A Brave New World...

Now all the furniture was gone
It looked neglected and shabby
The air smelled of stale beer
Cigarettes and chip fat
She swallowed hard
How could they ever have thought they could turn this around?
It was beyond hope
Dark, dingy dismal

They had 2 weeks to work their magic
2 weeks and a tight budget
She wasn't phased
She was pulling up carpet, really rotten in places
From years of spilt drinks, it disintegated in her hands
She smiled up at him, connected, met his eyes and understood

She moved to the kitchen
Pulled open a cupboard door..that came off in her hand
She looked at the Big Guy and started to laugh
What have we done?

She was prepared to put a brave face on it
He decided to go along with it
Hesitantly, they ventured upstairs
"..bed bugs..!"

She took one look at the bed and shuddered
They insisted on staying, wanting to be on site
But now, as the light faded and the single naked bulb swung
The peeling wallpaper and worn carpet
Seemed squalid

They went down to the car to get their things
She sighed, she realised what they were leaving behind
People who understood them
People who knew them
People who cared
Here, they were all on their own