#bergen_county

TXT: not clean enough for girlfriend?

TXT: no

a pause
TXT: they r bad? ... i can't tell

TXT: smell

TXT: clean but mildew

TXT: they smell normal!

She can practically imagine him sniffing indignantly

TXT: you have an askew sense of normal

TXT: i don't mind it, used to you

TXT: i bought cologne
Ugh, she can practically smell the scent of 'Date Night Babadook'

TXT: smell like horses often enough anyways

TXT: cologne does not help

TXT: huh.
the horses just smell like horses tho, too

TXT: not ok

TXT: better than lavender or fresh linen detergent. 💡 maybe those bug my asthma

The hope clear in the subtext

TXT: sorry

TXT: maye AM has detergent with no scent?

TXT: 4 what. ur not the laundry oompa loompa
She does. Cleo has IDEAS

TXT: she means well

TXT: maybe i can sic her on dirk. he manages the most interesting stains

TXT: peroxide or spit gets blood

TXT: spit? no shit?

TXT: has 2 B own persons spit

TXT: don't tell dirk that. he'll start a tongue collection

TXT: idk chemistry

TXT: actually pls do

A little typing icon.

It's gone, then back again.

TXT: 🫥

All that typing, for an emoji?

TXT :man-shrugging:

TXT: sorry

TXT what do u keep sorrying 4?

TXT: idk

TXT: bothering u

TXT if u bother me then i'll let u kno

TXT: i fucked up

TXT want to talk about it?

TXT: come over?

TXT sure. can i bring laundry? don't trust cleo. i think she can pick locks

TXT: k

There is silence for a while from the phone. However, soon she can hear bustle downstairs. Perhaps she can't hear Symon, but she can hear Tove, or perhaps Jaymes, greeting someone at the door.

She should go downstairs, probably.

And warmly. Symon is let right in

He explains to Tove (Or Jaymes?) about the lavender. Perhaps they have some sensitive, unscented... uh... laundry... crap... for the little one? A duffle bag held awkwardly.

Jaymes (Actually) gives a sympathetic look, and presents his own detergent packs up. Easy to use. They don't smell of ANYTHING floral, nor of that weird 'old spice' his wife tried to get him to use. Stupid commercials anyway. They get things clean. Period.

Does he see a problem with just letting it sit in the washer? What's the big deal?!

Sadly, Jaymes explains (Laconically) that mildew offends 9 out of 10 women. Sworn enemy from some ancient feud. Since that time, men have been forced to transition wet clothes to driers quickly or hang on the line and let it dry by sunlight. Even when the guy is doing the laundry.

Symon takes notes, though he doesn't quite get it.
Maybe I can ask him about cologne sometime. It doesn't seem like the stuff dad wears is doing the trick.