After the cleaner left, Leah sent her two photographs.
One showed a spotless sitting room. The other showed shoes, toys and a mountain of school bags.
The cleaner said they’d make a lovely before-and-after advert.
Leah asked her to check the times on the pictures first….
Leah booked a cleaner for Tuesday, while all three children were at school.
Her husband, Ben, said the house didn’t usually look that bad.
Leah asked which hours he usually saw it.
He said evenings.
She said that was a brave answer.
The cleaner, Anna, arrived at one. By three, the floors were clear, the cushions were straight and the coffee table looked much larger.
Leah had forgotten it had legs.
Anna asked whether she could take a photograph for her new business page. She was collecting examples of her work.
Leah said yes.
Anna took a lovely picture of the sitting room. Then she checked her phone and sighed.
She had forgotten the before picture.
Would Leah happen to have one?
Leah said she probably had several hundred.
Birthday photographs, Christmas photographs and photographs of the children wearing costumes all included some evidence of the carpet beneath the bags.
Anna said any clear view of the room would do. She would ask permission before posting it.
Leah promised to send something.
Anna left at ten past three.
For a moment, Leah stood in the doorway and admired the room.
She took her own photograph.
Then she went to collect the children.
They came home at twenty-five to four.
The youngest removed one shoe while standing on the other. Both landed beside the sofa.
His sister brought in a cardboard castle. It had travelled home in four pieces and needed repairs before anybody could have a snack.
The eldest put his school bag on the coffee table.
Leah asked him to use his room.
He said he was only getting something out.
He got out two books, a muddy football shirt and a lunch box containing half a banana.
Ben arrived with the shopping.
He saw the clear space beside the door and put three bags in it.
Leah asked whether he could take them to the kitchen.
In a minute. Haven’t even got my coat off.
He put the coat on a cushion.
The castle repair involved glue, six wooden sticks and a box of crayons. Nobody could explain why crayons were needed to repair a castle.
They were all needed, though.
Leah stepped back into the doorway.
She took another photograph.
At four, she sent both pictures to Anna.
Anna replied almost immediately.
These are perfect. Such a difference. May I use them together?
Leah said she could, provided the labels were right.
Anna sent back a little advert with the messy room on the left and the clean room on the right.
Leah asked her to check the times.
Anna looked again.
The clean picture was taken at three twelve.
The messy picture was taken at three fifty.
She telephoned Leah.
I thought these were before and after.
They are, Leah said.
Before and after what?
Before and after school.
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