Second Street // Part Nineteen

        Second Street

         Part Nineteen

Christmas Eve was just a short two days away although Charlie was like a young child in thinking it would never come. He stripped his sheets and gathered his dirty clothes from the hamper placing everything in a plastic bag. As he passed the bath he grabbed the hand and bath towels. He set the bag on the coffee table and walked to the kitchen to get the dishcloths and anything else he could find that needed cleaning. It was a bright sunny day outside but very cold. He sat at his table and made a list of things he would need from the Safeway. He had to check the refrigerator and cabinets as his list grew. He put his Pea Coat, gloves and scarf on taking the bag to the car. He returned to the porch just to double check the lock, satisfied he went next door to Andy’s and knocked on the door. She never liked hearing a knock on her door fearing it would be Sonny. She answered the knock and was pleasantly surprised. Why good morning there handsome, she said to him, come in. Thanks he said. Just a quick stop. I’m off to Safeway and need to get some food for the weekend. I was wondering if it is hard to cook a turkey? Andy put her hand on his shoulder and let out this great laugh. Hon she said, you just get whatever your heart desires and I’ll show you how to cook it, ok? If your going to get a turkey maybe you should get one of those hotel styles, you know the kind with no legs. The other birds are so big you’ll be eating it for a month. Make sure you get yourself one of those aluminum roasting pans as well. They are usually in the aisle with all the gadgets, anyway, you’ll  find them. He thanked her and said, well off to the laundry. She smiled and had visions of pink underwear but said nothing. She shut the door behind him and just smiled to herself. What a good guy he was.

This was Charlie’s first time to a laundry. When he needed to do laundry the last time he just went and bought some new socks and underwear. He found a parking place right in front of the place and went in. He looked around seeing rows of machines lining the walls with folding stations along the center. On the wall was a coin changer and a machine to buy washing supplies. He set his bag down on the counter and a approached the washers to see how much change he would need. Wash, one dollar, dry one dollar. Simple enough, he got two dollars worth of change, detergent machine took bills on its own. There were a lot of choices and he read each label trying to see what he needed. There were several women already there doing their own laundry. They were eyeing him with amusement. He finally picked a detergent and pulled the lever after depositing his money. He grabbed his bag and walked to a machine. He started unloading his bag with copius amounts of laundry into a machine. One of the women took pity on him and tapped him on the shoulder. Hon, you’ve never done this before, have you? He grinned and replied, did I do something wrong already? Well it’s kind of obvious you are a novice, she said, smiling back at him. Let me help. First take all the white stuff out and put it in another machine. Really, he said? Yes, really . He did as he was instructed. Now have you checked all your pockets for change and Kleenex and whatever? If you leave Kleenex in there you’ll have a mess. He looked at her and said, I can’t believe how much there is to this. Again he did as he was told and started to check all his pockets, eventually coming up with three hundred and twelve dollars and eighty nine cents, several napkins and some receipts. He had no memory of the three hundred dollars. Guess it’s good to check your pockets he said to the woman. My name is Charlie, how about you? Donna, she responded. She was a handsome redhead and had a great smile. So now what, he asked? Well first go get more change and detergent and get some bleach and fabric softener. He looked baffled but did as he was told. He returned momentarily laying his purchases on the table. She told him to put his money in the machines as she opened the packages. She loaded the detergent in with the whites starting the machine and as the water poured in she added bleach. Charlie was paying great attention. The second machine the same treatment only with different bleach and all added at once. She told him of the temperature differences and wished him luck. His head was spinning. He thanked her and was fawning at her expertise.

He sat and watched as the machines spun, washed , drained , filled and rinsed drained and spun dry. They stopped at times close together. He took the whites and moved them to a dryer tossing them I, returning for the colored bringing them again to the dryer looking at Donna for some reassurance.  She shook her head negatively. He held up two fingers. She nodded in affirmation. He smiled and mouthed thank you. He went and got more change, thinking all the while this is expensive.  He watched the machines go round and round becoming very bored.  Donna was done and as she passed by him on the way out she said. Last but not least. Don’t throw everything in that bag. Make sure you fold it or you’ll  look like an old wrinkly dish rag and you won’t be happy. He thanked her profusely. The machines stopped and again he did as was told, glad for all the information and lessons. The other women at hand smiling.

He carefully removed his plastic bag to his car with a new found respect for women and laundry. He started the car and moved off to Safeway where he felt a bit more in control. He entered the store, grabbing a cart and a flyer. He was not in any great hurry and had no desire to be home alone. The way this market was set so that upon entry one would go to the produce department. Charlie liked this department, the colors, the smells. There was a flower department just to the right. He steered his cart to that department, viewing all the colors and textures. He wanted some color for Pam when she returned to him. He found a couple of Poinsettas, also finding some greens and adding them to his cart. He smiled at the cashier and paid. On he moved to the produce finding some onions, potatoes, beans, celery and the like. The end of this aisle held cheeses and nuts. He thought for a moment and bought some Havarti cheese and walnuts. Charlie loved this place. Women everywhere, touching things, holding them close and smelling, fondling. He moved along to where he might find this hotel turkey Andy had spoken of. He saw what looked like miles of meat. He spied a man stocking the cases and asked him about this hotel thing. Oh sure, the man replied, come with me. He led him some hundred feet away and pointed to the proper section. Charlie now understood what Andy had been talking about. These birds were about seven pounds while the turkeys started at fourteen. He found one and put it in his cart. Next up was the pan she told him about. He found some more candles, ending up in the pastry aisle. Pies, cake and cookies everywhere, just down the aisle from the frozen desert and ice cream. He added a half gallon of mint chocolate chip to the cart as well as a Dutch apple pie and loaf of Italian bread. He proceeded to checkout and could not find a line that was not four deep. Finally getting to checkout, he found himself with a cashier he could not understand nor her him. She ran his purchases and he carefully watched. The young one bagging was obviously mentally challenged, Charlie telling her several times, paper please. She was doing her best but it would be Christmas Eve if he did not help. Finally done, he handed the girl a dollar and thanked her. On his way out he stopped at customer service and bought a lottery ticket. He took his groceries and loaded them into the car. Knowing he had ice cream he knew he had to get home.

His mind was filled with the day as he drove. Arriving home he brought his groceries and laundry to the house. He took several tips but got it all done. He put his folded laundry away thankful for the information provided. Groceries put away, ice cream in the frezzer.  It was still early. He made the bed, put all his extra underwear away and stored his other clothes as best he could, no wrinkles.  He sat and picked up his journal and detailed his laundry experience, his shopping details. He took his Poinsettas and placed them at the most special places. Jack was on the menu now he was home and he poured a large one. He had only been home twenty minutes but was lost again. The silence was deafening to him. He did all he could to make it right but to no avail. No writing, no music, no food, no visual. Just empty. He put his coat on and headed for Bud’s. It took him twenty minutes to walk there but was grateful for that dark door being open. He entered and was glad to be there. He sat at his usual seat and said, hey Bud, how are ya? I’ll have a Large Jack and a bud. Bud brought his wish. Charlie thanked him and quickly ordered another. There were some men playing pool. Charlie put some quarters on the edge of the table. He was adrift, lonely beyond imagination. Any human contact was welcome at this place. His turn came as he received his third Jack. Bud was keeping an eye on him. Charlie was not a good pool player, just competent. He lost a lot of money but had no care as long as he was surrounded by people. The man Charlie was playing was kind of a creepy guy. Charlie cared not for him. This man made some diminishing remark about Pam and Charlie got mad. He cracked this guy with a pool cue right across the face! Bud knew what was going on. He sent Charlie on his way, telling him to wait a day or so before coming back.