Shay and Hanna were perfectly content at home. Their routine was simple: cartoons on Saturday mornings, blanket forts in the living room, and the occasional raid on the cookie jar. So, when their parents announced they’d be going out of town for a while and leaving them with Aunt Maxine, the kids staged a protest.

“No way!” Shay declared, crossing his arms. “We can stay here by ourselves!”

“Yeah!” Hanna chimed in, her face set with determination. “I’m practically ten, and Shay can make sandwiches. We don’t need a babysitter.”

Their parents exchanged amused glances. “We’ve already made arrangements, and Aunt Maxine is so excited to have you,” their mom said patiently.

But Shay and Hanna weren’t giving in without a fight. They refused to get dressed, flinging their pajamas onto the ceiling fan. Hanna barricaded the door with stuffed animals while Shay scattered cereal across the floor as if it were a booby trap.

“See? We’re creative!” Hanna exclaimed. “We don’t need anyone!”

Their dad chuckled as he stepped over the chaos. “Nice try, but you’re going. Aunt Maxine will take great care of you.”

“You’ll love her house,” their mom added. “It’s… different.”

“Different how?” Shay asked suspiciously.

“You’ll see,” their dad said with a wink.

Reluctantly, Shay and Hanna packed their bags, grumbling the entire way.

When they arrived at Aunt Maxine’s house, their initial doubts only grew. The house was round, like a giant coin dropped into the middle of the neighborhood. Shay and Hanna exchanged wary glances as Maxine greeted them at the door, her colorful scarf trailing behind her like a magician’s cape.

“Welcome, my darlings!” she exclaimed. “Prepare for surprises—and maybe a little fun.”

Shay and Hanna didn’t believe her at first. But as soon as they stepped inside, their jaws dropped.

Shay and Hanna, after their dramatic stand,
Grumbled and moped, with their bags in hand.
“We still don’t want to go!” they said with dread,
But their parents insisted, so off they were led.

Aunt Maxine greeted them again with a curious grin,
Her house, round as a coin, was where fun would begin.
“Welcome, my darlings! Come step through the door.
Prepare for surprises—and maybe some more!”

The tour began with a twist and a bend,
As they climbed up the stairs that refused to end.
“They go up the wall, across the high ceiling,
Then back to the door. It’s a funny feeling!”

“But wait,” said Maxine, “that’s not all to see,
My beds aren’t on floors—they hang sideways, you’ll agree!”
Hanna gasped as Shay started reeling,
“Look, Aunt Maxine! There are socks on the ceiling!”

“Of course!” said Maxine. “That’s where they belong.
They dance up there while I sing them a song.
Gravity’s boring, so I mixed up the rules—
My house is for fun, not for frowns or for schools.”

Shay leapt to test the trampoline floor,
Bouncing so high, he almost hit the door.
Hanna joined in with an excited squeal,
“Let’s see how high we can go for real!”

Then they tested the upside-down sink,
Where water flowed upward as quick as a blink.
Shay splashed his sister, who started to giggle,
“Careful!” said Maxine, “The faucet will wriggle!”

In the hall, they found a set of wheels,
Attached to a sofa that could race on heels.
Shay pushed it fast, making Hanna shout,
“It’s a car and a couch—watch out, watch out!”

By dinner, the kids were roaring with glee,
As Maxine served spaghetti from her upside-down tree.
The noodles dangled and twirled in the air,
And the sauce landed perfectly—how? Who could care?

After eating, Hanna found a peculiar chair,
That spun her in circles and played fanfare.
“Every seat’s different!” Maxine declared with pride,
“That one applauds, and this one’s a slide!”

Before bed, Shay tried out the wall-mounted suite,
“It’s so cozy and snug—this is such a treat!”
Hanna, not tired, bounced back to the hall,
And laughed when a lamp started doing a crawl.

As they settled for bed, with socks raining down,
Maxine tucked them in with a bedtime crown.
“My house is your house, explore as you please,
But don’t be surprised if the furniture sneezes!”

The next morning, they woke to the smell of pancakes,
Hanging on strings like a sweet-smelling drape.
The syrup was served in a hat upside down,
And Maxine was dancing in a polka-dot gown.

When their parents arrived, they both cried, “Oh no!
We’re not ready to leave; please don’t make us go!”
But Maxine, with a wink, gave a playful tease,
“You can always come back when you want, with ease.”

With beds on the walls and socks on the ceiling,
Maxine’s home was the best, there was no denying the feeling.