The Laundry Notice

Someone was taking socks from the shared laundry room. At least, that was what the notice said. It appeared above the washing machines on Tuesday, written in large red letters.

Within two days, three people had added angry comments. One resident suggested installing a camera. Another said that visitors should not be allowed to use the room.

Mel had also lost socks, but she was not convinced that anyone wanted them. On Friday, she stayed beside her machine until the wash finished. As she pulled out a towel, a sock slipped down the narrow space between two machines.

She borrowed a long brush from the caretaker. Together, they pulled out eleven socks, a small glove and a scarf. Several had been there for a long time.

Mel placed them in a clean basket and wrote a new notice: "Please check here before looking for a thief."

Most of the socks disappeared from the basket during the weekend. Nobody mentioned the camera again. The original notice remained for another week, until someone quietly took it down.

Mel never found the partner to her own blue sock. She was less certain about what that meant now.