Reality Bites

Reality bites... and doesn't let go. ~Author Unknown

How I wished I could stay in bed the whole day.

The urge to remain in my warm nest grew stronger as I gradually gained consciousness and remembered the chaos that I had left behind the previous night. How nice if there were little elves that will appear when I fall asleep to help me with the chores every night. A fairy Godmother would not be a bad idea either. But hey, I do have an angel who may be as good as a fairy. However, the moment I turned, I knew my hopes were dashed as the angel was still snoring lightly beside me.

I dragged myself reluctantly out of bed and went out to the battlefield. The previous night’s pleasant dream lifted my mood a little though, and took my mind off the droning dish-washing, laundry-cleaning, bags-packing, doggie-pee-poo-clearing, water-boiling… The Abba music I played helped to spice things up too.

Half of the morning was gone by the time I sat down and joined Mervin and Angel for my morning cup of tea. Once again, they were retrieving their Children Day’s gifts from their goodie-bags and having a show-and-tell session. Their happy chatters and occasional bickers turned up the corner of my lips. It was indeed a beautiful morning.

My sister-in-law brought her cute little pooch over for a little wrestling session with my bitch. After she left, I proceeded to tidy up the living room. It’s an impossible task to keep up with the kids. Their ability to clutter far exceeds my ability to de-clutter. I wouldn’t be surprised that the moment I turned my back, there would be another stack growing somewhere again.

The rest of the afternoon was lost… in the world of fantasy! My sister-in-law had engaged me in the training of her virtual character in an online game, Maple Story. My character in the game is a stark contrast to what I am in reality; I am a wealthy magician with strong powers and ultimate valor. So easily did the time pass when I was engrossed in killing the mobsters that by the time I came back to reality, it was way past five!

I quitted the game unwillingly and continued with the chores I had abandoned earlier. Sweet Mervin had helped me to vacuum and mop the floor in exchange for a few hours of playtime on my laptop which I happily obliged. So I only had to hand-wash the Chinese dance costumes of my two girls then.

Since I had washed the costumes, I used the soapy water left to wash my floor rags.

Since I had washed the floor rags, I used the soapy water left to scrub the bathroom floor.

Since I had scrubbed the bathroom floor, I might as well clean the toilet bowl.

I left the bathroom with wrinkled fingers and a sense of achievement.

The feeling lost almost instantly when I stepped out of the bathroom. The sink was filled with greasy mugs and plates again. The dining table was covered with biscuits crumbs and sticky juice stains. I carried a heap of sun-dried clothes onto my bed and went on to have my shower, feeling utterly defeated.

After my shower, I flung my soiled clothes into the yet again half-filled laundry basket. The papers at the corner were soaked with Kristel’s pee once more. As I passed the living room on my way out to my in-law’s place for dinner, I couldn’t help but notice a few books strewn across the coffee table again.

When will this vicious cycle ever end?