Let me tell you a little about my houseboy and how “rough” his life is. For those who don’t know, houseboy used to be one of my two personal house subs. He chose to leave my service years ago, and I released him.

Fast-forward four years, and he came back—begging to return. By that time, I’d already brought on thing2, and his spot as one of my personal subs was no longer available. Instead, we decided he would take on the role of houseboy, which puts him firmly at the bottom of the pack.

As houseboy, he’s responsible for most of the cleaning. Of course, thing1 and thing2 both have their own assigned chores, but the bulk of the work falls to him. Honestly, though? He doesn’t seem to mind—houseboy actually likes cleaning.

While his position in the hierarchy may not be as “glamorous” as it once was, I think he finds satisfaction in his role, knowing he’s contributing to the household. Still, he’s reminded often of his place—and that’s exactly as it should be.