Whose Turn is it Anyway?

Monday

“Carson, take the trash out please.”

“Uuuhhh!” she whines. “I did it yesterday, make Hannah do it.”

I turn to my other daughter also sitting on the couch watching TV. “Hannah, can you take the trash out please?” 

“No fair, I did the recycling earlier. Make Cole do it.”  I consider this.  I’d forgotten she took the recycling bin out when I’d asked that morning.

I turn towards the game room where Cole is currently shooting up competitors on Fortnite. “Cole, take the trash out please!” I holler.

“I’m in the middle of a round.  I’ll do it after.” he shouts back.

My shoulders slump.  Our trash, the scent of rotten chicken emanating from the packaging of last night’s dinner, is overflowing.  I want to start cooking tonight’s dinner, but I need the trash emptied first.  Sighing, I lift the top and collect the edges of the bag. 

Tuesday

“Hannah, I need you to clean the cat litter.”

“Neither of those cats are mine. Make Carson do it.”

She’s right, neither cat is technically hers, but she’s currently watching TV while her sister is at work and her brother is in the shower.  I contemplate if the fight is worth the effort.

I walk up stairs and knock on the bathroom door. “Cole?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you clean the cat litter after your shower?”

“I guess.” He answers.

Wednesday

“Carson, your clothes are still in the washer.  Please switch them over to the dryer so I can do a load.”

“Hannah still has her stuff in the dryer.”  Carson announces.  This means, Carson will not be moving her clothes until her sister moves hers. 

“Hannah.” I yell up the stairs. “Get your clothes out of the dryer and put them away please.”

Hannah opens her bedroom door to call back.  “I’m sleeping and I have an alarm set for 11:30.  I will after it goes off.”  She closes her door to punctuate her sentence. I look at the time, 10:45. 

I tell Carson, “Just pull her stuff out and put it in a basket.”

Carson uses a pleading voice, “Can’t you do that since your gonna be in there putting your stuff in?”

Thursday

“Cole, take the dog for a walk please.”

“I took her yesterday.  Hannah hasn’t taken her in, like, forever.”

“Hannah, take the dog for a walk.”

Hannah whines, “Uuuhh, I hate taking her, she pulls. Make Carson do it, she never takes her for a walk.”

“Your sister’s at work, I need you to do it.”

“Fine, but it’s too hot right now, I’ll do it later.”

I look down at the third pillow the dog has destroyed out of boredom. “Do it now.”

Friday

“Mom, can I have money to go to the beach?”

“Mom, can I go camping with Sam?”

“Mom, can you make cookies, I’m dying for cookies.”