I hate the chaos. I pick up the seven cans the dogs have licked and put them in the recycling. I put dishes into the dishwasher. I put the camera away. I fold throws and drape them on chairs. I pick up a dish with bones half-eaten by the cat. I think about taking guardianship of my daughter and will she hate me. I water the Christmas tree. I sniff the washcloth and decide although a little smelly it will do. I spray the counter and wipe, and even though my hand hurts from the operation, I use it anyway.
Jill Pabich has completed her first novel, for middle graders, about a haunted hotel. Jill is a Five Minutes Founding Contributor; as such her pieces are published in addition to those from writers who come in through Submittable. Read Jill’s past contributions here.