At the laundromat

Sweet Escape Design

Late one night, as I sat finishing up some work, I realized that I had no clean clothing and that I was booked solid for the next four days. I grudgingly gathered up all my clothes and rushed out to do my laundry before the 1:00 a.m. cut-off. As I walked across an intersection, a guy walked up next to me and said, "Hey."

I live in New York, so I gave him my nod and apathetic hello and then looked straight ahead. "I'm going to the laundromat, too. Can I carry your bag?" I laughed and said no thanks. Again, I live in New York; this could have been some crazy person trying to run off with my dirty underwear.

We chatted a bit as we walked down the block and I gave him a brush-off goodbye when we arrived. He went next door to pick up his laundry and I went to throw my clothes in the wash. As it happens, there was some problem with his stuff and he walked into the laundromat at the same moment I was walking out. We laughed and said something awkward like "Hello again!" Then he asked me if I wanted to grab dessert. I looked at him. I had gotten so used to blowing off advances from guys on the subway and in the street that it had become almost rote. But, for whatever reason, I laughed and said sure — I figured I had to wait on my things to wash anyway. We've been together ever since. — Elizabeth Mason

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