The Town Drunk, December 2007

Some of the most baffling mysteries of life are encountered in the most mundane places—like the laundry room, and I’m not talking about the weirdos in Laundromats late at night. What the hell happens to sock pairs ripped apart by the tumult of the washer and the dryer’s cruel static cling? And why is it always your favorite, most devoted pair?

“Left Behind” by Ximena Cearley is delightful, and the writing is tight and clever. Cearley really made me care for the characters, and I don’t mean by adding fabric softener. This is personification at its best:

“Like all truly important rituals, Laundry Day was dangerous. A small but significant percentage of participants did not return. Beliefs regarding the afterlife varied, but in general, socks tended to be optimistic. The tragedy was that of those not chosen.”

Any more comments would be spoilers. You have to read this one from start to finish to appreciate it.