[SPEAKER_00]: Detailed Ledger, Halloween episode, the Pet Medium, Part 1, Saturday, October 4, Fort Green, Brooklyn.
[SPEAKER_00]: Latisha walks through the front door and size.
[SPEAKER_00]: She carries a white pastry box from Moe's Donuts, which is good news for me.
[SPEAKER_00]: But she is displeased.
[SPEAKER_00]: I pretend not to notice.
[SPEAKER_00]: You're back.
[SPEAKER_00]: You stopped at Moes?
[SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Henry.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I brought some for my mother, but she didn't want the leftovers.
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a pistachio cake in a maple bacon left if you'd like.
[SPEAKER_00]: She hands me the box and walks to the closet to hang up her coat.
[SPEAKER_00]: I green and walk to the kitchen.
[SPEAKER_00]: My favorites, thank you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Would you like coffee?
[SPEAKER_00]: It's still warm.
[SPEAKER_00]: She shakes her head and collapses onto our sofa.
[SPEAKER_00]: I open the pastry box and make appreciative noises, hoping to lift her mood.
[SPEAKER_00]: Is that white chocolate lotus?
[SPEAKER_00]: You spoil me, Lutisha?
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know which to choose.
[SPEAKER_00]: She sighs again, thwarting my attempts.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then she gives me a side-long glance and weights.
[SPEAKER_00]: Resigned, I close the box, join her on the sofa and steal myself.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, how is your mother?
[SPEAKER_00]: She still blames me, I think.
[SPEAKER_00]: For Jocelyn?
[SPEAKER_00]: That's absurd.
[SPEAKER_00]: Jocelyn was Latisha's younger sister.
[SPEAKER_00]: She was murdered last year.
[SPEAKER_00]: May she rest in peace.
[SPEAKER_00]: Of course it is.
[SPEAKER_00]: But she said again that L only hired Jocelyn because me.
[SPEAKER_00]: My brother L is the executive director of a non-profit organization.
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's true, he hired Jocelyn as his accountant at LaTisha's insistence.
[SPEAKER_00]: Jocelyn made a mess of things, causing many problems, both for her and Elle, but I don't say this to LaTisha.
[SPEAKER_00]: Instead, I say what has worked before.
[SPEAKER_00]: You are trying to help the family, and Jocelyn's troubles were not your fault.
[SPEAKER_00]: If anything, I blame the auditor, her eyes flash.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, the auditor, he was harassing us.
[SPEAKER_00]: Indeed he was.
[SPEAKER_00]: And if he had left things alone, Jocelyn might still be here today.
[SPEAKER_00]: I couldn't agree more.
[SPEAKER_00]: She fumes silently for a moment.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ben, she nods.
[SPEAKER_00]: Anyway, it seems that mother is consulting a psychic now.
[SPEAKER_00]: A psychic?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I snort, whatever for.
[SPEAKER_00]: I let this slip in error.
[SPEAKER_00]: Jocelyn was difficult to best.
[SPEAKER_00]: Latisha pauses, but continue.
[SPEAKER_00]: She just misses her, I guess.
[SPEAKER_00]: She's seen the psychic a few times now.
[SPEAKER_00]: Has the psychic been successful?
[SPEAKER_00]: Not yet, but the psychic believes she made contact with Jocelyn's cat.
[SPEAKER_00]: Jerome is Jocelyn's ex-husband.
[SPEAKER_00]: When we last saw him, he had scratches all over his hands, purportedly from Nainay.
[SPEAKER_00]: We both chuckle at the memory.
[SPEAKER_00]: I do remember yes, and I told that to mother.
[SPEAKER_00]: What did she say?
[SPEAKER_00]: She scoffs.
[SPEAKER_00]: The psychic told her that animals have a strong connection to the spiritual world, and for just $500 more the psychic belief she can reach Jocelyn through Nainay.
[SPEAKER_00]: She folds her arms and watches me, testing.
[SPEAKER_00]: I laugh and say the first thing that comes to mind.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, that's brilliant, actually.
[SPEAKER_00]: She cocks one eyebrow.
[SPEAKER_00]: Excuse me?
[SPEAKER_00]: It's despicable, of course.
[SPEAKER_00]: But I respect the ingenuity.
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't you?
[SPEAKER_00]: She eyes me, amused.
[SPEAKER_00]: I do, actually, accept that it is my mother.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, she sighs.
[SPEAKER_00]: Unfortunately, no.
[SPEAKER_00]: They have an appointment scheduled for Wednesday.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ah, well, let's talk to this psychic.
[SPEAKER_00]: Before then, I'm sure we can reach an agreement.
[SPEAKER_00]: Lutisha nods that are mouth slowly twists into a smirk and I recognize a look that I've come to know well.
[SPEAKER_00]: She is scheming.
[SPEAKER_00]: So has business for you, Henry?
[SPEAKER_00]: Latisha and I are also executive directors of non-profit organizations.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was lucrative for a while, but city auditors, the U.S.
[SPEAKER_00]: Attorney's Office, and U.S.
[SPEAKER_00]: Fish and Wildlife investigated us both for contract fraud and some other things.
[SPEAKER_00]: Investigations are suspended for now, but we still received some unfortunate publicity.
[SPEAKER_00]: donations of slowed.
[SPEAKER_00]: Mine have also, and I definitely miss our side project with Patty.
[SPEAKER_00]: My sister Patty is the only artist in the family and has an MFA in art restoration.
[SPEAKER_00]: For a brief period she did some restoration work for Latisha, which involved through touching some anti-givery.
[SPEAKER_00]: The project was clever and again quite lucrative, but it did not end well.
[SPEAKER_00]: Latisha tilts her head to the side.
[SPEAKER_00]: So maybe it's time for another side project?
[SPEAKER_00]: I grin.
[SPEAKER_00]: What did you have in mind?
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure yet, but pets are trendy now, aren't they?
[SPEAKER_00]: I consider.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd say yes, given the number of so-called service animals that I see in our neighborhood.
[SPEAKER_00]: She laughs.
[SPEAKER_00]: And your organization is cars for cats.
[SPEAKER_00]: they do.
[SPEAKER_00]: So let's visit the psychic tomorrow.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think we can find a solution that works for all of us.
[SPEAKER_00]: Her eyes gleam and I laugh with understanding.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then I walk to the kitchen and retrieve the donuts.
[SPEAKER_00]: Sunday, October 5th, Laura Manhattan.
[SPEAKER_00]: The spiritual counseling center on St.
[SPEAKER_00]: Mark's
[SPEAKER_00]: One spells psychic and cursive, and the other traces the outline of what appears to be a lotus flower.
[SPEAKER_00]: Leticia glances at me in smirks.
[SPEAKER_00]: I hold the door for her and we walk inside.
[SPEAKER_00]: The room is dark, with an overwhelming odor of must and incense.
[SPEAKER_00]: There is a round table with three mismatched arm chairs in the far corner.
[SPEAKER_00]: The table is draped in a maroon paisley cloth with two candles and a glow in crystal ball in the center.
[SPEAKER_00]: X to the table is a doorway with a curtain made of multi-colored strands of beads, a woman wearing a bohemian dress in headscarf walks to the beads, smiling and greets us.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, thank you for seeing us.
[SPEAKER_00]: I smile also but give her my firmest handshake asserted by strength.
[SPEAKER_00]: She wincees slightly and gestures for us to sit.
[SPEAKER_00]: Please make yourselves comfortable.
[SPEAKER_00]: She slides behind the table and we take the two chairs in front.
[SPEAKER_00]: I scan her face and decide she is of indeterminate age.
[SPEAKER_00]: She pulls out a lighter and lights the candles, but to my surprise, Latisha blows them both out.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman's startles, and Latisha smiles, coolly.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll get straight to the point.
[SPEAKER_00]: You've been seeing my mother, Rosalind Jones.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman looks back and forth between us, but we both hold eye contact.
[SPEAKER_00]: She addresses Latisha.
[SPEAKER_00]: I see, but I already know that you asked my mother for $500 to continue a conversation with a cat, which begs the question, how much money have you taken from my mother?
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman looks back and forth between us again.
[SPEAKER_00]: We both stare back, underlending.
[SPEAKER_00]: Finally, she falters, what do you want?
[SPEAKER_00]: Surely you saw this coming, we want you to stop immediately.
[SPEAKER_00]: She pauses.
[SPEAKER_00]: The mother came to me, and she wants to continue.
[SPEAKER_00]: The Tisha leans forward and drops her voice to barely above a whisper.
[SPEAKER_00]: My mother is a lonely woman who desperately misses her violently murdered daughter, and you have exploited that.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then she brightens her tone.
[SPEAKER_00]: But we aren't heartless.
[SPEAKER_00]: Are we Henry?
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely not.
[SPEAKER_00]: In fact, we both quite respect your business acumen, and we have a proposal for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman eyes us werely.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh.
[SPEAKER_00]: First, you end whatever it is you're doing with my mother.
[SPEAKER_00]: She tries again.
[SPEAKER_00]: Latisha's eyes narrow, false hope, if I end our sessions, she will seek out someone else.
[SPEAKER_00]: Latisha considers, but holds the woman's gaze.
[SPEAKER_00]: Fine, I'll pay you for one last reading.
[SPEAKER_00]: And in that reading, you'll tell my mother that you reach Chastlan and confirm that she is at peace now.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman raises her eyebrows.
[SPEAKER_00]: You'll pay me the full $500?
[SPEAKER_00]: I scoffed but leticia nods.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, and you'll also tell her that Jastlin said it wasn't the Tisha's fault.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll give you a script.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman smiles strangely.
[SPEAKER_00]: I can do that.
[SPEAKER_00]: Good.
[SPEAKER_00]: We both stare at the woman until she shifts under our gaze.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then I take over.
[SPEAKER_00]: You claimed you were going to communicate through Jastlin's cat.
[SPEAKER_00]: is cautious.
[SPEAKER_00]: Some do, and more lately, pets are trending out.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's the answer we'd hope for, but I hide my satisfaction.
[SPEAKER_00]: So you're a pet psychic as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm more of a pet medium, but yes.
[SPEAKER_00]: What's the difference?
[SPEAKER_00]: A pet psychic focuses on understanding the thoughts and emotions of living pets.
[SPEAKER_00]: A pet medium communicates with deceased pets.
[SPEAKER_00]: I give a small chuckle.
[SPEAKER_00]: And you do both?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.
[SPEAKER_00]: How much do clients pay you for these services?
[SPEAKER_00]: It depends on the client.
[SPEAKER_00]: Could you get say $500 per session?
[SPEAKER_00]: Why?
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, Henry and I both had non-profit organizations, and we are constantly looking for new fundraising ideas.
[SPEAKER_00]: For charity, of course.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman's smirk's now understanding.
[SPEAKER_00]: Latisha continues, and we thought it might be fun if we host that a charity event where you communicated with our donors' pets, living or deceased.
[SPEAKER_00]: You'd get a cut of course.
[SPEAKER_00]: She considers,
[SPEAKER_00]: How large an event I respond, we both have large donor bases.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's start with one event, 50 people, and see how it goes.
[SPEAKER_00]: She nods slowly.
[SPEAKER_00]: 30 people and I'd want a 50-50 split.
[SPEAKER_00]: I am prepared for this 50% of net, not gross.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman sits up straighter.
[SPEAKER_00]: It should be for deceased pets only.
[SPEAKER_00]: Otherwise, people would want to bring their animals to the event.
[SPEAKER_00]: We hadn't thought of that, but I remain stoic.
[SPEAKER_00]: Done.
[SPEAKER_00]: And make them register in advance.
[SPEAKER_00]: No walkins.
[SPEAKER_00]: And pay by credit card.
[SPEAKER_00]: Just credit cards.
[SPEAKER_00]: She shrugs, or Venmo, Zell, it's so we had their names beforehand.
[SPEAKER_00]: I do research as part of my process, and that will help.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, Latisha laughs with genuine amusement.
[SPEAKER_00]: Henry, this is fun.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, we'll have them register an advance.
[SPEAKER_00]: How about Halloween for our first event?
[SPEAKER_00]: It seems appropriate.
[SPEAKER_00]: The woman shakes her head.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's already October.
[SPEAKER_00]: Find researching 30 people.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll need an assistant.
[SPEAKER_00]: Leticia's eyes clean.
[SPEAKER_00]: That can be arranged.
[SPEAKER_00]: Monday, October 6th.
[SPEAKER_00]: Kayla and Stephanie's apartment.
[SPEAKER_00]: Bushwick, Brooklyn.
[SPEAKER_00]: It is almost noon, and I've been watching slime tick-tocks for the last hour.
[SPEAKER_00]: The latest one shows a buttercream-scented fun fettie slime with a light pink base that looks like frosting.
[SPEAKER_00]: I decided I like it better than the last one, which was a light pink and blue cotton candy cloud slime.
[SPEAKER_00]: The cloud slime was pretty, and it looked very satisfying as the person stretched and needed for the camera.
[SPEAKER_00]: But the pink and blue would probably blend together, and it might lose its fluffy cloud texture if I played with it too much.
[SPEAKER_00]: And if a fetty slime has sprinkles, which the cloud slime does not.
[SPEAKER_00]: Still, I send both TikToks to my roommate Stephanie, who shares my slime obsession.
[SPEAKER_00]: Her birthday is coming up soon, and I consider getting her the fun fetty one.
[SPEAKER_00]: But then I noticed a price in size.
[SPEAKER_00]: One slime costs $17, which is more than I make per hour
[SPEAKER_00]: I get up, stretch, and grab a bottle of vitamin water from the fridge.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's my last one.
[SPEAKER_00]: I will have to go shopping soon.
[SPEAKER_00]: I consider going now, but then I decide not to.
[SPEAKER_00]: I go back to my room instead and play three levels of candy crush on my phone.
[SPEAKER_00]: I am good at candy crush, better than Stephanie, and I wonder briefly if anyone has made a candy crush slime, then I play five more levels of the game and forget that I was curious.
[SPEAKER_00]: It is after one now, and my shift starts at four.
[SPEAKER_00]: I look at dress soon.
[SPEAKER_00]: I stare at my Pikachu lamp and try to mentally prepare myself from my shift.
[SPEAKER_00]: My job is okay, Yish.
[SPEAKER_00]: I graduated from college in May and I took the first giga could find while looking for a job in publishing.
[SPEAKER_00]: I get free coffee and the shop allows dogs which I like, except when they bark at each other or sometimes pee on the floor.
[SPEAKER_00]: I mostly work the afternoon evening shifts so my days are free for interviews and I have time to think about my novel, which one day I might write.
[SPEAKER_00]: But now it's October and I still haven't gotten any interviews.
[SPEAKER_00]: I take a sip of my vitamin water, drag and fruit flavored and log onto the job sites.
[SPEAKER_00]: I find two editorial assistant jobs listed on indeed, wanted harbour columns and wanted puttin' them.
[SPEAKER_00]: My art skips as it does each time and I apply to both.
[SPEAKER_00]: I use my standard cover letter which highlights my newly minted English degree, my excitement about publishing, my exceptional attention to detail, and my previous role as assistant editor of our college magazine.
[SPEAKER_00]: I've sent out dozens of these letters since May.
[SPEAKER_00]: I go to Craigslist next and try the writing editing jobs.
[SPEAKER_00]: There are a few postings for freelance writers, all in $100 nautical, and one for a personal care assistant, which confuses me.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then I see one in all caps that catches my eye.
[SPEAKER_00]: Wanted for immediate hire, English major, creative writing major preferred.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's probably a scam, but I apply anyway, along with one of the freelance jobs.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't bother making cover letters since it's Craigslist.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then my phone chimes, and it's Stephanie.
[SPEAKER_00]: She responds to my slime tick-tocks with a red heart astonished face emoji.
[SPEAKER_00]: I send back a zany face emoji and take another sip of my vitamin water.
[SPEAKER_00]: It is 140 now and I realize I am hungry.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think again about going to the store, but I checked my phone and find there was a 20% chance of rain.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then there was a pop-up bed for Sephora and I clicked through to the sales items.
[SPEAKER_00]: The summer Fridays pink sure the lip balm is 5% off.
[SPEAKER_00]: I consider buying one, but then I remember I am hungry.
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe I will order some uncrustables from Uber Eats.
[SPEAKER_00]: I walked to the window and weighed the grain as of the sky.
[SPEAKER_00]: My phone chimes again, and I assume it's Stephanie, but to my surprise, it's an email from Craigslist Jobs and to my shock and thrill, the title of the email, all in caps is interview.
[SPEAKER_00]: Tuesday, October 7th, lower Manhattan.
[SPEAKER_00]: My interview is at the Spiritual Counseling Center on St.
[SPEAKER_00]: Mark's Place, which confuses me, but I am excited anyway.
[SPEAKER_00]: I arrive at 1043, 17 minutes early, and I hope it makes me look punctual.
[SPEAKER_00]: But the storefront is dark, and no one answers when I ring the bell.
[SPEAKER_00]: There are two neon signs hanging in the window, both on lip.
[SPEAKER_00]: The first spell psychic in curvy letters, and the second looks like some sort of cabbage.
[SPEAKER_00]: I press my face against the window and try to see inside, but it's too dark to see very much.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then I check my reflection and adjust my top not so it's loose, but not too loose.
[SPEAKER_00]: It is 10.55 now.
[SPEAKER_00]: I consider ringing the bell again, but I decide to wait since the place is still dark.
[SPEAKER_00]: I take two selfies in front of the psychic sign and realize that my necklace is crooked.
[SPEAKER_00]: I adjust the pendant, a pink frosted animal cracker chorn from Etsy, and take another selfie to post to Instagram later.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then it exactly 11 o'clock every in the doorbell.
[SPEAKER_00]: I hear footsteps this time, and a woman opens the door.
[SPEAKER_00]: She eyes my top-not, and I wonder briefly if I made it too loose after all, but then she smiles.
[SPEAKER_00]: Kayla, my mouth is dry, so I swallow.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I'm here for the interview.
[SPEAKER_00]: She extends her hand.
[SPEAKER_00]: Williams, elder, please to meet you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Please come in.
[SPEAKER_00]: I step inside, and it smells like sandalwood vaping incense.
[SPEAKER_00]: I follow her through a beaded curtain to a small windowless office.
[SPEAKER_00]: She is older looking, at least 40, but she has long black hair and wears a bow-hotop and yoga pants, which I think are Lulu Lemon.
[SPEAKER_00]: She sits by a desk and I sit in the only other chair in the office.
[SPEAKER_00]: There is an open MacBook on the desk, space gray colored, and I see my resume on the screen.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for coming in today, Kayla.
[SPEAKER_00]: I was very impressed with your resume.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I mean, really?
[SPEAKER_00]: I crossed my legs trying to seem casual that I changed my mind and uncrossed them.
[SPEAKER_00]: She eyes my animal cracker pendant and smiles again.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, you were in English, Major.
[SPEAKER_00]: I nod with the creative writing concentration.
[SPEAKER_00]: I graduated cum laude, wonderful.
[SPEAKER_00]: And your thesis was about the color blue?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, and its significance and literature.
[SPEAKER_00]: She tilts her head, and what did you find?
[SPEAKER_00]: I sit up straighter.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it changed over time.
[SPEAKER_00]: In the great Gatsby, for example, it was used to convey fantasy and hopes.
[SPEAKER_00]: But in the twilight series, blue symbolized the coldness and danger of the vampires.
[SPEAKER_00]: How fascinating.
[SPEAKER_00]: She glances at my resume again and tell me about your job at Fight O's Brough.
[SPEAKER_00]: My phone chimes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I forgot to silent it.
[SPEAKER_00]: I ignore it, but also wonder who it is.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I took that job when I graduated, just to pay the bills.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ah, well, writing is all about experiences, don't you think?
[SPEAKER_00]: Sure, I guess.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, tell me about your experiences at the coffee shop.
[SPEAKER_00]: My phone shimes again, and she eyes at this time.
[SPEAKER_00]: I reached a silencer, but while I'm doing that, I see that both texts are from Stephanie.
[SPEAKER_00]: I put the phone away in my coach bag that is shaped like a T-Rex.
[SPEAKER_00]: Sorry, well, I've learned to make lattes and to draw designs in the phone.
[SPEAKER_00]: Fine, what kind of shapes?
[SPEAKER_00]: Mostly paw prints because the shop allows dogs.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh.
[SPEAKER_00]: She seems to like this, better than my thesis.
[SPEAKER_00]: I cross my ankles and continue.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I used to draw hearts, but one customer asked me to make a paw print instead.
[SPEAKER_00]: He was kind of hitting on me, but I tried and it came out well and he gave me a $10 tip.
[SPEAKER_00]: So now I make paw prints for everyone.
[SPEAKER_00]: She laughs, which I think is good, so I laugh too.
[SPEAKER_00]: You're good with customers, it seems.
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess?
[SPEAKER_00]: And did you grow up with pets?
[SPEAKER_00]: I nod.
[SPEAKER_00]: I had a rabbit named Toby.
[SPEAKER_00]: Would you like to see?
[SPEAKER_00]: Of course.
[SPEAKER_00]: I pull out my phone again.
[SPEAKER_00]: I see a new text from Sephora and wonder if there was another sale.
[SPEAKER_00]: But I ignore it and show her a picture of Toby from my camera roll.
[SPEAKER_00]: He was a gray lopier.
[SPEAKER_00]: adorable.
[SPEAKER_00]: And you let him on your couch, I see.
[SPEAKER_00]: I laugh again, but it comes out like a high-pitched giggle.
[SPEAKER_00]: I cringe a little, but continue.
[SPEAKER_00]: Rabbits are really social, actually.
[SPEAKER_00]: We kept him in his cage when we were out, but we let him run around when we were home.
[SPEAKER_00]: He liked to sit in the couch with me when I played Minecraft or watch TV.
[SPEAKER_00]: She hands me back
[SPEAKER_00]: I shrug with rabbits, yes, and with the dogs from the coffee shop.
[SPEAKER_00]: She pauses and studies my resume again, then she smiles.
[SPEAKER_00]: Your background is actually perfect for the position I am looking to fill.
[SPEAKER_00]: I sit up straighter.
[SPEAKER_00]: It is?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I've been hired to help with the performance art piece on Halloween.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, for a charity organization, actually.
[SPEAKER_00]: What kind of performance piece, she pauses?
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I'm a psychic and a pet medium.
[SPEAKER_00]: One of my gifts is that I'm able to communicate with pets after they're gone.
[SPEAKER_00]: This confuses me, but then I remember the signs in the window.
[SPEAKER_00]: OK.
[SPEAKER_00]: And this charity has requested that I provide this service for their donors on Halloween.
[SPEAKER_00]: I finger my animal cracker pendant.
[SPEAKER_00]: So what is the position?
[SPEAKER_00]: Halloween is just a few weeks away.
[SPEAKER_00]: They expect to have 30 people at the event so I am looking for someone to help me research the attendees.
[SPEAKER_00]: What kind of research?
[SPEAKER_00]: Find out any information you can about their deceased pets.
[SPEAKER_00]: What kind of animal was it?
[SPEAKER_00]: What was its name?
[SPEAKER_00]: Are there any photos or videos?
[SPEAKER_00]: Social media is great for that.
[SPEAKER_00]: Instagram, TikTok, Reddit groups on pet grief support.
[SPEAKER_00]: You'd be surprised what you can find.
[SPEAKER_00]: This seems a bit wrong, so I swallow.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then I shift in my chair and it squeaks.
[SPEAKER_00]: But if you're a pet psychic, pet medium.
[SPEAKER_00]: Sorry, if you're a pet medium, why do you need to research the attendees?
[SPEAKER_00]: To give me a strong connection to the pets.
[SPEAKER_00]: Can we unaccade it in with the dead?
[SPEAKER_00]: Is that an exact science?
[SPEAKER_00]: For example, I might sense the general presence of a guinea pig.
[SPEAKER_00]: But if I know beforehand that this particular guinea pig was named Christmas, favoured strawberries and bell peppers and like to have its chin scratched.
[SPEAKER_00]: mentioning those details will provide a greater sense of comfort to the grieving owner.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think I feel my forehead wrinkle, and do the people know that I would be researching them beforehand, you would only be searching for what they posted publicly, and remember this event is for entertainment purposes only.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm looking for you to provide the details and back stories that will make the event more enjoyable for everyone.
[SPEAKER_00]: I hesitate, but she smiles, and didn't mention, I would pay you $50 per search.
[SPEAKER_00]: I tried multiplying 50 times 30 in my head, but it takes longer than I wanted to, and she smiles again.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's $1,500, Kayla.
[SPEAKER_00]: Not bad for watching pet videos on social media.
[SPEAKER_00]: My heart skips, and I feel myself not, that's more than I make per week at the coffee shop.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it's fine, I guess, if it's for entertainment only, and for charity, good.
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll be in touch then, and I'll send you the list of donors.
[SPEAKER_00]: She stands up, shakes my hand, and I walk out the door.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then I remember that I forgot to ask which charity, but it probably doesn't matter, at least it's for animals.
[SPEAKER_00]: I take out my phone and text Stephanie, I got the job in all caps, followed by two exclamation points, a heart and an astonished face emoticon.