LAUNDROMAT

by Sanford Allen 

The Korean woman scolds her kids for spilling fabric softener. The old guy in polyester dumps quarters into a machine then steps outside to smoke. 
     Everyone here looks tired under the fluorescent lights.
     I watch my mismatched sheets flip in the dryer. I miss her sheets: matching, clean, smelling of lavender. I miss the white dryer we bought together at Sears.
     She kicked me out after she found a condom wrapper in the couch cushions. She always was thorough with the housework.
     Now she's gone. The tired people under the fluorescent lights are my new companions.    END

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