Smooth Sucker

With my back ache easing out, I thought I should do some of my laundry owing to lack of innerwear for the following day. To not totally stress out my back, I decided to just wash enough for the next few days. Wash cycles took 25 minutes at the apartment laundry. It was 4:20 when I returned. I decided owing my laziness that I will take care of it at 5:00.

As I slowly ambled towards the laundry with my arms supporting my back, a cute girl, maybe in her early 20s was walking towards me. As I was lost in her looks, we stumbled in front of each other. Try to be gentlemanly , I gave way to her with a smile. She smiled and thanked as she whizzed past. In the laundry, I found that my clothes had magically moved from the washer to the dryer all by itself. I was puzzled for a few seconds. The door to the laundry opened and there she was again. Her lovely face became apologetic.

"Sorry, I had to move your clothes..."

I intervened, noticing that there weren't any open washers, "Thats OK, sorry to have kept you waiting for the washer", I smiled.

She smiled and moved on. I went back to starting the dryer cycle with a big 'hmph'. As I was moving my clothes from the other washer I had used, I smelt something burning. I turned and started looking around. I cleared the second washer and I could now smell it even stronger. I noticed smoke rising from the adjacent washer, the one she had just loaded. I instinctively opened the washer and saw more smoke plumes. The wash cycle stopped and the smoke seeked the exhaust windows. I put my olfactories to work trying to locate the source. The washer was overloaded with a huge comforter, which got stuck and prevented the washer from spinning. I made sure that there was no visible flame. I pulled out the wet and soapy comforter and examined it for damage. Nothing. I was glad I was a few minutes late. I waited a few more minutes to ensure that I will have underwear for the next day.

I walked out satisfied but I had to return the favor. I had to let her know that I had to stop her wash cycle. At least that was the reason I gave myself to get a chance to talk to her again. I impatiently waited in my porch for her to walk by for thirty minutes. I had never waited for laundry in my life like that before. Hoping that she would show up on time to move her clothes to the dryer, unlike me, I was at the laundry with still 15 minutes on my dryer cycle. Fifteen minutes felt like forever. The dryers stopped whirring and I reluctantly started collecting my clothes. All this time I was thinking of what to do. 'Should I write a note and put it on the washer?, 'Should I wait and let her know?', 'Should I introduce myself and shake her hands?'. The door opened.

She walked in. We exchanged quick 'Hi's.
Then,
"I had to stop your wash cycle on this one.", pointing to the washer, "It started smoking as I was loading up the dryers. I thought I should let you know."

She had a confused look in her face. "Oh", she said as she started closing the lid to restart the cycle as if she didn't understand what I just said.

I intervened again, "Something started burning, I think it was the wiring of the washer, it was overloaded and not spinning. I don't think your fabric is damaged. I checked it."

Now she got it. "Oh, it was too big when I put it in.", still confused on what her next move should be, "Thanks for stopping the cycle.", she managed a nervous smile.

"Oh, no problem." I piled on my clothes into my laundry bag.

As I was about to step out she thanked once again.

"Oh, I had to, you know, it was smoking and I had to" as I waved my arms at my clothes.

She smiled. I carried the laundry bag totally forgetting about my back ache. On the way back, I thought to myself, 'Another smooth performance by yours truly. I suck.'