dirty laundry

It costs less to send my laundry out than to do it in my over-priced laundry room. So for a few years now, I have been bringing my laundry to the cleaners next door.

On May 6, I bring in a big bag of laundry. And on May 7 it is returned. I open the bag, expecting it to look as it always does. Clean and folded.

But the only thing I see is folded.

Every single piece in my laundry is not dirty as in I've worn it.  But dirty as in it looks like it all fell off a truck, in the rain, and then was run over a few times.

And, it was delivered back to me as if nothing odd had happened to it.

I go back to the cleaners, open my laundry bag, and show the guy who works there. His first response is to suggest that I brought it in that way. As if every single item I wore had been drenched in road dirt.

Next, he tells me that the place where the laundry is shipped to noticed it, and couldn't get it out. In very broken English he explains that the washing machine and dryer were used before and after my laundry, so it didn't happen there.

I don't really care where or how it happened. Just that it did. And that he needs to fix it. He says he will.

Two weeks later I go back and he tells me it won't come out. 

He calls the boss. Some woman named Michelle who lives, and I'm not joking, somewhere in Georgia on the Appalachian Trail and has poor internet connection.  He can only communicate with her when she calls. He tells me she'll be in next week, "Tuesday or Wednesday."

In the meantime, I create an excel spreadsheet of all 21 items. I find the replacement cost online. Everything has been bought within the past two years. The total comes to $1,889.71.

Michelle finally comes in yesterday, which is a Wednesday, not a Monday or Tuesday. I'm expecting an unpleasant encounter.

But I am surprised; Michelle is nothing like I expect. 

She is attractive, professional, and speaks English well. The first thing she says is, "I am so so sorry."

This immediately diffuses all my anger.

She tells me she needs to consult with her brother to determine next steps. He is part owner and isn't available until next week.

So, no decision yet but I am optimistic.

I hope I am right.