A young Los Angeles actor in need of a second job to pay his bills has come up with a brilliant way to supplement his income — people walking.
Chuck McCarthy originally considered becoming a dog walker to earn some extra cash, but soon realized that the job requires more than walking dogs on a leash. However, walking people doesn’t require much when they are out on walks. Chuck realized there would be money to be made if he walks people around Los Angeles instead.
It might sound like a joke, but The People Walker, as he calls himself, is very serious about his new job. For $7 per mile, he offers to walk with clients around L. A., listening to their problems or simply making conversations and offering them a sense of security. At 6 feet, 2 inches, and with a bulky figure and bushy beard, Chuck doesn’t look like the kind of guy you’d want to mess with.
Chuck’s services are aimed at people who need a motivational boost to go walking, those who don’t feel safe walking alone in some areas, and those who are afraid that people might see them walking by themselves and think that they have no friends. “I wear my The People Walker shirt upon request and on the first walk with a new client, so he can be 100% sure it’s me,” McCarthy says. However, he admits some people are a bit uncomfortable with this policy, as they don’t necessarily want everyone to know that they’re being walked.
So far, Chuck McCarthy has already had another five people walkers employed, covering various areas, like downtown L. A., Hollywood, Eagle Rock, or Fairfax County. Once he posted signs around the city, his phone started ringing and clients began rolling in. And with all the free publicity he has been getting in the press lately, more requests are coming.
While he hopes that his acting career will take off soon, Chuck is very happy with his people walking business. After all, it’s literally a walk in the park and it pays the bills.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “supplement” in Paragraph 1 mean?
A.Save. | B.Increase. |
C.Change. | D.Invest. |
【小题2】Which service of The People Walker isn’t mentioned in the text?
A.Communicating with the clients. | B.Accompanying the clients. |
C.Buying the clients food. | D.Offering a sense of safety. |
【小题3】Why do people prefer Chuck to walk without wearing the shirt?
A.To keep them comfortable. | B.To avoid being recognized. |
C.To attract more new friends. | D.To keep themselves alone. |
【小题4】What do we know about Chuck McCarthy from the text?
A.He has lost confidence in his acting career. |
B.He hopes to find excitement in people walking. |
C.He has inspired other people to be more creative. |
D.He earns more as a people walker than as an actor. |