A Special Kind of Day

by Mama Avio

There's something special that happens every first Saturday of the month... Alfred wouldn't expect anyone to understand it, but he enjoys it, and that's all that matters.

Disclaimer: I own neither Hetalia/America nor the picture this was inspired by.

A Special Kind of Day

Avio Favalon

~a Hetalia fanfiction

Today's a special kind of day.

Here on this Saturday, the first Saturday of the month, is laundry day.

Sure, Alfred F. Jones had his own washer and drier at home, but every month on the first Saturday, he came to the Laundromat. There was something magic about it, a sweet-tasting nostalgia, that drove him to his quiet tradition.

Yes, quiet. All of the other nations would never think it possible, but it was. Alfred loved how it was almost an unspeakable routine, a secret that would shatter were it to be spoken aloud.

So, this morning, as he did on every first Saturday, he gathered up his laundry and headed to the Laundromat. You would think it was just a normal day for him, since he would sing loudly and obnoxiously to the music on the radio as he drove, making his ritual stop at McDonald's, laughing out loud to anything funny that struck him. It was as if the pile of dirty clothes in the back seat weren't even there, as if this was nothing special.

But it is.

By the time he got to the Laundromat, he had quieted down. He was calmer, as he carried in his clothes, whistling cheerfully an old tune from long ago.

Today, it's quiet. Other than the boy at the counter and a tired-looking woman who barely glanced at him as she left, a basket in one arm and a toddler in another, Alfred was the only one. He smiled after the woman, then nodded at the boy, then wordlessly started up the washer and tossed his clothes in (not bothering to separate darks from lights).

There is something lovely about this sort of day. Perhaps it was the smell, or the jangling of coins (almost everyone had cards nowadays, rarely using their loose change.), or just the familiar adventure of it all.

Now, he sits reading a magazine, the hum of the machines providing a soothing background noise that relaxed him. He can smell the soap and the drier sheet scents, and breathes it in, a smile ghosting at his lips. Soon, his laundry will be finished, and the spell of today will be broken, at least until next month. He'll go back home and probably finish up some work, play some video games, pester someone into watching a horror movie with him… same ol', same ol'.

For now, however, he just sits and reads his magazine, basking in this peaceful, special day.

Author's Note:

Yes so hi guys! It's a little random, but here's some America!

I think I like this, but at the same time, feel kind of iffy about it? :'D

Anyways, I wrote it on a whim after seeing this picture again:

http : / / media. tumblr. com / tumblr _ lnn6ms1 Ctx1qe629 x . jpg