I wake up on my broken sofa because I don’t have a bed yet. I’m not sure why it’s taking so long but I grow in frustration each day. My sister has a bed - where is mine? I scan my room, my lovely unfinished room. The wallpaper is so pretty I could have chosen it myself. The mostly visible carpet beautifully matches one shade of green on the old-fashioned damask-clad walls. I love my room, but the windows do gape with glare; it’s a wonder I can sleep in here.
I have tried convincing them to get me a bed, or even to fix my lumpy ill-measured leaky-stuffinged couch - that would be a start. I have tried imploring them to cover my windows, even with blankets, but nothing gets through. I would do it myself if I could.
I choose a new outfit from a pile on the floor and wander down the steps to the bathroom under them. The toilet is so squished into the underside of the staircase that I have to stoop before I can sit down. I wash my hands and brush my teeth and finish what I can of my routine. There is no shower or bath yet, so I sponge myself down. I dress and examine myself in the cloudy mirror. I look cute - I always look cute. I make my way to the kitchen and greet my sister. She is having a coffee and staring out the window.
“Morning Mindy” I hear myself say.
“Oh, hey Kat. I saw the landlord just before - I think she’s working on a bed for you!”
“I’ve told you before, she always looks like she’s getting onto it but the bed never comes.”
“Sooo-reee. Look, my bed took a while and I didn’t even have that shitty couch. You could have shared it with me.”
I catch myself yelling “you could let me use your bed sometimes but you don’t!”
Mindy ogles me in exasperation. I know what I just said was hypocritical. I am painfully aware. I apologise, and I grab myself a coffee. We sit in silence for what feels like an eternity, and then I see it.
“The landlord is here, and she’s got furniture!”
We both head to the main entrance and watch in awe as a giant hand places a gorgeous green and pink single bed on the top floor, removing the makeshift sofa in one deft movement. Maybe I will get matching curtains next?