Does being the dog's favourite make me the automatic house-sitter?
Funny'He's chosen you,' my friend Rina said as her dog put his head on my knee. 'That solves next weekend.'
Until then I thought we'd solved who got the last seat on her sofa.
Rina is going away for two nights. She wants someone to stay at her house with the dog, and apparently my successful sofa visit has made me the leading candidate. I like him. I've never looked after him overnight, and I have plans on both days that would take me away from the house.
She said she could send a quick note and that he was easy company. I replied, 'I'll look at the calendar,' because saying no in front of the dog felt oddly disloyal. She has since sent a picture of him beside the spare-room door.
How do I say that affection isn't the same as agreeing to the whole weekend, while still finding out whether the actual duties could fit my plans?