They first spoke because of a red sock. It appeared among Denis's white towels, and the man beside him claimed it. His name was Marin, he worked at a small theatre, and he had brought curtains too large for his home machine. The sock had nothing to do with the theatre. Marin said every large undertaking of his contained one small unnecessary object. Denis laughed, surprised the laundry had offered something beyond detergent smells that Tuesday.
A week later both were there again. Denis lived in a flat with a broken washing machine he could not yet replace. Marin carried bed linen. They discussed work and how angry people grew at the sign forbidding machine doors to be opened during operation. Denis delivered office supplies and had an entire collection of similar unread notices. The drying finished too soon. Both began folding clothes more slowly than necessary.
On the third Tuesday Marin brought a rucksack. He produced two shirts and a completely dry towel. Denis looked at him over his large basket. He asked whether the curtains had finally abandoned him. Marin laughed, then admitted he had little to wash. They stood before a machine it would be absurd to run for those three objects. Denis felt joy so clearly that he immediately became cautious.
He said there was somewhere opposite where people could sit without paying for a spin cycle. Marin asked whether he meant now or another time. Denis checked his machine's timer. He had twenty-eight minutes. They went for coffee, both aware this was their first meeting for which dirty clothing was not responsible. Along the way Denis mentioned a former male partner. Marin accepted this without surprise, then said something about his own ex.
They returned a minute before the wash finished. Marin helped fold towels but did not try entering Denis's life as the man who would buy a new machine and solve everything. He asked whether Denis wanted a walk on Saturday. Denis agreed, then finally stopped explaining why he still used the laundry. On Saturday they never discussed household appliances, which surprised them both a little.
When Denis replaced his machine several months later, Marin gave him the red sock in a little box. Denis said he expected the other half of the present for his birthday. Marin promised only to look. He stayed for dinner that evening, and his rucksack was entirely empty.