Coming home from work, a man found his three children outside in their pyjamas, playing in the mud with an empty food can and with paper strewn across the front yard. His wife’s car door was open, and likewise the house door. There was no sign of the dog. Moving into the house, he found an incredible mess: a lamp had fallen on the floor and the entrance rug was pushed to a wall. In the living room a cartoon was playing much too loudly on the TV and the family room had toys and clothes strewn all over. The kitchen sink was full of dishes, breakfast was still on the counter, the fridge door was wide open, there was dog food on the floor, and a broken glass was under the table. A trail of sand led to the back door.

Now looking for his wife, he slowly moved upstairs, every step obstructed by a toy or piece of clothing. He began to wonder if she was sick... or perhaps worse. At the top of the stairs, he saw a puddle of water in front of the bathroom door. Inside on the floor were some wet towels, soap bubbles, and more toys. The toilet paper had been unrolled and pushed into the corner. Toothpaste had been spread on the mirror and wall.

Then, opening the bedroom door, he found his wife, in bed, still in pyjamas, wrapped in the covers, and reading a novel. She looked at him, smiled, and asked him how his day was. He looked at her bewildered, and asked, “What happened here today?”

She smiled again, and said, “Oh, well, you know how you always ask me, ‘What have you been doing all day?’When you come home from work?”

“Yes,” he said, confused.

Still smiling, she said very matter-of-factly, “Well, I didn’t do it today.”