The old man laundromat club

[fbhjr]

Working from home yesterday I was doing laundry between meetings.
Sadly, for the second time this year, the driers were taking my money, spinning my clothes, but not blowing hot air on them, so my laundry wasn’t drying.

As soon as my last meeting was over, I logged off, piled the wet laundry into a bag and drove to the laundromat down the hill from where we live.

Mid-Wednesday afternoon is not their peak time. As I got my clothes going there were only two other folks there, men older than me who clearly knew each other.

As I read my book while the clothes spun they mostly discussed the bathrooms at the laundromat and their feelings on them being locked.
The feelings were not positive and one kept repeating “if those big boys would spend time in a place like this, THINGS WOULD CHANGE!”

The “boys” in question was not clear to me. Not the owner as he was referenced by name. But, apparently there is some level of government that should be overseeing laundromat restrooms. I’m not sure where that would fall.
But, having to walk across the parking lot to the Whole Foods nearby was considered grossly unacceptable.

Apparently the change in weather forecasts from clear to rain in the afternoon was also something that the “big boys” could do something about if they spent time in places like the laundromat.

As I my driers counted down, a third man came in. He appeared to be even older than the other two and began taking his finished laundry out and folding it.

The first two continued their discussion as I got up and waited by my drier for the last few minutes.

“Some people will complain about anything,” the man folding the clothes said to me.
“I guess that’s true,” I replied.
“Whole country is in trouble.”
I shrugged.
“It didn’t used to be like this.”
I nodded.

The other two looked over at us and made their way down the laundromat to us.
“It’s the government’s fault!” the “big boy” man said.
I shrugged again.
“How do you feel about Donald Trump?” the other one asked.
“Not a fan,” I replied.
“So, you like Biden?”
“I’m not sure I’d go that far.”
“What party are you, republican or democrat?”
“I’m independent. I don’t belong to any.”
They all looked at each other.

“They won’t leave Donald Trump alone!” BB said.
The shrug returned.
“They’re trying to get him so mad he has a heart attack and dies!”
“That is a theory I have not heard before,” I said.
“What do you watch on TV?”
“Not much other than the weather reports.”
“I don’t trust them!”
“There is a level of inaccuracy.”
“I don’t watch anything any more! It isn’t worth it!”
I nodded.

My drier finished and I started putting my clothes in my bag.
“Aren’t you going to fold them?” the oldest guy asked.
“This fellow said it would rain soon,” I replied. “I think it is more important to get them home dry than fold them here.”
“It’s going to rain?”
We both looked at BB who had announced this some time ago.
“Possible thunder storms at 3:30,” he said, looking at his phone.
“It’s quarter past now,” I said. “So, I better get my laundry home or it won’t stay dry.”

The oldest man looked at all his laundry neatly folded across two tables there in the laundromat.
“I don’t think I can get this home in time,” he said. “Not if it’s going to rain.”
I continued to pack my clothes in my bag.

“Where do you live?” he asked me.
“Over by the Stop and Shop.”
“Can I get a ride? I got a cab here, but it was very expensive. And, if it’s going to rain I don’t know how long they’d take.”
“Where do you live?”
“Across the street from Hooters.”
“By the Bean Counter?”
“Behind them.”
“Did you hear the Bean Counter is closing?” BB said.
“Yes. Good. I don’t like them.”
“Why not?”
“I ordered my wife’s birthday cake there and they didn’t make. They told me I had cancelled the order, but didn’t give my money back and didn’t make a cake. So, good they closed, they ruined my wife’s birthday.”
“Businesses these days are not like they used to be!” BB replied.

“So, can I have a ride?” the older man asked.
“My car is small and very messy. But, I’m willing to drive you if you want.”
“I don’t judge people,” he replied.

I carried my laundry out to the car and made room for his. He had about twice as much as me, an we filled the back seat between us.
Home is less than a five minute drive from there and this guy’s stop was about half way.

“Let me give you some gas money,” he said as we pulled into his parking area.
“No need. This isn’t out of my way at all,” I told him.
“Let me give you $5,” he waved a five dollar bill at me.
“That would fill my tank! You’re only 20 feet out of my path home. There’s no need for any money for that.”
“Thank you,” he said, holding out his hand.

I went to shake his hand, he went to fist bump me.
I shook his hand.
“I’m old school and not into fist bumps,” I said.
We shook hands and he took his laundry and left.

As I got home, it started to rain.

Comments

[zoefruitcake]

Yup, that was worthy of the strange tag

[threemeninaboat]

That was some high level deflecting.

[ravena_kade]

An odd day at the laudromat for sure. Kind of you to give the old guy a ride.

[palusbuteo]

you are very kind to give the older guy a ride.

having to deal with those big boys yapping away and being annoying is annoying.
Hopefully your apartment gets the driers fixed.