taking her vacuum with her

i don't fire

the housekeeper, i tell her,

let's

do every other month,

instead of

every month.

i'm not a pig pen

like i used

to be,

i tell her.

i've grown up.

i'm much neater now.

i no longer have visitors

until the crack of dawn

or eat

cookies in bed.

but there's a language barrier.

she thinks

i'm firing her.

she begins to cry,

she tells me she will miss me.

i try to calm

her down,

but it's too late.

she's already moved on.

taking

her vacuum 

and dust mop with her.