Running Into You

Chapter 18

Henry

The next day I get up and look around my studio apartment. My sister was thrilled when I let her decorate it, but now I think it looks like what Pottery Barn would think a man's loft should look like. A little prestigious for me. I have to admit I do like the leather couch and recliner, but why would I have a vintage football on a bookshelf that's full of books I have never read? She wasn't too pleased with the 60 inch TV, but I wasn't going to budge. I look at an old sepia photo of the UGA football stadium and wonder again why I let her decorate my apartment. Maybe this is a bad idea. I have never cared about how my apartment has looked before.

I pick my laundry bag up off the floor and walk around picking up the dirty clothes off the floor. I look at my watch 7:22. I have plenty of time to wash them before she gets here. Once I have picked up all the clothes I dump the bag at the door. I bend to get a trash bag out from under the kitchen sink and shake it out. I take a deep breath and then start coughing. The smell of day old pizza and stale beer overwhelms me. I walk over and open the six windows that line the north wall. That's better. I then go back in the kitchen and pick up the dirty paper plates and beer bottles and stuff them in the bag. I pick up the empty pizza box off the coffee table and the two off the floor and stuff them in the bag. I pick up the empty beer bottles off the coffee table. I bend down and pick up an empty pretzel bag, empty celery bag, carrot bag (wait three carrot bags, I really like carrots), and water bottles. I'm not telling you how many water bottles. I walk over to my bed and pick up more water bottles and in the bathroom where there are more water bottles and another half empty bag of celery. I wonder how the bag of celery got behind the toilet and then I remember that triathlon I ran in August. Afterwards I just laid in a cold bath eating celery sticks. Once I have all the trash picked up I tie off the bag and place it outside my door. I grab another bag and shake it out and open the fridge. I pick up the milk and check the expiration date 10/1. I put it in the bag. I take out the empty box of beer, the molded grapes, 3 empty cartons of eggs, 2 empty cartons of orange juice. By the time I cleaned out the fridge I realized I need to go grocery shopping. I walk in the bathroom and grab the trash can and empty it in the trash bag. I take another look around and then tie off that bag and put it outside with the other one. I then grab a handful of medals I had won from the races I've done the past year and stuff them in a drawer in the kitchen. While in the kitchen I notice the sink full of dirty dishes. It contains the entire collection of ceramic plates and bowls I own. Which is why I had to buy paper. Once they're clean I leave them on a drying mat. I then take some spray and clean all the counters and sink. I then grab a different spray (Piper was very adamant on me not using the kitchen spray on the wood furniture) and a new rag and spray and wipe down the coffee table and side tables and bookshelf. I then toss both rags in with the laundry bag. I then clean the bathroom, sweep the hardwood floor, and vacuum the rug. I take the sheets off the bed and toss them in the bag too.

As much as I hate cleaning at least it kept me busy while I wait for Emma to get here.

I grab my phone off the charger and my watch and put it on. I grab the three bags on my way out and lock the door. I go down the elevator and out the building and then I walk across the parking lot to the dumpster and throw my bags in and then head to the community laundry mat to do my clothes. The room is deserted. I press my code in the laundry soap machine that will allow them to add the cost to my rent to get the soap and softener. I then load up three washing machines and put my code into them as well. The digital timer on the machines say it's going to be 45 minutes. I put 40 minutes on the timer on my watch and head out the door. I jog out of the parking lot and on to the sidewalk. The blue sky was cloudless and it felt nice and cool. I make it to the end of the block and cross the street without waiting for the cross walk. One more block and I'm at the park. The park has a few families out enjoying the wonderful weather. On the path around the park I pass a tall dark man walking a beautiful grey pit bull and an older woman walking a Maltese with pink bows on each ear. I don't see anyone else. I lap the park four times before the timer goes off and I head back towards the laundry mat. I hear the buzzer when I walk in.