Manufacturers put scents into dish
soap
because research revealed that it made the washer think their
dishes
were getting cleaner than when using unscented soap. Technically the scents weren't required for the cleaning. Max knew this. But he still enjoyed scrubbing it into the plates. He also enjoyed wiping them clean. Sometimes he would move the plate back and forth between his fingers after having cleaned it. Watch the water drops flick off.
Max was paid by the hour. So he didn't mind doing extra work on a regular basis. He wasn't a dishwasher, but he was willing to chip in. He had no hobbies outside of work. Knew nobody from his high school days anymore. And there was nothing to do around
Gas City
. So if he went home, he'd simply drink beer and watch
Youtube
. So why not stay extra and wash some dishes.
"Come on. Let's take a break."
Max looked over. Linda was waving him.
"What?"
"Come eat with me."
They sat down. She had eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Max wasn't hungry. Nibbled on french toast sticks.
Linda was a few years older than Max. Seeing her scared him. The next phase of his life awaiting him. A preview of it in her. She still looked good. Her figure still shone through her apron. But with Linda it was set in stone. She would be here for the rest of her life. It didn't feel like that for Max. He still felt like he had a shot of going somewhere else.
Where that somewhere else was, he had no clue. Back in high school all the kids would say they were going to
California
. But after generations of people treating Cali like some heaven, it seemed that the place had become saturated. No way Max could afford to go there. He had no skills. No money. Where else could he go? Fuck did he know.
"Do you ever plan to leave?"
"Always have. Since high school. I know. Ironic that I'm still here."
"I grew up in a small town too. I also thought I'd get out of there. It's more ironic that I left home just to end up here."
"Did you live anywhere else?"
"I spent two years in
Westcity
. I had a friend going to college right by there. My grades weren't good enough to go to the same school as her. But she convinced me to come out and go to the community college."
"Where'd you go after Westcity?"
"Back home. I was a mess. I didn't even get my associate's."