madam, in eden I'm adam

My American mother can’t remember ever making eggnog, but when I read her the details of recipes she says no, definitely not, or makes a face and waves her hand for the next one. I’m sitting on the floor in the living room because on Friday a man came and unpicked our couch, the chair, and left us with the backs of both and two arms. He apologised for the mess and the inconvenience as he poured pennies and buttons and half a dozen bobby pins into my hand, finishing his tea quickly at the same time somehow and then leaving. The dogs are worried, move from person to person with dumb, sulky eyes.