forever. Go take shower.”
She pats me on the head and points at the clean towels as she closes the door behind her.
I sit here, shaking now, and think about what I saw and I can’t help but wonder about those baggy clothes. I want to know what happened, but I also know that if she wanted to talk about it, she wouldn’t work so hard to hide it. If there was any doubt before, I think I have a new friend now.
I’ve found a kindred spirit, I just wish, for her sake, she wasn’t.
6
The Laundromat Girls Cometh
Todd swings by later that evening so we don’t have to take Tonya’s van to the Happy-Time Laundromat, which, by the way — isn’t. Laundry isn’t on the top of the list for Friday night entertainment choices, but we have a plan that eases the mind numbing monotony. We gather the drive-through cups and lids we’ve saved and fill them up with ice, 7-Up and wine, the kind with the screw-off cap — sipping wine coolers in Styrofoam cups through bendy-straws, we’re living large now.
We pile all of my clothes and some of Tonya’s into the trunk.
“Why can’t we use your washer and dryer?” I ask Todd.
“Because that isn’t going to happen. My parents hate you.”
“No they don’t, they love me. What are you talking about?” I respond with indignation.
“They used to love you, then you loaned me that Circle Jerks’ album and now they hate you.”
“That album isn’t that bad.”
“They just saw the name and that was that, you were toast,” he says.
Tonya steps between us and takes a sip. “To bad you didn’t loan him the tape, can we go, please?”
Todd’s Nova has a bench seat, so we all squeeze into the front. Tonya throws one leg over mine so Todd can shift.
“How’s your noggin?” Todd asks as he pulls the Nova out onto the road.
“Better, every day it’s a little better,” I answer.
“If he’d take care of himself, it would be,” Tonya admonishes me.
“So dude, I’m curious, you’ve been doing yours and Tonya’s laundry at your dad’s place?” Todd asks.
“Yeah, why?”
“But she doesn’t go with you, it’s just you?”
“No, of course it’s just me, you know the situation.” The truth is I’m too embarrassed to have her see the house. She offered, but I made almost believable excuses.
“Ever occur to you; you’re being used? You’re like her laundry boy, dude. And you’re not even getting laid for the effort.”
“It’s not like I wash her underwear, she does that herself,” I say.
“Connor!” she shouts.
Todd laughs. “Like that makes any difference?”
I turn to Tonya. “I thought we were friends. Is it true, all this time you’ve just been using me?” I ask through mock sobs.
“Yeah, I’m the wicked laundry witch of the west,” she says sarcastically. “Although, I could start charging you rent...”
“Whoa, way to go Todd, now I’m going to be homeless,” I shout across the car.
“Don’t drag me into this. If you’re stupid enough to take the bait, you’re on your own,” he says through laughter.
“Now that you mention it, I’m kind of peeved about the not getting laid for my efforts though. How would you feel about screwing a young homeless dude?”
“Nope, you’d have to do way more than laundry for that.”
“How much more?” I ask.
“You two need some alone time?” Todd asks.
“As if.” Tonya rolls her eyes and leans away from me.
Todd turns on the stereo and X joins us for the ride. I can feel the heat from Tonya’s leg against mine, her hand curled in tight between us. She’s lying against Todd’s shoulder, just staring out the windshield, her profile silhouetted against the dashboard lights. I stare at her for a moment until she looks over, suddenly self-conscious, I look away.
I rest my cup on her knee and close my eyes, feeling the wind in my face and hair. I can feel her leg moving against mine as she swings her foot in
She pats me on the head and points at the clean towels as she closes the door behind her.
I sit here, shaking now, and think about what I saw and I can’t help but wonder about those baggy clothes. I want to know what happened, but I also know that if she wanted to talk about it, she wouldn’t work so hard to hide it. If there was any doubt before, I think I have a new friend now.
I’ve found a kindred spirit, I just wish, for her sake, she wasn’t.
6
The Laundromat Girls Cometh
Todd swings by later that evening so we don’t have to take Tonya’s van to the Happy-Time Laundromat, which, by the way — isn’t. Laundry isn’t on the top of the list for Friday night entertainment choices, but we have a plan that eases the mind numbing monotony. We gather the drive-through cups and lids we’ve saved and fill them up with ice, 7-Up and wine, the kind with the screw-off cap — sipping wine coolers in Styrofoam cups through bendy-straws, we’re living large now.
We pile all of my clothes and some of Tonya’s into the trunk.
“Why can’t we use your washer and dryer?” I ask Todd.
“Because that isn’t going to happen. My parents hate you.”
“No they don’t, they love me. What are you talking about?” I respond with indignation.
“They used to love you, then you loaned me that Circle Jerks’ album and now they hate you.”
“That album isn’t that bad.”
“They just saw the name and that was that, you were toast,” he says.
Tonya steps between us and takes a sip. “To bad you didn’t loan him the tape, can we go, please?”
Todd’s Nova has a bench seat, so we all squeeze into the front. Tonya throws one leg over mine so Todd can shift.
“How’s your noggin?” Todd asks as he pulls the Nova out onto the road.
“Better, every day it’s a little better,” I answer.
“If he’d take care of himself, it would be,” Tonya admonishes me.
“So dude, I’m curious, you’ve been doing yours and Tonya’s laundry at your dad’s place?” Todd asks.
“Yeah, why?”
“But she doesn’t go with you, it’s just you?”
“No, of course it’s just me, you know the situation.” The truth is I’m too embarrassed to have her see the house. She offered, but I made almost believable excuses.
“Ever occur to you; you’re being used? You’re like her laundry boy, dude. And you’re not even getting laid for the effort.”
“It’s not like I wash her underwear, she does that herself,” I say.
“Connor!” she shouts.
Todd laughs. “Like that makes any difference?”
I turn to Tonya. “I thought we were friends. Is it true, all this time you’ve just been using me?” I ask through mock sobs.
“Yeah, I’m the wicked laundry witch of the west,” she says sarcastically. “Although, I could start charging you rent...”
“Whoa, way to go Todd, now I’m going to be homeless,” I shout across the car.
“Don’t drag me into this. If you’re stupid enough to take the bait, you’re on your own,” he says through laughter.
“Now that you mention it, I’m kind of peeved about the not getting laid for my efforts though. How would you feel about screwing a young homeless dude?”
“Nope, you’d have to do way more than laundry for that.”
“How much more?” I ask.
“You two need some alone time?” Todd asks.
“As if.” Tonya rolls her eyes and leans away from me.
Todd turns on the stereo and X joins us for the ride. I can feel the heat from Tonya’s leg against mine, her hand curled in tight between us. She’s lying against Todd’s shoulder, just staring out the windshield, her profile silhouetted against the dashboard lights. I stare at her for a moment until she looks over, suddenly self-conscious, I look away.
I rest my cup on her knee and close my eyes, feeling the wind in my face and hair. I can feel her leg moving against mine as she swings her foot in
Similar Books
