my favorite maid

I ring the bell for

Esmeralda to come up the stairs.

she knocks on the bedroom door
and I say

come in.

yes. she says, slightly bowing,
a grin

on her pretty face.

no breakfast this morning, I tell
her.
just coffee

and the paper.

i'm sleeping in.
tell Frederick to pull the car

around at noon. I may
go

ride a horse, then go to the gym.

of course, she says, is there
anything else?

yes, close the door and come over
here and kiss me.

oh my she says, are we going down
this slippery

slope again.

yes, I tell her, it's time for
you to retire,

and we become more than just friends.

okay, she says.