Bubbly Bliss - by Fleur Lind

A short story by Fleur Lind.

Man Doing Laundry Reaching Inside Washing Machine, inside view. Picture: Smoczyslaw

Bubbly Bliss

TO SAY my life and habits are squeaky clean is an understatement. To some, that could be interpreted as "I am drug free” or that "I haven't touched a drop in some time”. Or it could even mean I live on the right side of the law, with not even a bristle let alone a brush with the police.

All of the above may well mean something to someone, but in this case - not me.

I don't need to go to rehab or attend meetings and announce I haven't indulged in this or resorted to that, getting a supportive round of applause and a well-intentioned pat on the back for my efforts.

I am squeaky clean because that's my job. I am a front loader washing machine and my suds could tell some tales!

I'm new on the job. I replaced a recently retired Samson. She reached the revered age of 18 years. She had one owner the entire length of her service and saw two kids grow up, a sole trade business develop complete with work clothes that told their own mucky green tale after a day of mowing lawns. She was a manual, only two knobs to operate. She opened her barrel to the ever-changing sizes of kids clothing, from the nappies and baby onesies to the toddler tops covered in food stains when they were trying their hand at feeding themselves. Then the school uniforms and the street clothes. The jeans got longer as the kids grew! Yet her capacity and willingness never faltered, regardless of the family's demands.

Then right on cue, when the kids left home, her work load was far less. She could see her working life days were numbered. Without a load to be done, what good was she? Her belt was frayed from wear, but with less use, it became brittle and sagged. Her owner was sad saying goodbye when told she'd spun her last load. She had been part of their family, like a reliable old friend. She was disposed of, her parts too obsolete to be donated as a life-saving gesture to other ailing machines, and I stepped in to fill her spot.

I'm modern...state of the art, as a matter of fact. I'm fully computerised, automatic, systematic and hydromatic. It's a wonder I'm not called Greased Lightening. I can be whatever you want me to be...I can do your woollens, cottons, mixed, delicates and silk, I can freshen up a shirt that's a bit whiffy, I can pre-wash, deal with stains, make ironing easier, I can even save the planet with my ECO cycle. I can spin like there's no tomorrow, I heat my own water and I save you water. It's more a case of what can't I do. I don't chop wood or cook dinner though, sorry. But yes to most other things, at the push of a button.

So, sit back and let me take the load off. Bubbles and all.

Fleur Lind

Originally published as Bubbly Bliss - by Fleur Lind