February 11, 2009

Jim’s ‘Lectric Washouse

5900 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 654-5534

It’s way past my bedtime.  I can’t sleep.  Tumblr wasn’t invented yet.  All the dishes are done.  My apartment’s clean.  I’m bored with porn.  What do I do?

Well, I guess I’ll hop and skip on over to the ‘Lectric Washouse (is it just me or does the name of this place make you wanna sing - She’s a Wash…. HOUSE) and cleanse my smelly clothes.

It’s empty, except for one middle-aged woman, and a bunch of typical Telegraph transients outside.  I bust out the roll of quarters and start two loads of laundry.  I remember, they were playing the radio in there.  It was Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer in the City.”  Of course, I start singing, cause that’s how I roll.

I turn around, there’s a big dude behind me.  I’m a bit startled, cause I’m a pretty big guy, so when I noticed someone’s size, they have to be *really* big.  I’m also a little discomforted, since his eyes are hella bloodshot, he reeks of booze, and he looks like he packing a gun (really) in his pocket.  Crap, I think I’m gonna get robbed, beat up, and die.  I remember my exact thoughts “Damn, I was totally looking forward to the next season of Coupling.”  Your whole life in two seconds, my ass.

He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a Now and Later, pops it into his mouth, and says “I like this song too.”  He starts humming and walks away.

There doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city.

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