The tumble dryer beeped, signaling that my first load of washing was dry.
I got up and emptied the load into my basket. Two more loads to go. I had just sat down and carried on reading my book when the door to the laundromat opened.
Carrying a duffel bag, a man in a tattered over-coat, wearing a well-worn woolen beanie and boots without shoelaces, entered the laundromat.
When he saw me he took off his beanie, looked me straight in the eyes and said: ''Evening'', then proceeded to put the contents of his duffel bag into one of the washing machines.
When he was finished, he sat down on a chair next to me.
I didn't know what to do, should I put down my book and begin a conversation with him or should I continue reading? Did he sit down next to me for a reason or was it just a coincident?
I looked at my watch, 8:30 pm, still another hour and half until all my washing would be done.
Truth be told, I felt uncomfortable. With all the empty chairs in the laundromat, why did he choose to sit down next to me? I decided to keep on reading.
A few minutes passed, then suddenly a voice: ''What is your take on time, does it exist or is it a mere human construct?''
I put down my book, turned toward the voice and found myself looking into the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I was lost for words for a minute or two before I answered: ''Actually, I am not sure, it depends on how the word time is defined perhaps?'' I answered.
''Well,'' the man with the blue eyes responded, ''How do you define the word 'time' then?''
''Well, if I am sitting in a dentist chair and having a tooth pulled, then time seems to pass very slowly, but if I am doing something I really enjoy, then time seems to fly, so I guess how one experiences time has a lot to do with not only hours, minutes and seconds, but also what one is experiencing during those hours, minutes and seconds,'' I answered.
The man with the blue eyes looked at me and smiled, ''You have given this some thought then I gather?''
''Yes, I have, and still do, and so far my hypothesis is that there is 'clock time' and then there is 'experienced time', I answered. As on cue, the timer on my tumble dryer, and the man with the blue eyes' washing machine, both started to beep at the same time.
''Alas, regardless of how we define time, it does tend to pass, wouldn't you agree?'' the man with the blue eyes said as he got up off his chair to unload his washing machine.
As I was putting in my last load in the tumble dryer, I quickly glanced over at the man with the blue eyes.
There was something odd about him that I couldn't put my finger on. He was dressed as if he lived on the streets, his whole demeanor quite disheveled, yet at the same time there was an 'air' about him that I couldn't quite pinpoint. As I stood at one of the tables folding my washing, I realized just how biased and judgmental my thinking was. I gave myself an internal slap on the wrist and vowed to myself to snap out of it and to remember that the measure of a human being does not hinge on clothing or appearance, rather, it hinges on a person's inner qualities.
I loaded the last bit of washing into the dryer and then sat down on my chair again.
A few minutes later the man with the blue eyes sat down next to me.
I was just about to ask the man with the blue eyes where he was from when the door to the laundromat flung open and two very drunk women entered.
''Jules, look at this will ya, men doing washing... what? Haven't yous got women to do it for ya? No one wanted yous, is that it? Or are you fags?'' said one of the women as she plonked herself in one of the chairs. The other woman pulled out a crumpled cigarette from her handbag, lit it, then laughed and said: ''Too right Sheila, look at them, miserable bums.''
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I got the chance to say anything, the man with the blue eyes spoke.
''Evening Ladies, I take it that you are in good spirits tonight, so please allow me to answer your questions, however I will speak only for myself since until only a few hours ago the two of us were total strangers. Three years ago, my wife and son were killed in a car accident on the way to pick me up from the airport. One year later our home burned to the ground while I was overseas doing my second tour of Afghanistan. In the space of two years I lost everything that I held dear, but these circumstances were instrumental in bringing about a big change in my outlook on life.
I now view every moment of life that I am given as a precious gift, and as none of us know how many moments any of us are given, I personally do not want to waste any time on concerning myself with pursuing anything that is not life or love-affirming.''
''Jeez, Sheila, what a nutcase, let's get out of here, I need another drink after all that philosophizing.''
''Me too Jules, and you, what's wrong wif ya, why don't you say anything, cat's got your tongue or what?'' The cat did have my tongue, I was lost for words.
The two women laughed, flung the door open and left, leaving behind a pungent smell of cigarettes and cheap alcohol.
''I think your dryer just stopped'' said the man with the blue eyes.
I folded the last of my washing, put it into my laundry bag, then slung the bag on my shoulder.
With his back to me, the man with the blue eyes was loading his washing into one of the dryers.
I felt that I needed to say something before leaving the laundromat, so I dropped my bag on the floor, tapped the man with the blue eyes on the shoulder and said: ''I am so sorry for all the pain and suffering you have had to endure, but I am grateful for having had the opportunity to spend some time with you.''
The man with the blue eyes smiled, put a hand on my shoulder and then said: ''A person who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.''
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