet.

The sight of me eating made Rice howl and leap at me.

[What are you eating? Dog wants some too! You can’t keep it all to yourself.]

I covered my pocket and stroked his head. “Dogs can’t eat candy. Let’s get in the van and go have some delicious dog food at kindergarten.”

His grandmother had warned me: he was greedy. Purely, spectacularly greedy. His portions had to be controlled, or he would demolish everything at once.

[Then hurry! We can’t let Greedy Dog eat it all!]

“Greedy Dog” was Dad’s Golden Retriever, who spent every day carrying a bowl around and stealing the other dogs’ food.

Rice sounded huge and intimidating, but he was a glutton and a coward. Dad said that whenever the Golden stole his meal, Rice never dared take it back. He just tipped up his head and howled pitifully until Dad made him another serving.

The moment Rice climbed aboard, Soda snapped his head away.

[Dog doesn’t want to sit next to him. Too noisy.]

Rice barked back. [Food, food, food! We’re going to eat. Don’t you steal Dog’s food!]

[Noisy!]

[Food!]

As soon as I took the driver’s seat, Rice came over, planted his paws on it, and howled beside my ear.

[Food! Eat, eat!]

My eardrum took a direct hit.

I nudged him away. “Go sit down, or you don’t get any food.”

He howled once more before reluctantly retreating.

Two minutes later, he returned to yell again.

[Dog wants food!]

I suspected he had starved to death in a past life.

After several rounds of this battle, I noticed the earmuffs on the passenger seat.

I put them on.

At last, a little peace.