When I entered the laundromat, it was dead quiet. Though I noticed someone’s clothes in the wash machine that is done. I imagine they will come along at some point and put it in the dryer.
While I was putting my clothes in the wash and feeding it quarters I heard the door open. In the other aisle I saw a hat moving to the back of the laundromat. Then the bathroom door closed. After I got settled in the easy chair I saw an old man that belongs to the hat, walking around pressing all the coin returns to see if he could get change. I don’t think he had any luck.
Just after the old man left the person whose clothes were in the wash came in. In a whirl he was gone again while his clothes dry. I sometimes go home or run errands while my clothes are here too. Most of the time I am content to stick around.
I decided to eat at home after I am done with the laundry, so I didn’t sit at the booth this week. I sat in the one easy chair. Before COVID there was another easy chair. It was big and green and leather or faux leather, all beat up with duct tape patches. I LOVED that chair. They got rid of it because they felt they couldn’t keep it sanitized well enough. Makes sense, but I was sad. The laundromat remained open because we still need clean clothes. Most of us wore masks. There is always an outlier. A few months ago they got a new easy chair. Not as big and comfy as the old one, but the most comfortable seat in the place. On the left is the old one and on the right is the new one. Nice place to sit and read.
After a while the usual Friday night man comes in, quickly followed by mother and her older teenage daughter. They have never been here before. The mother firsts notes that there are booths. Then realizes they forgot laundry detergent so bought some out of the old machine. The daughter is quiet, perhaps bored. Mom is a spitfire here to get things done! My wash will be done in a few minutes.
When I got to the washer, it said one minute left. That one minute lasted two minutes. I counted to 60 twice. The washing machines have always lied. You need to add at least five minutes to the time it gives you. The dryers at least tell the truth. I know like clockwork the dryer will be done in 64 minutes. I like my clothes bone dry, I don’t want to chance any wetness. With that 64 minutes I can truly relax with my book as bad 80s music plays. Someone remind me to bring headphones next time. I should just keep them in the car. Another mother and her adult daughter just walked in. These two are easily talking to each other.
When I got to the washer, it said one minute left. That one minute lasted two minutes. I counted to 60 twice. The washing machines have always lied. You need to add at least five minutes to the time it gives you. The dryers at least tell the truth. I know like clockwork the dryer will be done in 64 minutes. I like my clothes bone dry, I don’t want to chance any wetness. With that 64 minutes I can truly relax with my book as bad 80s music plays. Someone remind me to bring headphones next time. I should just keep them in the car. Another mother and her adult daughter just walked in. These two are easily talking to each other.
At some point reading makes me sleepy, I still have over a half hour before clothes dryer is done. I play games on my phone. Go for a tiny walk see the barely there park next to the strip mall, check out what the back of the building looks like. I recently bought a near perfect purse at Goodwill. Decent amount of pockets and large enough to carry a notebook and reading book with me. So at CVS, which is next to the laundromat, I bought a notebook and gel pens I totally didn’t need, but one was the prettiest teal color! By then my clothes were finally ready to take out of the dryer and go home!
Rainy Saturday Creative 