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“Yes, I need to. I have to escape for a bit today because our washing machine needs to be repaired, but we desperately need to wash some of these blankets. So, Tommy will take over the t-r-e-a-t giving, and I’ll go get to spend a relaxing afternoon at the laundromat!”
“Well, enjoy some time to yourself. I’ll see you tonight!”
“See you then, Katie!”
The laundromat was a weird place in my book. Essential to society, absolutely. But it was classed in a small group of places where you actively work to not make eye contact with the other patrons as there’s a good chance, they are there laundering items from a crime scene. Even if they are just there to wash the ketchup out of an entire outfit, no one is there to chat.
The last time I’d gone to one was back in my quilting days. I’d just finished a huge king-size spread for a Christmas gift when it needed its final wash before being finished. I was elated to find I was the only one there.Whew. That was close. I nearly had to coexist with society.After the wash cycle, I put it in the dryer for a long air dry and it had a timer on the machine saying I had over thirty minutes remaining.
The laundry mat was in a strip mall, and I was right next to a juice store. After watching car after car pull up and leave with delicious-looking concoctions, I took a calculated risk of my sopping wet quilt being stolen and ran for a fruity drink.
I came back seven minutes later.Seven. Before that moment, I had no idea what could transpire in such a short time frame.
Hesitating before I opened the door, as I wondered if my Booyah Juice was spiked—yes, maybe I hadjustbeen chloroformed and wasn’t seeing what IthoughtI saw.I returned to an entire Christmas party assembled, complete with tables covered in cookie trays, slow cookers,music,and a large group of people.
Another person who came in with a towering basket ofquestionably stainedclothes locked eyes with me. I wouldn’t normally engage with someone holding clothes with claw marks, but in this extreme situation, the lines were blurred. I put my hands up slightly, in the universal ‘I don’t know’ gesture, and he whispered over to me. “A Christmas party?In a laundromat?”
That was the last quilt I made. I had forgotten why up until now.
Dolly and I spent the rest of the morning lazing about. I made a few tweaks to my plans and decided we would leave tomorrow morning for our road trip to visit my mother. I thought I’d call her now and share the good news.
“Katie?!” Every time she answered the phone, she would call out my name and I wasn’t sure if it was in disbelief that I was calling her, or that she assumed someone else was using my phone while I was hog-tied and hanging upside down from a ceiling.
“Guess what?” I felt a surge of excitement rush through my veins. And my coffee just kicked in.
“What?” She didn’t like surprises, and that was quite possibly the only thing we had in common.
“We are coming to visit youtomorrow.”
“What! Oh, my word. My house is a mess and I’ve turned your room into my closet. Where will you sleep? Don’t worry about that. I’ll make room for you and Dolly. Dolly! I’ll have to put Edward away, but oh, I’m so excited!”
“Okay, good. What does that mean for Edward? He won’t be stuffed into some old broom closet, right? Wait. My old room is your closet? I thought it was going to be an office.”
“Well, the office didn’t work, and the gym equipment wouldn’t fit through the door, so that’s now in my living room—not that I’ve used it, but it makes great for hanging my laundry when it’s raining outside. And don’t worry about Edward. I’ll just keep him with your dad in the bedroom.We won’t even know they are here.”
“Um, okay? So where is your office now?”
“Well, the desk is in the living room too, but my television is sitting on it. I was going to move it and get one of those fancy televisions that mount on the wall, but the McCleary murder trial was on that week and I couldn’t miss it. I’m still not satisfied with that outcome. I justknowthere was a dirty cop in there somewhere.”
“I have no idea what you're talking about, but, alright. Maybe I can help you get situated while I’m home. And I would like to see dad if he’s able to come out of the room. Dolly likes other dogs, I don’t think—”
“No, I don’t trust Edward around Dolly.” She cut me off. “He was playing nice with the neighbor's dog last summer and it got to the point Inearlylet them play off leash, but the moment I turned around he tried to lift his leg on her.”
“He wanted to… Pee?Onanotherdog?”
“Yes, but I’m not surprised. Thankfully Susan was able to pick up Little Susan in time. It really could have fractured the relationship I have with the Susans. But you can’t blame Edward,he’s traumatized.”
I wasn’t sure where to begin with that one. My mother would spend the rest of her days justifying Edwards' quirks because of his ‘childhood trauma,’ but no one could really confirm what that trauma was. I think he was just an oddball. Mostly harmless, unless he saw a pair of shins that offended him. But something stillhadto be addressed with this entire situation. “She named her dog... After herself?”
“Yes, but don’t worry about it. We will catch you up on the neighbors and their dogs when you get here, and it will all make sense. They just look so much alike, you see. Little Susan even has the same high step as her mother. Oh, I better get going or you won’t have a place to sleep!”
“Okay. We will see you tomorrow.”
For once, my mother didn’t remind me she would be tracking my location or needing me to check-in every three hours with a video call. She was justhappy.
“I can’t wait to see you.”
We ended our call, and I made a list in my head of everything I’d need to dobefore we left.
