Rinse Cycle

The buzzer goes off. I approach all my clothes left in the sink, all limp, dripping wet. My mom must have put them there, having to use the washer for her own clothes. I pick up a sock but before throwing into the dyer, I pause. I review each seam and piece of cloth. I turn the sock over and over. But on the last turn I find a sentence smeared on the bottom. I blink a couple times, rub my eyes but the sentence is real. It reads:

“Why can’t I do both?”

“How odd” I think. Bewildered, I reach in for it’s pair which has written on it:

“Where to?” and “Do I have to decide?”

“Interesting” I think. I then move through the pile to come upon a pair of jeans. They’re old and worn, but the most comfortable to wear. Around the ankles are two sentences:

“Who does he think he is?”
and
“Hold me.”

I give an exasperated sigh and throw them into the dryer. I then pick up five shirts. This time one word is smudged on each of their backs.

“who” “will” “love” “me” “today?”

I then pick up my school jacket, only to find the word:

“Me”

I giggle as I throw all of these into the black cylinder hole. I then pick up a pair of dance pants.

“Overused”

After that, I pick up the tights. They seemed familiar yet from a distant dream. As I run my hands over their threads the sounds of crickets and the smell of must and sweat come to my mind. I then find the words:

“Use me”

I throw them in the washer and I shake my head as I reach for my cup of tea on the edge of the washer. I go to take a swig, but it’s empty. I give a half smile and go back to my wash. There’s only one thing left in the pile now, it’s rolled up into a ball. I venture further, slowly uncoiling each layer. It’s my favorite sweatshirt. I smile remembering the warmth I felt when it was worn. I turn it over and on the back are 2 simple words:

“Wake up”

Perplexed by such an odd ending to my laundry’s story, I crumple the sweatshirt back up, throw it in the dryer. I pause for a few seconds












But then quickly shake away the thoughts.


I press start.