Gleam

Cave Canem: A Special Section

I am genetically predisposed to be a domestic

like my grandmother and her mother

I am not a domestic I am not even a tidy woman

In my own home, I only clean when absolutely necessary Yet I walk into public bathrooms and begin to clean the toilets

After I wash my hands, I wipe the sink dry and keep drying until a whole row of sinks gleam

I can’t help myself In restaurants, I clear crumbs from the table of people sitting next to me before the waiters have a chance

I do not accept tips In bathrooms, I sing a happy song while I work I do this when no one is looking I do this for the sheer joy of cleaning that which does not belong to me

I do not know why I still do this