Bob is tall and lean, about 70 years old, with white hair sprouting beneath a grimy ball cap. He forgot to shave this morning and is eating French fries from a red and white cardboard basket.
He is nice to give us our first load free of charge. He pops in six quarters and tells me several times that it is free, it's on warm water, and you can do the rest "yerself".
Gail is in a wheelchair, her long pepper-colored hair parted down the middle and falling upon her flowered top in gentle waves. Before I get my first load of laundry in the door she announces that she's feeling better today... head-on collision a while back and saved only by the grace of God.
I smile and tell her she is lucky.
Gail and Bob love their cell phones. Over the twirl of dryers and the swish of washers, I can't tell what they're saying, but their many conversations on their Nokia's seem to suggest they have a whole lot to talk about.
Probably gossip about the new folks in town.
I drop a few quarters in the white dryers. My husband chooses the gold Speed Queens to dry blue jeans....and Bob nods at him in approval. " Number seven is extry hot" he says, "It's a good un."
A soap machine offers miniature versions of generic powders, it's 70's style graphics displaying Suds and Such ...the bright orange and faded brown arrows pointing to the release chute. I prefer liquid.
At least the place smells good...of soap and softener and Bob's French fries.
Soon I will have clean clothes , fresh towels and a taste of the town.
And two new friends.
it sounds like your living in the 30's hahahahahhhhh but glad you made two new freidns,,,,,, Bob & Gail sound like good down to earth people,,,,,,,,,,,,,, At least Eldon went with you ,,,,,,,, hahhah next time bake them a cake or something for that free load and the extry HOT dryer,,,,,,,, love and miss you barb
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