Sunday, June 8, 2008

Murder or Accident?

Mackenzie and Mommy were home one day, doing laundry and other things. Mommy left the second load of laundry in to soak while she hung out the first. When she returned, at first glance, something didn't look right in the washer. So before closing the lid and letting the cycle continue, she took a second look. "Mackenzie, come here!" Mommy had something to show Mackenzie, something they usually found outside under rotten logs and rocks. There on top of Mackenzie's fleece sheets was a red-backed salamander. Mommy went and got the camera for a photo would help to retell the story later. Photos done, Mackenzie and Mommy tried to get the salamander out of the wash tub. Mommy got a fish net and a small fish container and tried to coax the salamander into either one, closing in from front and back. The sly salamander dove under the water. Mommy was glad she hadn't added borax to her whites this time. After poking some clothes this way and that, Mommy decided to let the salamander climb out on its own like it did the last time and went to phone Daddy. Contemplating how the salamander got there, Mommy decided the salamander must have been in the fallen sheet that was fetched from the puddle in the backyard - the backyard and put back into the wash. Daddy suggested taking the laundry out one piece at a time. So... back to the laundry room an hour later and no sign of a salamander. Mommy picked up the empty laundry basket and started carefully pulling pieces of laundry out of the tub, one piece at a time, dripping water everywhere for she dare not wring out any laundry. Upon removal and inspection of each article of laundry, still no salamander, just a need for a mop and rubber boots to get around the laundry room. So Mommy started the washer draining, watching the water closely, and stopping it every few seconds. No sign of the salamander. Mommy then decided to recheck the wet laundry and put it back in one piece at a time, inspecting corners and all sides. No salamander. Sigh. Mackenzie and Mommy were getting worried. Where did it go? Where could it go? What could they do? Mommy started the washer up again, new water and new soap, no borax for her mud-stained sheet. It was soon time to rush off and get Taylor from school. When Taylor appeared at the car Mum told Taylor the story about the salamander in the wash and then realised something. Uh oh. Maybe the slim salamander went through the holes and into the filter. Thinking out loud brought chastisement from Taylor, "Mommy, you shouldn't have done that!" The salamander was likely drowned now. Something only scooping the water from the laundry tub would have helped. Arriving home, Mommy checked the washer filter and was more than dismayed at seeing the pale head of the missing salamander amongst the lint. And Taylor had wanted to keep it for a pet. What was the worse fate? Doing laundry will never be the same again; especially laundry that has fallen into the backyard mud hole.

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