NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36
Chapter 36. I Want a Washing Machine!
The next day, the sky was beautifully clear.
“Wow, the weather’s really different here.”
Gazing blankly at the sky, I let out a big yawn.
Back home, a typhoon was probably hitting right about now, but there wasn’t a trace of it here. How strange, I thought, stretching my arms as far as they’d go.
Well, time to make breakfast—I opened the rear door of the car as the thought crossed my mind.
After getting back yesterday, I’d taken everything out except the groceries. Of course, the perishables went into the cooler.
Strangely enough, even though the ice packs in the cooler had completely melted by now, it still felt slightly chilly inside. Maybe that’s just how it works, I wondered, though it might also be another “otherworldly feature.”
Today’s breakfast was fried eggs again, along with some of the venison I hadn’t finished yesterday. No way I could handle a thick chunk of meat first thing in the morning, so I sliced it thin and fried a couple of pieces. Sprinkled that fancy seasoning on top and cooked it in the skillet. Then, I plated the meat and eggs on a slice of bread.
It was less gamey than I’d expected—I devoured it in no time. Maybe the seasoning helped. Last night, I’d had it cut thicker, and that was delicious too.
“Man, I really wanna eat some leafy greens…”
Coffee in hand, I couldn’t help muttering to myself.
The water I’d boiled for coffee came from that spring. I’d gone to check on it, thinking it probably hadn’t filled up yet, only to find it overflowing—I had to rush back to get the car. Backing up all that way was such a pain, I realized all over again.
Boiling the water should make it safe, but maybe I should get a water purifier just in case. I think I saw a TV show once where they made a filtration system using a big barrel. Wonder if I could rig up something similar with plastic bottles.
“Maybe once the typhoon’s passed, I’ll go back and check it out.”
If I got sick from drinking untreated water, there’d be no one around to help me.
Since the weather’s nice today, I figured I’d wash my thicker pants, like jeans. T-shirts and underwear are easy—I can just wash them while bathing—but stuff like this is a hassle.
I borrowed the washing machine at the management cabin once, but I’d feel bad doing it every time. Plus, the suspicious looks from the part-time guys who drop by occasionally made me uncomfortable.
“A clothesline would be nice too…”
Right now, I’m using tent ropes strung between trees, with foldable hangers and small clip hangers, but a proper clothesline would handle heavier stuff better. Especially jeans—you can practically see how much heavier they get when wet.
“If portable power supplies exist, surely there’s a portable washing machine too, right?”
Holding the jeans in my hands, I let out a deep sigh.