The room upstairs

In this house we do cleaning sprints.  We host a French exchange student beginning next Saturday. His room upstairs is now ready.  We have made three trips to Goodwill, and piled the curb on trash day last week.  We clean to deadline.  All three of us clean to deadline.  One room down.  More to go.  Lots more to go.

The room upstairs

Is ready to host.

The theme is teal and gray

With white jersey sheets,

A picture on the wall

My grandmother painted:

Flowers with teal leaves.

It is masculine enough.

Over the dresser hangs the line drawing

Of a hippo

With a fork,

A Thanksgiving turkey

Ready to eat.

A whimsical touch.

Do the French

Appreciate whimsy?

We have made baby steps

On the rest of the house.

We have begun the countdown

To ready enough.

The door is shut

To the host-able room,

Upstairs.

The cat waits outside

The door,

Ready to make a break

For clean sheets

New pillows

A hiding place

Under the bed.