Why do my socks disappear from the washing machine?
The Italian Plumber solves a common mystery... (Ad)
As a plumber, I often get asked: “Where do half my socks go, once they’ve been put in the wash?”
As far as I know, they get caught up in the back of the washing machine, or simply go missing from the washing line. But my young daughter told me it was something much more magical than that. Here’s her story:
There is a girl, called Isabel. She’s 8-years old, and lives in a busy household with a working mum and dad, and her two younger brothers.
With a stretch and a yawn, she awoke early one morning for school, keen to get herself washed, dressed, and ready for the day ahead. She had an important spelling test that day, and wanted to spend a little extra time revising before setting off. Isabel always wanted to do her best, and liked to plan for all eventualities. She’d already decided that, when she grew up, she wanted to become a journalist and interview world leaders, and other important people.
With one eye half closed, Isabel peeked at her clock and realised she had actually woken up much earlier than usual. Her parents were still wrapped in the warmth of their beds, so Isabel tiptoed out of her room, careful not to disturb their slumber. On the chair just outside her bedroom door, she looked down at her neatly folded school uniform and noticed something was missing.
“Only one sock! No problem,” she thought. “I’ll just find another pair,” But, after searching everywhere, there was not a matching pair in sight. How was she going to go to school with just one sock?
Feeling determined, Isabel decided to take matters into her own hands.
Hoping that she might find an extra sock in the washing machine, she quietly walked downstairs to the kitchen, her bare feet cold from the wooden floor beneath them.
She approached the washing machine, and peered inside, half-expecting to see a mountain of missing socks awaiting her. Isabel wasn’t far off.
What she saw was a colourful mismatch of socks, piled high in a corner of the washing machine. Her matching sock, sitting right at the top. “Perfect!” she shouted – covering her mouth as she did so. But as she reached in to pull out the matching sock, she saw something move that made her jump back in shock.
“Don’t be afraid,” she heard a soft, whispery voice say.
Slowly, Isabel peered back into the machine and, out from the pile shuffled a strange-looking creature, a kind of monster – made from socks and rags, with a huge, happy grin. Isabel’s eyes widened, her heart was racing, but she didn't feel scared. There was something about this monster that felt warm and kind.
"Hi," Isabel replied, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "Who are you?"
The monster beamed, "I'm Count Sock, the Laundry Monster! I take one random sock from many of the pairs you put in this machine. You must be Isabel,” he announced with a huge twinkle in his bulging eyes.
Once she’d recovered from the initial surprise of meeting a real-life monster, she had a brainwave. This was the perfect opportunity to carry out her first, proper interview. This was a ‘scoop!’ So many questions, such little time, and who would even believe her?
Isabel grabbed a notebook and pen from the worktop, and proceeded to ask the important questions:
“Count Sock, what do you eat?”
“I eat all the loose change, rubber bands and fluff that come from your pockets,” Count Sock proudly responded.
Samuele The Italian Plumber
Other blog posts by Samuele can be read at theitalianplumber.co.uk/blog.
Until next time, if you have any plumbing or heating issues around the home, give us a call on 020 8945 7457.
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August 24, 2023
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