def check_strings(text: str, pattern: str) -> int:
    """
        Helper function for checking conditions on both the text and pattern
        to see if searching is needed at all.

        Arguments:
            text - The text we're searching through
            pattern - The pattern we're searching for

        Return:
            int that indicates a status.
            0  - Text is empty and so is the pattern, one match
            -1 - Text is empty but there is a pattern, no match
            1  - pattern is empty, meaning that there is a match
            2  - Text and pattern are both strings >= 1 character
    """
    if not text and not pattern:
        return 0
    elif not text:
        return -1
    elif not pattern:
        return 1
    else:
        return 2