My desk becomes a mountain every week. I do not build this mountain on purpose. It simply appears.

On Monday, there is only one notebook and one pencil. On Tuesday, a worksheet joins them. By Wednesday, three books, two snack wrappers, and a cup with no clear job are living there.

Some people say a clean desk makes a clean mind. I respect this idea. I also think those people have never owned five different colored pens.

A messy desk can be useful. When I lose a paper, I do not panic. I begin an archaeological dig. Sometimes I find the paper. Sometimes I find a math test from last month and a cookie that has become history.

Still, the mountain has limits. If I cannot see the desk, the desk may no longer be a desk. It may be a small country.

This weekend, I will clean it. I will throw away old papers, return books to the shelf, and rescue my ruler.

Of course, the mountain may come back next week. Mountains are patient.