Thank Your Custodian

I know it's easy for you to pass us by without a smile or a nod. We tend to blend in even with the massive cart of chemicals, brooms, trash bags, etc. We're just the people in the dingy grey uniform or casual shorts and t-shirts. The people with no degrees, tattoos, we don't speak as well as you, and we're only here to take out your trash.

You don't know much about us, do you? After all, you're very busy, and we're just the cleaning crew. We don't know about the intricacies of your job, don't know about all the work you put into getting things ready for the next day. You're right; most of us probably don't. Being you must be tough at times with the workload that you put in. We hear it in your conversation in the hallway, while you're sitting in the breakroom, or during your phone calls as we sneak in to collect your trash.

We've seen the way your boss treats you. The way the students treat you. You must be tired, stressed; especially with all the expectations set on you during the pandemic.

Your husband and kids must like having you around, though, right?

What about your wife?

I know your dog must be so excited to get to see you every day. Mine would be too. So would my cat. And my partner.

What? You didn't realize I knew about your family, your pets, or that you went to Cancun last summer and had been eager to take your vacation to Colorado this June? Of course I did. The evidence of your life is on your desk for me to see. Or did you not know that I also had someone waiting for me after work?

I saw that same football game you were discussing in the lobby. I love that painting you have up in your office. I love that you have these decorations up in your classroom- it looks more like a home than a school. Too bad the kids aren't here to appreciate it. Or you...

I'm sorry you couldn't come in for a while; that you were stuck at home and had to run back and forth to get your supplies. I missed seeing you. I missed hearing them scream and shout up and down the hallways. Sometimes I missed only being called when something needs to be cleaned. It's lonely here in the building without you.

I've cleaned your office, your classroom, your hallways at least three times. Did you know those old lockers could shine like this? Or that the carpet was that color? Everything smells fresh. You won't believe that the bathrooms don't smell like piss anymore- yes, even that one boy's bathroom. The locker rooms don't smell like feet and body odor- yes, even the boy's. Please don't ask how long it took.

I got those stains off the wall. Dusted the picture frames, took that soda stain out of your decorative carpet, even put your figurines in a few fun positions so you might have a laugh when you come back.

The desks have been arranged just how you like them. The cafeteria floor shines like new. On top of all that, everything has been disinfected, wiped down... it smells like a hospital in here.

My coworkers and I had put in long hours, stayed when you couldn't, even worked on skeleton crews of four people. We've been here the whole time and worked late into the night, all for you. Now that you're back, we're still keeping up the massive workload we've been assigned to make sure you can stay.

Some of us have quit... The pay wasn't enough for what they expected us to do, or the insurance didn't cover the medical expense when one of us got sick. Sick leave and vacation time gets eaten up quickly, you know. It really was a lot; all the regular work on top of disinfecting everything. They didn't hire any additional people to help, you know. It was just us. Though I expect that you don't know how many of us there actually are, do you?

That's fine.

Those of us who love this job have stayed. Because while the work is hard and the pay is garbage, we love seeing you every day. We do what we must to keep you all here with us. Because without you, there is no work and this building is just an empty building with haunted, useless room filled with the ghosts of people who used to give it life.