THE LANDLADY by Jay Jay.

The Group.

Time to change strategy. 

Mrs Jones just wanted someone in. It seemed she didn't care about references and background checks and all the other criteria that Cindy sweated over. Anyone would do.

Her colleague Louise usually dealt with the lower end of the rental market. Louise had students, unemployed, beneficiaries and all those difficult people that no-one wanted on her list. She also copped most of the sub-standard housing, the slum landlords, and the landlords that were just plain unreasonable and difficult. Louise, unlike Cindy, had a way with people, bucket-loads of patience, and such a calm demeanour that Cindy sometimes wondered if her fellow worker was asleep.

So she asked Louise for help.

Louise just about died of shock. Cindy had never asked advice before. Louise, for her part, always found Cindy a trial to work with. Cindy was uptight, snobby, competitive and judgemental, all the things Louise tried not to be. But, as in any relationships, sometimes opposite types of people work well together, and the company they worked for was thriving.

Louise reminded herself that if she was truely to be non-judgemental, then that surely started with the person she spent most time alongside at work. So she approached the problem with honest consideration.

"There is one group I think might do," she said. "They had to leave their flat when the landlord put it on the market, and that was for family reasons. No reflection on the tenants. They are a group of five, which means they need a big house if they are to stay together. They have some pets, including a dog, so what does the policy say about animals? They are all in their twenties, so they are young, and landlords are wary of youth. Not much money between them. I think one is on welfare, some are students and some have low-wage jobs. But they have no criminal tendencies, I think most of them are from good homes, and they come across as decent young people."

"They sound perfect," Cindy said, thinking to herself, too good to be true. "Lets get the wheels in motion, then. See if they're available this weekend, and I'll set up a meeting. Oh, and animals probably no problem. Ask them to bring the dog, so we can take a look at it."

Thus, 1PM on Saturday, Cindy met four of the five at Mrs Jones' gate. 

Cindy was delighted to see Mr Paterson make a big 'O' with his mouth and beckon Mrs Paterson to the window. The elderly couple looked on with dismay as Cindy gave them a cheerful wave, before leading the group inside.

Mrs Jones wasted no time in leading them over to the big house.

As soon as she opened the door, the youngsters ran inside with big whoops. 

"I want this room!" a woman yelled.

"Cool, there's a loft!" a man hollered.

"You've done well," Mrs Jones smiled. "They are perfect."

Cindy squirmed. She hadn't mentioned the dog, and they hadn't brought it with them. A bad sign, in her experience.

Later, they gathered at an old wooden table that happened to be in the dining area. There were four chairs. Cindy and Mrs Jones claimed one each.

"Terms and conditions," Cindy waved some forms at the woman sitting opposite her. "There are five of you, and a dog?"

"Ashley had to work, he couldn't get time off."

"I forgot to bring the dog, sorry."

"But he's a nice dog. He's toilet trained, well behaved."

"He's a cross, he's mostly labrador."

"Yeah, people think he's a pitty, but he's more bulldog, he looks muscular..."

"He has a labrador personality, honestly, he'd lick you to death..."

"I don't mind about a dog," Mrs Jones cut in. The four exchanged glances, relief on every face. "I'm more interested in the cats. Two, is there?"

"Um...yes, two. Also toilet trained."

"But there was a cat at our last place...we adopted..."

"so three, really..."

"And it had kittens..."

"But we are looking for homes for them all!"

They looked at Mrs Jones hopefully.

She laughed. "Bring them all, why not?"

Everyone smiled, even Cindy.

"But..." she paused, as if for dramatic effect. "Be warned. I cannot guarantee their safety. This is a large estate, there are deer living here. Where ever deer live, predators are never far away. There are foxes, wolves, maybe a bear or a panther. Don't come running to me if one of your precious pussies goes missing."

"But...foxes, wolves don't exist anywhere near here..."

"I think it will be fine. We will take the house, on condition that we can find some suitable flat-mates to fill the extra rooms, to help pay the rent." The woman opposite smiled charmingly.

Mrs Jones smiled back. "Good. Lets shake on that. A gentleman's agreement." Mrs Jones offered her old wrinkly hand and shook each young hand in turn.

"Now, Cindy, if you could deal with the relevant paperwork, I think that I have had enough excitement for today. I'm going back to my little cottage for a nice granny afternoon nap."

That night, Cindy felt very pleased with herself. It had all gone smoothly. She could start concentrating on some other projects on her books.

What was all that talk about wolves and foxes? Old Mrs Jones probably was losing her marbles. Thought she was back in England.

Did they have wolves in England?

It didn't matter.

[Except there was that thing about the twenty murdered kids. Some people said it was a wild animal that killed them.]

Ah, anything that was around then would have died by now. Most animals don't live that long. If it did, it would be old and creaky by now.

Conscious cleared, Cindy started making supper.

She gave the house a celebratory scrub, toasted herself with an expensive red wine, ate her smoked salmon supper, watched some T.V., and took herself to bed for an early night.