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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Horror
- Subject: Horror / Scary
- Published: 12/31/2020
The Laundromat
Born 1964, F, from Gordon, ACT, Australia.jpeg)
Washing machines clunked and thudded, and industrial clothes dryers sullenly juggled damp clothes. The humid air smelled of soap powder and scented fabric softener.
Katie-Lynn read an old Mills & Boon book, cringing at the stereotypes and formulaic writing, but at the same time vicariously in love with the instant electricity between Blayne – a broad-shouldered millionaire with dark wavy hair and piercing green eyes, and Jemima – a fragile but fiery beauty with large perfect breasts, who couldn’t understand why this rich hunk of manhood would be interested in her.
One by one, the other Laundromat patrons left, until Katie-Lynn was alone, grieving with Jemima as Blayne’s beautiful ex-wife told her that they were giving their marriage another go. A plan of which Blayne was apparently unaware, as he struggled to get Jemima to believe him, before storming out of her house and leaving her with a broken heart and endless weeping.
She left Jemima to her grieving as she pulled her laundry out of the dryer and took it over to the sorting bench. What the ... socks missing again! Plus her favourite t-shirt that she’d had forever. It was so soft and floppy, yet comfortable and flattering. Noooooo.
Katie-Lynn stood on her toes and double checked the dryer. She pulled out a random sock, and someone else’s panties. Damn!
She went home to her one bedroom flat and ran an inventory. Nope, no sign of her favourite t-shirt, which she was sure she had included in the last lot of laundry. And six socks with no partners. Grr.
The next Saturday morning, Katie-Lynn listed her laundry. Two pairs of jeans, one pair of leggings, five pairs of socks, three t-shirts (not including her still missing favourite!) five towels, three tea towels. Right. Time to go back to the Laundromat and see what actually went missing this time. Plus, she would finally get to read what happened to Blayne and Jemima.
All right! Jemima finally believed Blayne, after his ex-wife came clean with the truth that she was still in love with him but made up the whole reunion thing. Not a big surprise there.
Also not a surprise was that her list did not tally with what she finally pulled out of the dryer. Katie-Lynn pulled out her list, along with her list of what actually came out of the machine. Missing socks. Her leggings were missing. Plus another t-shirt. Unbelievable! Where the heck could they have gone??
She fronted the Laundromat people that afternoon. They shrugged. Your laundry, your problem. Did you check the machines thoroughly?
Argh, so frustrating! The cliché of washing machines eating your socks made as much sense as anything. But eating your favourite t-shirt and leggings?
Katie-Lynn was not taking this lying down. The next Saturday, she took her dirty laundry and the opportunity to speak to the other patrons.
“Hi”, she approached a sour faced older lady. “I have had some trouble with my laundry going missing. Have you had any trouble?” The old lady scrunched up her face. “Am I on the news or something? Is this one of those practical joke shows? I don’t like those.”
Katie-Lynn smiled her most winning smile. “No, ma’am. I have had a lot of washing gone missing, is all. I was wondering if anyone else has had any trouble.”
The old lady huffed out what Katie-Lynn presumed was a laugh. “Anyone wants to steal my husband’s under drawers? They’re welcome to them.” She drew out a stained pair of long johns to demonstrate. “You think anyone would want to steal these?” The old lady shook her head and turned away to do her laundry. No further conversation, please.
Katie-Lynn approached a young woman with an old face. “Excuse me,” she asked. “Have you had any trouble with your laundry going missing?”
The young woman looked confounded. “You mean someone would want to steal a bunch of shitty nappies? They’re welcome to them! In fact, they’re bloody well welcome to the source. Had it, lady. I don’t know what you’re asking, and I don’t care. Just bugger off.” She turned her back.
Awesome. Apparently the machine only wanted her clothes.
Well, what other choice did she have. Katie-Lynn tipped her basket of clothes into the washing machine, added powder, and hit the Go button.
Then back to Blayne and Jemima. Jemima finally forgave Blayne for something that wasn’t his fault. They exchanged their true feelings. Blah blah blah. Ex-wife looking daggers during their wedding ceremony, but that didn’t matter to either of them. They were about to embark on their happily-every-after.
Then Katie-Lynn’s jeans didn’t show up at the final muster. What the hell? She could understand socks going missing, even underwear. They were small items that could get caught. But jeans? Come on!
She went over to the washing machine and peered into its depths. There was a small piece of cloth caught in the bottom. She tugged at it, but it wouldn’t come free. But there was a button down the bottom of the barrel that surely must do something! She pushed on it and the whole bottom part came free to lift up.
Katie-Lynn pulled the scrap of fabric out of the bottom. Someone’s tights. Great.
She leaned further into the machine. Maybe her jeans were caught further down.
So weird. The space at the bottom looked like dark mesh, but she could see shapes moving underneath.
She leaned further in, pushing at the meshy substance. It gave, but there was nothing physical to push against. Huh.
Katie-Lynn leaned further in, pushing harder. There was a weird vacuum feeling, and the washing machine lid suddenly started closing and opening in a spanking motion. Between the vacuum and the pushing from above, she lost her balance and fell into the machine. The dark mesh gave way under her weight and she fell through the bottom of the machine into some weird twilight world.
And ended up in a huge pile of single socks, t-shirts, leggings. All so smelly with mildew that she could hardly breathe.
The only light in this strange world was the small square of light provided by a teetering washing machine lid.
Movement out of the corner of her eye. Fantastically, a large white rabbit hopped by. A dove flapped by with a flutter of wings.
She heard someone above, and screamed out for help, but her voice was swallowed up by the blackness outside her square of light.
Someone blocked her one source of light with their load of washing. The washing machine lid slammed shut, leaving her in darkness.
Katie-Lynn lay shivering in the dark, listening to the shuffling of unnameable beings looking for something to eat.
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