Washing Machine
We have our very own Niagara Falls in our laundry room.
Water cascades into the washer;
The noise sounds like a waterfall to my seven-year-old ears.
The water begins to puddle in the bottom of the washer,
I stand on a stool, lean over the edge, and stretch my arm so I can touch the bottom.
Peter Pan and Wendy - my first and second fingers -
are stuck on an island and in danger of being swept away by the rising waters,
Courtesy of Captain Hook, no doubt.
They don't know the danger yet.
They duck under the waterfall,
Maybe steal a kiss? Who knows?
Then they appear again.
Funny...that towel they were standing on shrunk.
Now they realize the danger,
And hop to another spot of land.
The water continues to rise,
The land continues to sink.
Peter and Wendy grow worried.
They spot a ramp that curves up and around a mountain,
And run towards it.
Just in time.
The whole island begins to shake.
The ramp gyrates back and forth, making it hard to climb.
Eventually Peter and Wendy reach the top.
They hold each other until the shaking stops.
(Or until my mother closes the lid to the washing machine.)
All's well that ends well...

...Until the next load of dirty laundry.