I swept away the floors, the plastic handle of the broom clutched in my hands, as I continued sweeping, moving all the dust in the corridor into a pile. I had been doing it ever since I had gotten home from school, mother wanted it done by the time her and father returned from their date night, I already had the kitchen, living room, lobby, downstairs bathroom, and their corridors swept, I just had to finish the upstairs corridor, master bedroom, upstairs bathroom, and my room before I could take a break after the long school day. “Nora.” I heard my name and immediately turned to where the voice had come from.
There stood Mary, our maid. She wore a black and purple uniform, contrary to the standard black and white, “Would you like some help with your chores?” She asked, her gorgeous green eyes reflecting the generous act. “That would be appreciated, thank you.” I say in response to her offer. “Alright, i’ll go to get the rest of the cleaning supplies, I will not be long.” She said in a soft tone, as quickly as she had arrived she took her leave, making her way down the split staircase and eventually out of sight. I wait a few moments before continuing to sweep the floors of the hardwood corridor, it isn’t long before Mary traverses up the stairs with a cleaning cart, she makes the feat look so effortless, if that were me both I and the cart would end up tumbling down. “Where have you cleaned thus far?” Mary asks me upon reaching the top of the steps.
I think for a moment as I recall where I had been. “I’ve done the entirety of the lower manor, I am just starting the upper area.” I replied. “Very well, you finish this corridor now, and I'll take care of the rest, okay?” “Okay.” Mary takes her cleaning cart into the master bedroom and I resume sweeping the floors of the corridor once more.
While it does take some time I eventually finish, by the time I was done the corridor however Mary had already finished The master bedroom and bathroom. I breathe a sigh of relief, It took awhile but it was at least done, and of course I am thankful Mary had helped, it would have taken even longer if she had not. I head down the stairs and make my way to the living room as I sit down on the couch and grab my phone off of the table before opening my texting app.
I scroll through the contacts on my phone until I find Amanda, my best friend. I had known her since kindergarten, I opened the contact and began to type. “Hey, do you want to go to the mall with me tomorrow?” Send. I set my phone down on the table again and look at the ceiling, for what feels like an hour. Eventually though, my phone rang, I picked it up once more and checked the text I had gotten. “Of course! Need to see what deals they have on dresses!” I don’t know why but I always read Amanda’s texts with a more enthusiastic tone, despite her having the most monotone voice ever. “Alright! See you in A-hall after school then!” send. Now that tomorrow is planned, I need to figure out what to do until then.
I sit up straight and look for the television remote before abruptly ending it. “No…mother would not want to come back and see me watching television…” I say to myself quietly before getting up. I look around the room for something, anything that could entertain me, after a few minutes I lay down on the couch and stare at the ceiling, doing nothing but stare, not even bothering to close my eyes, taking a nap would pass the time, but I am not tired, and taking a nap could make sleeping more of a challenge when the time comes. Seconds pass, and those seconds slowly turn to minutes, and those minutes slowly turn to hours. Mary occasionally walked by, striking up conversations, “I think something was watching me in the halls, like an unmarked camera, the government may be watching us.” She’s always been a little odd like that, she genuinely believes the government is watching her, it could be but I doubt any of us matter in their eyes.