when my husband was promoted we put our house up for sale. Three weeks later, it was still on the market. I became a compulsive housekeeper. every room had to be kept tidy and dishes had to be washed and put away when used. then one day the doorbell rang unexpectedly at 8 a.m. sleepily, I opened the door and saw the real estate agent standing there with a couple from Wyoming. there had been on time to call, he explained because the Wyomingites had to catch a plane home.
three people made their way past the dirty breakfast dishes on the kitchen table and into a bedroom with unmade beds. as I retreated into a bathroom to take the curlers out of my hair I heard the man say something to his wife. then they both laughed.
two days later, the agent phoned to tell me that the couple had bought the house. he repeated what the buyer had said as he handed over the check :"that house has a warm, lived-in feeling just like ours.