Alise let out a long drawn out sigh as she unlocked the door to her place. It had been a day of endless errands and tasks, both small and large. She had placed the ad for a roommate, gone out to the school to see to some last minute details before the first day and then come back across town to ensure that everything that was delivered was put in its proper place before heading back out to the campus.
Despite the fatigue tugging at her, a wide grin crossed her features when her large Golden Retriever greeted her at the door. "Hey Rizi baby," she greeting sinking down on one knee to ruffle the dog's ears fondly before straightening again.
She set her briefcase down on the couch and was heading for the kitchen when the phone rang. She snagged the cordless phone on the way to the fridge. "Hello."
"Hey kitten, how are you?" The sound of her older brother's voice drew a smile from her
"Dead on my feet," she responded with a light laugh. Dinner was not looking promising, she decided as she looked into the nearly empty fridge. "How have you been?"
They took turns discussing the latest events in their lives as Alise, now dressed comfortably in a pair of sweats and her long tresses swept off her neck and into a bun, curled up on her couch with a bowl of salad in hand and Rizi at her feet. When she told Michael she had put up an ad for a roommate he grunted his displeasure.
"I don't like it, Lise. If you need money just say so."
"I don't want you trying to support me for the rest of our lives. Besides, I can make it on what I have but this way I'll be more comfortable and I'll hear someone besides Rizi and the tv," she tried to explain. She had lived with her father toward the end of his life and had grown accustomed to the sounds of another individual in the house. "Besides, it's not as if I'm not going to meet the person first. Rizi can check 'em out and give his stamp of approval."
"I guess."
She laughed at his reluctant acceptance and finished off her salad. "I'll be fine. Now I need to get my butt to bed. I'll call you sometime this week."
"Make sure you do. Love you."
"Love you too," was her affectionate response before she hung up.
