Housekeeping: a story in 60 seconds

You have to give respect in order to earn it

The woman stamped around the hotel room with the phone in her hand. “We called for maid service yesterday! I don’t understand; we’re paying $500 a night, and I must reuse my towel?”

The concierge calmly assured the woman that the maid would come that afternoon.

The woman lounged around in her bathrobe for the next twenty minutes, waiting for her husband to return from his run. Then she heard a knock on the door.

A muffled shout came from the other side. “Housekeeping.”

The woman opened the door.

“This time, okay?” the housekeeper asked.

“I thought you were going to come this afternoon!” the woman huffed. “Ugh. Yes, it’s fine. But there’s a lot to get done,” she said, looking around the room. “Please wipe all the grime from the corners of the bathtub and the shower. And the carpet by the bed…it stinks, so please use an advanced cleaner or something with acid. The coffee pods also need to be refilled, and I’d also like a few extra tubes of conditioner and shampoo. And…”

The housekeeper held up her hand.

The woman gasped. “Did you just—”

But the housekeeper kept it raised. “Mam, I’m not your servant.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll come back in an hour,” the housekeeper said. “You shouldn’t be in here while I’m cleaning.”

And with that, she backed out of the hotel room, allowing the heavy door to slam closed behind her.  

The woman sat on the foot of the bed and stared at the blank television screen. A few minutes later, she heard the door click open.

In walked her husband, his sweaty shirt clinging to his chest.

“You’re still in your robe?” was the first thing he said. “It’s eleven o’clock.”

She said quietly, “I’m on vacation.”

“Guess you’re not working out then?”

“I just wanted to relax today…”

“That’s what you said yesterday—and the day before. You won’t be happy when you can’t fit into your dress.” He stripped off his shirt and headed to the bathroom. “I’m hungry. Get ready so we can go to breakfast. And call downstairs. The damn maid still hasn’t shown up.”

The woman focused silently on the floor.

“Ok?” he asked, standing in the doorway. “Got it?”

Then she looked up.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” she asked flatly.

“Huh?” her husband mumbled.

“If you ever speak to me like that again, I’m leaving you. And I will take everything. Got it? Now clean yourself up and meet me downstairs for breakfast. The housekeeper will be back soon.”