My first day of work was with Umm Noha.
“Tell me what I’m supposed to do,” I said to her.
She got to know me and the day was soon over.

The hardest day was when I was alone.
I had to walk in a deserted area.
I was scared.
I walked a lot.
She opened the door for me and went to sleep.
I kept wondering what I should start with.
Until I decided to just start with anything,
Like how I usually clean my own apartment.

I thought it was a small apartment,
But it turned out to be really big.
She wanted me to change her baby’s diapers,
And make them breakfast,
While she and her husband and baby were asleep.
I hated work because of her.
My job was supposed to be just cleaning and tidying.

“Please make Karim some tea when he comes home,”
She’d tell me while lying in bed.
“Can you change the baby’s diapers?”
“I’m on a diet. Can you make me something to eat?”
“Can you prepare Karim’s dinner before you go?”
I’m not here to feed you!
I’m only here to clean.
I would fantasize about dropping the chandelier on her head while cleaning it.

I needed the money, so I went again.
“Prepare me breakfast at nine.
Make me some fava beans and goat cheese with bell peppers.”
She then had some snacks and juice.
She was supposedly on a diet.

Her husband woke up soon after.
“Make him breakfast.”
“The baby threw up on one of those carpets,
But I don’t remember which one.
Can you wash both?”

I decided never to go again after that day.
She made me hate my job.