When She Started Serving from the Pot, I Pulled Out Antibacterial Wipes from My Bag and Began Wiping the Forks. She Noticed.

When my aunt was ladling stew from the pot, I fished antibacterial wipes out of my satchel and started polishing the forks. She caught me in the act.

A few weeks ago I dropped by Aunt Margarets flat in a rush to hand her some paperwork. We only see each other at holidays, but this time the situation was urgent. She isnt feeling well, though it has nothing to do with money. Im not cheap; I reckon a tidy home is the cornerstone of any decent life. You can live modestly, but the house still needs to be kept in order.

The walls are crowded with dustcollectors, and every surface is piled high with figurines, tea sets and rows of cannedgoods jars, dozens on each stack. In the bathroom sits a cat litter tray Aunt Margaret gives it a quick clean once a week. Rubbish is heaped right at her feet, and the flat reeks of sewage and rotting food.

Margaret offered me a bite and began setting the table. As she laid the plates down, I noticed they were crusty. While she was ladling from the pot, I pulled out the wipes and started scrubbing the forks.

She saw me. When I started picking at the food, she asked, Arent you hungry, or dont you like it?

What was I supposed to say? Have any of you ever found yourself in a similar spot?