Laundry Gremlins

Flash Fiction Theme- Laundry

It has been a week since the laundry fairies have visited Shari. She forgot to make the sweets and leave them out as a thank you. Her note she had made that night slipped off the counter and was nowhere to be seen. So just like the note, it has slipped her mind.

Shari wakes up early on Saturday morning, excited to have a day off. She has plans to get her hair and nails done, something she hasn’t been able to do for nearly a month because of how busy she has been with work.

Shari takes a long hot shower before she gets dressed and heads out to enjoy the beautiful sunny yet cool day. She bundles up in a light jacket, hops in her car, and drives off. She parks in the parking lot in front of the salon an hour and a half later.

Shari walks in and looks around. A strong smell hits her nose, making her gag. She can’t figure out what it is, but she doesn’t ask when she is whisked to a chair. The lady who is going to do her manicure and pedicure sits her down and asks what color Shari will like. Shari looks around, covering her nose.

“Oh ummm. I would like a lilac for both fingers and toes.” She glances around again. “I’m sorry, but what is that smell?”

The woman, Alice, looks at her, confused. “There is no smell. Unless you’re smelling the chemicals in the nail polish or in what I’ll be using to take off your old nail polish.”

Shari takes a deep breath and holds out her hands. “That must be it.” She clears her throat. “Let’s get started.”

Alice nods and goes to get the nail polish, leaving Shari crinkling her nose and looking around for what is making the horrid smell. She leans down and sniffs at the liquid on the table, but it doesn’t give the same putrid smell.

Alice returns with three different nail polishes to choose from and she sets them down in front of Shari. “Here are three lilacs I believe you’ll like, Shari.”

Distracted still, Shari only glances at them for a second. “ I trust you, Alice. Surprise me today.”

Alice watches her for a second before picking a polish and gets to work on Shari’s nails. Alice does most of the talking while Shari half listens.

After a few minutes, the small finally subsides and Shari enjoys the appointment. She talks more with Alice and a few others in the shop. While Alice works on her pedicure, Shari admires her nails.

“I knew I could count on you to pick a pretty color for me,” Shari says. “Why didn’t I know you had this color last time?”

“We just got in some new polish. So most likely we didn’t have it last time.” Alice smiles at Shari, glad the woman is calmer than when she first entered the nail salon.

Shari pays and tips for her nails when Alice is finished. She compliments her favorite nail technician and heads out of the nail salon. She jumps in her car so she can get to her hair appointment.

Shari turns on the AC and nearly throws up. The same putrid smell from before hits her squarely in her face.

before hits her squarely in her face.

“Oh, my…what is that?” Shari urns off the AC and hits the button to roll down the window. She takes a deep breath of fresh air. The smell disappears.

Shari parks her car and hops out, locking it but leaves the window open so the smell stops completely. She walks inside and looks around. A few customers look at her. She smiles at them, but her nose wrinkles when she walks past them. It smells like no one has done their laundry in a while.

Pushing those thoughts away, she checks in and sits, waiting for her appointment. The smell only intensifies to where she can’t handle it. After ten minutes, she jumps to her feet, quickly reschedules her appointment, and runs outside. But the fresh air doesn’t help.

Shair throws up in the bushes beside her car. She needs to get home. Shari drives home as quickly as she can, doing her best to not to speed.

When she gets home, she hurries inside but freezes. Her clothes are all over the place covered in dirt and other rank things. The smell is overwhelming, and she can’t stop herself. She turns her head and throws up again.

Shari wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and looks back at her clothes. She screams when she sees tiny disgusting creatures jumping up and down on her clothes.

They stop and look at her, grinning toothless gunk filled grins. Behind them flutter the generous yet angry laundry fairies. Shari covers her mouth, now remembering her promise she had broken.

The laundry gremlins laugh at Shari, then launch themselves at her. She screams, covering her face.