Rhythm in the Drums

The heavy mechanical thrum of the neighborhood laundromat pulled me straight through the propped entrance. Twelve front-loading dryers turned in steady, synchronized cadence. On the lower frame of a sorting table, a tilted wire laundry basket blocked my path. Immediate correction needed. I gripped the chrome rim with both hands, set my boots against the caster brace, and levered my weight backward. Snap. The frame clicked level with a resonant chime. From my raised vantage point on the gleaming mesh, the circular portholes spun in flawless rotation, throwing reflections across the polished floor. Clean timing. Total control.