my ten year old could have done a better job

i tell

the young woman,

full

of new money,

to not touch the wallpaper,

it needs

to dry and settle

itself onto the wall.

don't pick

at it.

turn the light off and close

the door.

but no.

instead,

she rubs and pulls,

tugs

at the seams,

she washes it down

with a bucket

of water.

and in the morning she

calls me

and tells

me that it's a mess now,

the sheets have

buckled,

it's falling down.

her husband

says that

their ten year old could

have done

a better job.

i send them back their

check.

i move on.