A notification appeared on my cell phone.
“Looks like Jessica gave you a tip!”.
I’m stunned. I open my dog walker app and find proof in dollar signs.
My bachelor degree is so useful I was able to land two jobs. My second one is now as a dog walker. This works for me as I enjoy all things fluffy (except for that thing growing under my sink).
I was still riding high off of a particularly good walk with a Labrador named Sam. Little did I know my dog walking app was glitching in my pocket.
When I accepted a walk with Archie, an Australian Shepard mix, I left about 15 minutes before the walk was supposed to start. The app claimed his home was less than a mile away.
On the way, my phone began to get warm and the app experienced what the customer service line called an outage. I called it the worst thing to happen to my very short career as a dog walker.
This was a timeline of the events that followed:
9:59 am: Hi Jessica, it’s your dog walker! I am so sorry but my app told me it would take only 11 minutes, but now it’s saying it will take 30 minutes. I will be late, but I hope you’ll still let me take your pup on his walk!
10:02 am: After walking around in circles my blue dot could give me no direction and I panicked. I’m in a Lyft now. Again, my apologies.
10:05 am: Or at least I think I’m in a Lyft, it was a black car who nodded when I asked if it was here for me. Please report to the police if I don’t arrive in 10 minutes (which I will because I’m going to be still on time). Please let me walk your dog.
10:07 am: I’m not even wearing a seat belt because I’m so ready to jump out of the car and walk your dog. And I’m usually really big into safety. I used to be bullied for always wearing a seatbelt on the way home from church. Not that safety isn’t cool. Your dog will be safe in my hands.
10:09 am: I can’t wait to meet Archie! I’m sure he’s a good boy. I’m usually a good girl.
10:10 am: Please ignore that last message
10:12 am: I’m downstairs! Please let me in! I’m already warmed up for our walk. I’ve got a nice sweat going.
* One hour later *
11:12 am: I’ve been pacing back and forth outside of your building. My app won’t let me end the walk. I think Archie is getting confused.
11: 14 am: It keeps saying I have one more minute on the walk. Time flys when you’re having fun (which Archie and I certainly had) but this minute is not ticking by.
11:16 am: I’m just going to give your dog back.
11:18 am: Please don’t rate my service.
Yet, here I am days later and I receive five stars and a tip. Thanks, Archie! Sorry for all the heavy breathing.