The Housekeeper

This was written in class in response to a prompt in Lesson Writing Plan: I Heard That

Andrea considered herself to be a model mother. She'd had a good job in the city, but had given it up when she became pregnant, and now, three children later, had no plans to return.

Michael liked it that way. He earnt enough to provide a comfortable family life without a second income, and he enjoyed the comfort of having his meals on-time, beautifully presented and utterly delicious. The house and garden were kept to perfection, his suits pressed, his shirts ironed, his shoes polished and even his car cleaned, by his dutiful wife. He was living the dream. His colleagues were, he knew, envious.

Until Andrea was ill. They'd always coped easily before, the birth of their three children, and any minor sick days had been accompanied by copious assistance from Andrea's friends - also stay-at-home Mums. He'd hardly noticed any difference to his routine.

But this was different - this was going to be three months of Andrea being unable to lift or carry much; indeed, for the first time in her life she would be confined to bed for a few weeks.

Michael found that things began to slip almost immediately. And he didn't like it. Not one bit! After the first week of eating freezer meals and doing a bit of ironing, he'd had enough. After ten days he was feeling desperate. Never one to suffer quietly, he decided to get a housekeeper in.

Michael had not realised that good housekeepers are like gold dust, and have to be treated with the respect they deserve. His first lasted a week. The second left on the second day, just after Michael had referred to her cooking by an extremely rude name, something to do with a dog's private parts. The third

didn't even stay for a day, When she saw the list of Michael's expectations she laughed like a drain, and left.

Andrea's friend Bonnie suggested that they might borrow her au-pair while they were away for a month with her family.

'I don't need her there,' she said. 'My parents have plenty of help that I can use.'

Michael thought that Liwayway would be too young and too inexperienced, but at this point he was in despair.

It went surprisingly well. She was neat and clean, an obsessive worker, and undeniably beautiful. Andrea was pleased, too. Liwayway spent time with her in her suite, giving her facials and massages, and talking about her own family. The children adored her. She taught them how to fold towels into funny animals and how to make boats and kites out of old newspapers. Within three weeks it almost felt as though she was part of the family.

One day, Andrea's eldest, Katrina, now almost eight years old, was talking to her mother.

'Mummy,' she said. 'Can I have some money?'

'Why, dear?' said Andrea. 'What do you want to buy?'

'I'd like to buy Liwayway a present.'

'Oh, is it her birthday?' Andrea was surprised.

'I think it must be. Daddy is buying her a present.'

'Is he?'

'Yes. He told her the other day that he'd like to give her one.'

Andrea took on the task of hiring another housekeeper soon after that.

And Liwayway went back to the Phillipines.