Iina wished she had a radio to listen to, but Penny forbade it. Even Muzak would be a welcome change from the annoying clock and intermittent traffic noise.

The loud buzz from the doorway jarred her from her boredom. She jumped, startled. Finally, a customer! Scrambling to regain composure, she blushed. She hated being caught daydreaming.

A mass of clothes encircled by two arms approached the counter.

"Ugh," the customer grunted as he dropped the load in front of Iina.

"It's that time again, huh?"

"Yep." He nodded.

Iina knew his routine. On the last day of the month, attorney Benjamin Silverberg brought in an entire month's worth of dress shirts, slacks, suits, and often some ties. She walked to the rack to get his pick-up order--the previous month's drop off.

Several trips later, she had all seventy-plus pieces brought up front.

"Thanks. Put it on my account, please."

"Will do, thanks!" Iina cringed inside, watching him carry the crisp, pressed items out and stuff them in the tiny trunk of his Jaguar.

I don't know why he bothers to pay to have his clothes done if he's going to wrinkle the hell out of them before he even gets home.

She stared at the daunting mound of dirty laundry Benjamin left. It's close to closing time, but if I leave all this for morning, Penny will be pissed.

Iina moved the fabric mountain to the sorting table and began separating different garment types. Next, she checked all the pockets. Many customers left things in their pockets, from chewing gum to money. Anything of potential value went into a small paper bag and got returned to the customer when they picked up.

Several pairs of pants later, Iina pulled something from a pocket. "What have we here, Benjamin?" She looked at the item--a folded piece of paper. "Is it a love letter, perhaps? Wonder if it's anything worth saving." She unfolded it. "Holy shit!"