She knew the task before her. She stood back and looked at the array of containers. It was not enough that they appeared to be equal, her standards had to be exacting and she had to work with the utmost accuracy in her measurements. She sighed and started.

She bent over the transparent containers and carefully poured the liquid to within a millilitre – it was of vital importance that there were no errors. Even the tiniest could send the whole operation into total chaos, she knew from bitter experience. She accidentally added slightly more to the third one. There was no point trying to subtract any, it always proved too difficult so she threw it into the large sink with exasperation. She refilled it, taking more care this time.

Once she was satisfied with the liquid she turned and started to divide the large pile. She worked with precision and counted each uneven shape out into the rectangular containers. There were a couple left over which she disposed of quickly. She stood back and held her breath as the noisy group entered the room and approached her. She knew that everything hinged on this inspection and she smiled when they looked at her.

They quietened in order to scrutinise each item. They turned each one and moved closer to enable a superior examination, they compared each container side by side and held a couple up to the light. One of them started to count, to check there were no inconsistencies. After what seemed like an eternity they all nodded in agreement and took their respective drinks and raisins into the garden.

How had it come to this? How had these tiny people become such tyrants? She just could not be bothered to go through the tantrums if there was even the minutest of differences. She sighed again, wiped down the worktop and turned to the mound of washing up.