Over The Top: The Con

near the top. Stone lions stood at attention near the door, with spider's
webs on their faces. An ivy wrapped one side of the house, while a vine
nearly filled the space above the front door with its rope-like cords.

Three cats sat and calmly watched him.

Spike pressed the doorbell and waited. Nothing happened. He knocked.
Loudly.

The sound of shuffling came gradually closer and the door opened. Two
black dogs poked their noses through the gap and sniffed Spike's legs.

"Yes?"

The woman who stood in the doorway seemed, to Spike, to be a dream come
true. She was old, and slightly stooped, with a walking stick in one hand
and a white, lace shawl over her shoulders. Her thick glasses were
crooked, her hair loose and straggly, and her stockings hung round her
ankles. Even her shoes were from two different pairs. She had three
brooches, pinned on her dress at odd angles. She had a cowboy's hat, tied
to her belt at her waist. She had a blue glove on her left hand. She
smelled of at least two different perfumes, and her face was powdered
unevenly.

"I've come about the job." said Spike.

"Job? What job?"

"The gardening job. You had an advertisement in my school"

"Did I? Well I suppose I must have, mustn't I?"

"Do you still want some gardening done?" asked Spike. "I don't know
really" said Miss Huddy vaguely, "Can you see anything that might need a
bit of tidying?"

Spike looked at the acres of sprawling, tangled, chaotic, overgrown
wilderness which stretched away from the sides of the house into the
distance.

"There is a bit here and there," he said.

"Would you like some cookies and milk before you start? You must be tired,
after walking all the way to the door?"

"Yes thanks." said Spike.

This was too easy. He was going to get fed as well. He'd cream the old
lady for everything, plus get some free meals into the bargain. He
followed Miss Huddy down the hall.