Chapter Twelve: Carl and Ashley:

Last house of the day. They shouldn’t give her much trouble. Kathy walked up to the door and knocked. By now, the clouds in the sky were so thick. She could’ve sworn she felt a drop on her cheek when she walked up to this house. Kathy looked up when the door opened. A man peeked outside.

“Who’s there?” he asked.

“I’m the new carer of this neighborhood,” Kathy said. “I have come by to ask you and your wife a few questions.” The man opened the door wider.

“Come inside,” he said.

“Thank you,” the young woman replied. She walked inside the house and Carl closed the door behind her. Ashley was sitting on the couch, watching TV.

“Honey, the carer’s here,” Carl said as he and Kathy walked into the living room. His wife turned off the TV and looked up.

“Hello there,” she said.

“Hi,” Kathy said in a small voice. “I’m here to check on you both. May I ask you a few questions?”

“Of course,” Carl said. Kathy pulled out her clipboard and pen.

“Okay,” she said. “How are you both doing?”

“Good,” Carl said.

“A little tired,” Ashley said.

“Are you both eating and sleeping well?” Kathy asked.

“Yes,” the coupled replied.

“And how are you doing?” Ashley asked. The carer glanced up at the woman sitting on the couch, watching her take notes.

“I’m doing fine,” Kathy said. “You’re not the first person to ask me this.”

“And are you eating and sleeping well?” Carl asked.

“Yes,” the carer replied. She wasn’t sure where the couple was going with their questions. Why were they trying to do her job with her? Carl tilted his head.

“Who takes care of you?” he asked. Kathy paused.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“You take care of us,” the man said. “But who takes care of you at the end of the day?” The younger woman stood, thinking.

“I haven’t thought about that,” she said.

“Don’t forget to care about yourself while you take care of yourself,” Ashley said.

“Yes, yes,” Kathy said as she took more notes. “Any illnesses or bad dreams?”

“I do have some bad dreams,” Carl said.

“How bad are they?”

“They aren’t too bad. Sometimes I have time, but they aren’t as bad as you are thinking.”

“And you?” Ashley asked.

“No illnesses or bad dreams,” Kathy said. “I have been sleeping well. Though… I have been a bit lonely lately…” She felt her eyes starting to tear up, but she shook her head. “How is your mental health?”

“Good,” Carl replied.

“It’s good for me too,” Ashley said. “And what about your mental health?”

“It’s good, it’s good,” Kathy said. “Is there anything else?”

“No,” Carl said.

“Please don’t forget to take care of yourself,” Ashley said.

“Yeah, don’t forget to do that,” her husband said.

“Right,” Kathy said. She finished up with her notes in the clipboard. Ashley watched her put her pen in her jacket.

“We really mean it,” she said. “You have to take care of yourself while you take care of us. Be selfish once in a while! Just pick out a day and just do something you like! We can’t have you worn out on us.” Kathy awkwardly smiled.

“Thank you,” she said. The carer turned to leave.

“Hey, Kathy,” Carl said. She looked over her shoulder.

“Yeah?” the carer asked.

“Is this your last house for the day?”

“Yes. As soon as I get home, I have to make that call to my boss and read off the reports over Skype.”

“Okay. Make sure you get home before it rains.”

“Alright.” When Kathy stepped out of the house, she looked up at the sky. The clouds were blacker than soot. The carer counted down in her head before running down the street back to her house.