Daily tasks

Washing up

Red hands, now enveloped in the soon familiar liquid, began to rise out again. The prize of a semi-clean plate clasped in their grip. The foamy bubbles trickled lazily down the smooth plate surface, revealing the tell-tale white lying beneath the remains of dinner covering it. One red hand released the plate, letting the other support while it plunged back into the water, searching for the cloth which had escaped before.

The sudden movement in the water caused the cutlery lying on the bottom to sway slightly, patiently awaiting their turn to be picked and cleansed. The cloth was snatched up by the hand; its only sign of resistance was the weight of the extra water dripping away as it broke the surface. But the hand would have none of that, it expertly positioned the cloth and squeezed the excess water away before pressing the cloth to the semi-dirty plate. Neither complained as the cloth was used to clean the gravy away and then released back into the water, ready for the next time it would be needed.

The clean plate was scanned by bored eyes for any imperfections, turned over with both hands before the inspector was fully satisfied. The plate was moved fully away from the bowl, guided to the rack where an army of obedient plates stood to attention. The plate joined the racks, now slipped into a waiting slot to stand and dry. The foamy white bubbles raced against the remaining water on its surface, seeing who was to be the first to drip off the plate and through the rack’s bottom. Both would succeed eventually, it mattered not who was dripped first.

The cutlery’s turn had come, and were cleansed in pairs, the cloth running over the stabbing forks and cutting knifes. But the cloth was not being attacked, for the hands were in control and the cutlery were not in use, they were merely being prepared. They too were left to dry.

The pudding bowls were next, dying the water brown from the chocolate that remained. The cloth was cleaned under the tap to finish its job; the water could no longer be reliable. But that didn’t matter, the hands were in control, and the task would be accomplished.

The last bowl now joined the drying dishes in the rack; the cloth was rinsed one last time, used to clean away any water defiling the sink’s sides before finally placed back in the cupboard, waiting for when it was next needed.

The plug gave way after a small and futile resistance to the hand, the dyed water escaped into the hole’s void. The task was complete, all contributions now finished.

Until next time.