Life went on for some time at home with my two girls dutifully reporting for work every day as usual. They still presented themselves each morning for daily inspection before I sent them off with a list of work to be done. Jasmine had now taken over the organisation of all this and I was happy to leave her to it. She reported any problems back to me which was usually down to some mistake or negligence of maria at least according to jasmine. Maria by now was totally under jasmine's thumb and would never dream of arguing with her and took any punishment stoically. Indeed as time went on she seemed to come to enjoy it. Occasionally I would let them have a day off but insisted that they took separate ones so that I wouldn't be without a maid. This allowed me the opportunity to play with each of them on their own. I tried to make the most of every opportunity.
And so life went on and settled into a routine which for a while seemed unchanging. That is until one day I had a phone call from an old friend.
"Hi, Christine, it's Jane. How are you?"
"Jane, how lovely to hear from you. I'm fine apart from not hearing from you for ages."
"I know and I'm really sorry. What are you up to these days?"
"Not a lot, just leading a life of leisure."
Jane was one of my very oldest friends. Whereas I had gained my financial security through inheritance and careful investments she had gained hers by marriage. A marriage sadly cut short by his death but lasting long enough to ensure that she was the beneficiary in his will.
"I've been hearing good reports about your 'life of leisure' from various friends," she said somewhat enigmatically.
"Reports about what?"
"How you're living in luxury being waited on hand and foot by two young girls," she replied hardly suppressing a giggle.
"Ahhh my two little maids. They're making my life a little more bearable."
"Errr can I ask your advice? It a slightly delicate matter."
"That's what friends are for my dear Jane. What's the problem?"
"Well you know that David died ..."
"I had heard, I'm so sorry."
"Oh don't be. I might sound like a cold-hearted bitch but he served his purpose. He happily left me quite well off. The problem is that wasn't the only thing I inherited. I've also been lumbered with a step-daughter."
"That sounds like fun. So what is the problem?"
"It's more one of your specialities than mine, Christine. It's a matter of discipline. She's 18 and never done a day's work in her life and doesn't seem keen on doing any. Her father didn't leave her any money, that all came to me, so I've been lumbered with her upkeep."
"I can see you have a problem but I'm not sure what I can do to help."
"Well rumour has been doing the rounds about you and your two maids. It's just the sort of job that pippa would need. Along with the discipline that came with it."
"But my two are more than enough for me. I'm not sure I could find space for a third."
"What I thought was ... errrr ... maybe we could do some sort of swap? I could really do with a maid that knows what she's doing and doesn't give me lip all the time."
"But why do you think I want to swap a fully trained maid for some stroppy teenager?"
"We've known each other for years, Christine, and I know you love a challenge. Don't tell me your two were fully trained when you took them on. And I really need someone, my place is looking like a mess and pippa is worse than useless."
"Why would she listen to me and do as I tell her?"
"Oh Christine I know you. Not many deny you and live to tell the tale," she said and laughed a conspiratorial laugh. I must admit that the more I thought about it the more I became intrigued.
"Can I think about it for a couple of days?"