As he left, I walked over to the couch in the living room and sat down. I was tired already and it was probably only a bit past noon. I slowly relaxed myself onto the couch, I couldn't fall asleep, but I was too tired to run away. I would stay for at least one night so I could recuperate my strength that way I could escape later and not get caught by someone like him again. After agreeing with my new plan, I walked over to his laundry room and saw that he hadn't begun washing my bag or clothes both of which were ruined by the mud. It seemed that he was washing his clothes much like I had been forced to do in the bunker, by hand using a wash basin. I reached into my bag and pulled out the family painting, which was luckily still intact. I tried to force it into my pocket, but the frame was too big, after a couple of seconds of debating with myself I decided what to do. I opened the frame and pulled out the picture staring at it I let my mind roam again.
Slowly the smell of fabric softener and the humming of the washing machine entered my mind as I recalled a scene from my childhood.
I was only six at the time and it was long before I could understand the fear that the adults around me all felt. I sat in the kitchen playing with my dolls when my mother's gentle voice drifted in beckoning me to go be by her size. From behind my mother's leg, I observed her gesture towards the pile of laundry arranged neatly.
"Go bring that to your dad" I nodded and picked the huge pile-up, balancing it as I slowly ambled my way over to my father, I tried my best to not let the leaning tower I held in my arms tip over. I finally had made my way to my father. He was sitting on the living room floor with my brother playing cards. As I entered the room to place the pile next to him, I didn't notice that I had left one of my dolls on the floor and before I knew it, I was in the air, as was all of the laundry.
I quickly got up and tried to pick up all the laundry, as I was hurrying around trying to clean my mess, I heard a chuckle escape my dad's mouth. I looked at him and pouted, what was so funny I had slipped and fell, now my knee hurt, and the laundry was all over the floor. The look I gave him only made him break into a full-blown laughter. He walked over and began to help me clean up the laundry. And when he was done, he opened the freezer and pulled out an ice pop.
"Here you go, thank you for helping with the laundry." I ate the popsicle.
I missed my dad.
I felt tears welling up in my eyes before I brushed them away, there was no time to cry I would find him and the two of us would return home together.
Exiting the laundry room, I drifted into the kitchen and began to search through the pantry, finding that it was filled with fresh fruits and dried meats. I grabbed a peach to bite on while I continued to shuffle around the place.
As I walked around, I eventually saw something out of the corner of my eye, what seemed to be a family portrait. In the picture was Mark, a Lady and 2 young women. So, he had 2 daughters? I wonder what had happened to them. As I stood there thinking, I was too caught up to notice he had returned. He slowly sneaked up on me and with a simple "Boo" scared the living daylight out of me. I fell to the floor and cursed myself for getting so distracted. He extended his hand and helped me up.
"Alright kiddo I'm done my chores for the day, so want to help me get one of the rooms ready for you?" I nodded it was the least I could do is help him after all, he was letting me stay here.
We dusted the room and put down fresh sheets, and once we were done, he left with a "yell if you need me" I nodded and laid down on the bed. It was comfortable, miles better than the pile of straw that mimicked a bed back in the bunker.
I put my head on the pillow and within seconds I was out.