Household Chores

Grace clumsily rolled out of bed, struggling to keep herself awake, not silencing her alarm at first in the vain hope that the loud beeping would help dissipate her grogginess. Her auburn hair was a mess, tangled and chaotic from tossing and turning all night in the summer heat.

She quickly threw on a pair of sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt, both hanging loosely on her slender frame. Stumbling out into the kitchen, she met her sister Dana, and their mother, Carol sitting at the kitchen table looking over a calendar of some kind.

“What’s got you two so enraptured?” Grace joked, walking to the fridge and pulling the out the milk pitcher.

Dana was wearing a purple hoodie and exercise shorts, having clearly just returned from the gym. Mom had on a matching grey dress shirt and skirt combo, still preparing to head to work for the day.

“Mom got a new chore planner” Dana mumbled, absent mindedly, completely focused on the chart in front of her. “Supposed to be the magic solution to household chaos or some shit like that”

“Sounds like a load of bull.” Grace said as she pulled a bowl and a carton of cereal out for herself. “We’ve lived in this house for twenty years now, and never managed to sort out housework. I really doubt that a some fancy charts gonna solve all that”

“We’ll see about that…” mom mumbled, quickly writing something on the chart. Without thinking, grace paused pouring her cereal, and grabbed two more bowls from the cupboard, filling them with cereal as well.

“Holy shit!” Dana exclaimed. Startling Grace and mom. “It works!”

“Jesus Dana! You’re gonna give me a heart attack yelling like that! It’s way too early for that much energy anyway.” Grace complained as she walked to the table, more curious than angry. “What worked, anyway?”

“Look at what mom added to the chart!” Dana exclaimed, still yelling in excitement. “You’ve never made breakfast for anyone else before, but here you are pouring us cereal like you’re not super selfish for once!”

Grace looked down at the chart, seeing one line written in the large “every day” section: Grace’s chore. Make breakfast cereal for everyone in the house.

“What? It’s just one of my chores, why would I not make cereal for you? It’s what I’m supposed to do.” Grace responded incredulously.

“You don’t even notice how unusual it is!” Dana said as she snatched the pencil from mom. “Hold on, this aughta snap you back to reality!”