Because our housing situation in Grandas was so posh, and because I am beginning to sense a building odor in my sink-washed clothing, I splurged on the washing machine for €3 last night. There are certain factors that played a role in the laundering process:

1. Jessica is far from familiar with front loading washing machines.

2. Jessica’s Spanish skills are dangerous at best.

3. Instructions in Spain are typically inscribed in Spanish.

I asked Julia to confirm my choice of detergent placement, inserted coins in the slot, and pressed “Inicio”.

I stood watch over the machine to ensure it added appropriate things like water and soap and agitation. The red digital numbers of the timer on the coin slot were nearing zero, and the spin cycle began. Great! I prepared to remove my clothes.

With 50 seconds remaining, I heard water running, and watched as my near-dry clothing was doused again. The door was locked, of course. I punched the three available buttons repeatedly, to no avail. This continued until the timer expired, my wet clothing locked inside the machine.

I pulled the plastic handle with as much force as I dared, then tried to pry the seal with my fingertips; no luck.

I trudged upstairs to beg a few euro coins off of Julia, thinking that running the cycle again would be the only way to retrieve my clothes.

When I returned back to the machine, the hospitaledera had returned – a surprise at 9:30 pm. She was bustling about with the dryer, and I asked in broken Spanish why the washer door would not open. She then turned Arthur on my sword in the stone and made it look easy to open the door. She did say nice things though, noting that it often takes 2-3 minutes to unlock after finishing the cycle. Sure. But thanks.

Then I pointed out the dripping clothes taking a swim in the pool in the bottom of the washer. She again turned to a bustling whirlwind and started speaking VERY rapidly in Spanish, at which point I switched to reading body language and understanding the occasional “muy mojada” (very wet). She passed me a basket in which to load the pool party, then led me to the drying rack where a centrifuge machine waited, with a sign for €2 fee. She then proceeded to run my whole load through the machine for free, nearly sitting on it to keep it from rambling away, and removed about 1.5 gallons of water from my laundry.

Saved the day!! Good thing, too, for the shorts, T shirt, and vest I was wearing were the only clothes not in the washer.

Muchas gracias, señora, for keeping me clothed!!!