What did the Dodds do when they went away last summer?

M: I really don’t know what to do this summer. I can’t afford to just sit around, and there don’t seem to be any jobs available.
W: Why don’t you try house-sitting? Last summer my friend Margaret house-sat for the Dodds when they went away on vacation. [4 A] Mrs. Dodd hired Margaret to stay in their house because she didn’t want it left empty.
M: You mean the Dodds paid Margaret just to live in their house?
W: It wasn’t that easy. [5A] She had to mow the lawn and water the house plants. And when Eric house-sat for Mrs. Cohen, he had to take care of her pets.
M: House-sitting sounds like a good job. I guess it is a little like baby-sitting — except you’re taking care of a house instead of children.
W: The student employment office still has a few jobs posted.
M: Do I just have to fill out an application?
W: [6B] Margaret and Eric had the interview with the homeowners and provided three references each.
M: That seems like a lot of trouble for a summer job.
W: Well, the homeowners want some guarantee that they can trust the house sitter. You know they want to make sure that you’re not the type who’ll throw wild parties in their house, or move a group of friends in with you.
M: House sitters who do that sort of thing probably aren’t paid then.
W: Usually they’re paid anyway just because the homeowners don’t want to make a fuss. But if the homeowner reported it, then the house-sitter wouldn’t be able to get another job.