Laundry Day

Truly was hoovering the carpet in his front room when there came a light tapping at the front door. He flipped the vacuum's switch off and opened the door. The air was fresh from an early morning rain shower and birds sang. The sun shone brightly.

What a gorgeous day! Truly mused.

"Good morning, Mr. Truly," greeted Daniel, smiling.

"Good morning, Daniel."

"Mum is going into town to the launderette and wanted me to ask you if you needed to go. You can ride with us!"

"That's very kind of her," Truly beamed, "I usually get a lift from Wesley in his Land Rover, but if it's no trouble, I'll take your mum up on her offer."

"I'll tell her! See you in a bit, Mr. Truly!" Daniel turned on his heels and skittered back to his house.

Truly closed the door and could feel his face flush. He admonished himself for acting like a smitten schoolboy with a crush.

It's just laundry, Truly! Quit getting barmy! he scolded himself.

He rushed upstairs and made quick work of snatching the linens off his bed and gathering his clothes in a basket. Carrying the piled basket, he trod to the kitchen and retrieved a packet of Persil from the cupboard. He slipped his overcoat and hat on before heading out the door; the boys were already loaded in the backseat of the blue subcompact.

Melanie locked her front door and looked over at Truly who was standing on his front doorstep, "Ready?" she asked.

"Just locking up," he answered and strode to the car.

"Here, let me get that for you," she offered, taking the basket from him and setting it in the boot.

"Thank you."

The car wound through the narrow cobblestone roadway to the launderette. Truly nervously stared straight ahead. In the back, the boys looked at the countryside going by, remarking about the cows dotting the landscape and the piles of manure steaming in the fields. Melanie stopped the car in front of a building with a field stone front.

"Wishy-Washy Laundry," Donald read aloud the words on the hand-painted sign.

"Well, here we are!" Melanie announced, "Now you boys, behave!"

"Yes, Ma'am," Daniel nodded.

"Yes, Ma'am," Donald echoed.

Truly took a bed sheet from the dryer and began folding it.

"Need help with that?" Melanie asked.

"Oh, no," Truly smiled, "I've become quite proficient at this over the last few years."

"So," Melanie began, "How long have you been living alone?"

"About five years or so," Truly replied.

"Widowed?"

"Divorced," he shifted uncomfortably and focused on his linens.

"I'm sorry," she said sympathetically, "How long were you married?"

"Thirty eight years…to the most miserable ogre a man could get saddled up with!" he grumbled, "I felt like I'd been pardoned when the final divorce decree was filed!"

The boys tittered as they sorted their socks, playing a game of one-for-me-one-for-you. They rolled their socks into balls and gingerly tossed them into the basket.

Truly turned away, red faced, from Melanie as he folded his undergarments. She smiled to herself.

Having stowed his scanties in the basket under the sheet, he turned back toward her, smiling.

"How long have you been single?" he asked her, gaining a little more confidence.

"About two years."

"Divorced?" he asked boldly.

"Not yet. We're still working on the particulars," she said matter-of-factly, "We were too young. Then he started beating the kids and I knew I had to get out of there. So I sold everything I could and took the kids. I came back here, but when I returned to my parents' home in Manchester, they told me that my husband was looking for me and the boys and was coming to England to find us."

"I see."

Truly felt a compelling urge to protect Melanie and the boys. He believed his experience as a police officer would aid him in his endeavor. She looked so vulnerable and slowly he was developing a fond attachment to Daniel and Donald, having never had children of his own.

Truly cast his eye round the launderette and spotted a vending machine. He strode over to it, deposited several coins into the slot, and pulled a knob.

He returned to where Melanie was standing, "Wine gums?" he offered, holding the roll of candy out to her.

"Oh! I haven't had these in years! Thank you!" she gushed.

The boys sidled up next to their mother. Truly handed them the roll of candy and immediately they began to unwind the paper wrapper, stuffing the chewy candy into their mouths. They made loud chomping and sucking sounds as they noisily noshed on the candy.

"Thank you, Mr. Truly!" Daniel smacked.

"Thank you, Truly!" Donald said with a full mouth.

Melanie cleared her throat.

"Mister Truly," Donald corrected himself.

Truly smiled warmly, "You're welcome, boys.

They loaded their clean washing back into the boot of the car and headed home.