WHEN ATTENDANTS SNAP

Josh always waited until late at night to do laundry down the street, but today he had no choice. He noticed something was odd this time, but he just figured because he was doing wash early that day. Josh walked over to the old rusty quarter machine and put twenty dollars’ worth in the feeder. Seriously?! This machine really ate my money. Nothing came out and then the red light came on signaling it was now empty. Josh walked over the attendant on duty, before he speaks, he noticed that she’s already in a bad mood. Her eyes were dilated like she was about to snap, nostrils flared and a I don’t care attitude on her face said it all.

“What do you want,” the attendant asked with a hasty attitude attached to it. She looked up from her laptop and stared at Josh.

“Uh-uh-uh,” Josh tries to speak but is terrified of her. “T-t-the machine a-a-ate my money.”

“Great,” she sighed angerly then she rolled her eyes.

“Sorry, for being a pain, but I really need to wash my clothes,” Josh said softly.

The attendant looked up at Josh and gave one of those fake I’m sorry smiles. She closed the laptop and tried to look for the set of keys for the machines. She finally found them under a huge stack of paperwork that had turned yellowish.

“Follow me,” she commanded him. They walked back over to the coin machine and the attendant tried some of the keys that were on the key chain.

“How long have you been working here?” Josh tried to have a conversation with her. Maybe I can figure out what’s going on with her. Maybe she needs someone to talk to.

The attendant wasn’t interested in having a conversation with him whatsoever. She continued to try more keys. She finally found the right key to open the machine up. She pulled out the last bill that was inserted and inspected it to make sure it wasn’t counterfeit. It was real, so she opened the coin slot door and sure enough it was empty.

“It seems that we are out of coins for the machine here is your money back,” the attendant said as she slammed both doors shut. She reaches behind the machine and unplugs it.

“How am I supposed to wash my clothes?”

“I got some quarters in the office; I’ll trade with you give me just a moment.”

Josh handed her the twenty and waited by his clothes. He looked at the clock and it seemed like time was frozen. As he got impatient, he walked towards the office, and he could hear her yelling at someone. Sounds like she is fighting with someone like a boyfriend or exe or something. She sounded even more mad. I shouldn’t be listening, but maybe I could help or comfort her. Crap she still has my twenty! All the sudden it went quiet.

The door swung open, and you could see the black mascara smudged around her eyes, they were also red and puffy. She gives Josh the meanest and nastiest look ever that sent chills down his spine. His stomach twisted in knots; his face went pale white. He knew something was about to happen.

“Here’s your coins,” as she chucked it at him nearly hitting him in his chest.

Josh caught the coins before getting winded by the rolls of quarters she threw at him. Now that was uncalled for, I was nothing but nice to her. If she acts like this, I will never come back during the day. Josh stood there for a moment trying to replay what just happened, then he finally walked back to his clothes and put his loads in the washers.

The attendant slammed the window closed and then the door locking herself in the office. Josh felt a little nervous, unsure what was going to happen next. He looked at his phone and it was dead. No, no, no, not now. Why didn’t I charge my phone?! Awe man, I feel like something is about to go wrong, I just hope I’m wrong. Josh turned on all his loaded washers and gathered his laundry detergent and bags. He looked around to see if anyone else was nearby just in case something went wrong. There was no one.

The office door swung open; the attendant was angry. Whoever she was fought with didn’t end well. Her face was redder than a tomato, veins bulging from her neck, her breathing was heavy. Josh noticed right away there was something in her right hand, she was holding a 1915 Beretta Pistol.

Josh’s face turned pale white, and his heartbeat was in the back of his throat. I got to get the hell out of here. She is going to kill me, and I don’t want to die. Josh panicked; he sprinted for the door. She raised her gun and pulled the trigger, Josh let out a scream of fear and agony as she had just shot him in the leg. He screamed so loud it echoed off the walls.

A local bystander rushed in, looked around to see what happened. She runs out of the laundry mat and dialed 9-1-1. Moments later the attendant was still standing the same place in shock that she had shot Josh. She heard the sirens approaching closer and gotten scared then fled from the scene. She was gone before first responders showed up.

Paramedics got to the laundry mat and immediately heard Josh’s cries.

“Hang in there, sir! We got the finest medics to patch your leg right up. Have you been shot anywhere else,” the paramedic asked Josh.

“No, crazy woman only shot me once then ran off,” Josh said as they rushed him to the ambulance.