Drabble – Clean

The hallways were alive with activity as Hephaestion made his way to Alexander's rooms. Floors were glistening in the sunlight and sparkled as he made his way. He was in a good mood, things were getting accomplished today and he was feeling happy.

As he approached the rooms, Cassander came out of the room and shook his head.

"I wouldn't go in there, Alexander is very angry and it seems you are the reason."

Cassander keep walking as Hephaestion watched him go wondering what he had done to upset Alexander. He entered the room and saw Alexander hunched over his desk. When Hephaestion spoke he saw Alexander's hands clutch into fists. Hephaestion asked what was wrong and watched as Alexander's face-hardened.

"I thought you were going to take care of the puppies and give them a bath?"

"I did."

"And that is your idea of clean?"

Hephaestion frowned as he tried to figure out what Alexander was talking about. Alexander pointed to a smaller room and motioned for Hephaestion to open it. The sight that greeted him made him groan aloud. Two puppies lay on the floor covered in dirt and mud, and the room itself was a complete mess. Hephaestion quickly closed the door silently before the two dozing puppies woke up.

"I gave them a bath and left them in my room sleeping. How did they get to this?"

"You must have left the door open."

"I'm sure I shut it tightly, I know what happens when they are left to their own devices."

"Well, something happened and I suggest you find out who is responsible and make them clean up that room, give the puppies another bath and fix the garden they have torn up. The gardener is ready to throw them both out."

Hephaestion walked towards the door as Alexander reminded him again to make the culprit pay for all of the trouble he had caused.

An hour later, Hephaestion returned to Alexander's room. He calmly sat down across from Alexander and crossed his legs.

"Well, did you figure out who did this?"

Hephaestion nodded.

"You found out who is responsible and are making them clean all this up?"

"Not yet. I have to make sure I have the right guilty one."

Hephaestion went on to explain what he had pieced together. He had given the puppies a bath and left the doors securely closed. He had spoken briefly to the guards by his room and left to do his jobs. The guards said that only one other person had been in his rooms since his return and that the puppies left shortly after this person left through a door left slightly ajar.

"Who?"

"You."

"Me? I was there but I didn't see the puppies when I was there."

"They sleep under my bed."

A very pregnant pause elapsed…..

'The puppies need a bath, that room needs cleaned and the garden needs fixed….oh, and I need an apology." Hephaestion said with a smile as he left.