Sweet Dreams

Give Us Hope

Christine's POV:

The following day, Bleacher blows his whistle, and we all walk down the stairs and into the Wash House for roll call.

Bleacher: "Bell."

Lottie: *quietly* "Here."

Bleacher: "Benz."

Piper: "Mm."

Bleacher: "Chucklesworth."

Larry: *groans*

Bleacher: "Crunch."

Abacus: "Here."

Bleacher: "Carter."

Me: "Present."

Bleacher: "Wonka."

Then, Mrs. Scrubitt calls out from afar.

Scrubitt: "Bleacher, toilet's blocked again!"

Willy: "Oh, wow. The unmistakable sound of love."

Bleacher: "You what?"

Willy walks back over to Bleacher while I hide behind the side of the doorway.

Willy: "Don't tell me you hadn't noticed."

Bleacher: "What?"

Willy: "She's madly in love with you."

Bleacher: "Mrs. Scrubitt?"

Willy: "Besotted. And why not? Look at you—fine figure of a man. You just need to tidy yourself up a little bit. Get some new clothes. Have a bath."

Bleacher: "A bath?"

Willy: "You do know what they say, right?"

Bleacher: "What do they say?"

Willy: "She'll be thankful for an ankle."

Bleacher: "Yes."

Willy: "And pleased to see your knees."

Bleacher: "Right."

Willy: "But if you wanna make her sigh..."

Bleacher: "Tell me."

Willy: "Show her some thigh."

At this point, I have to keep my hands over my face so they can't hear me laughing.

Scrubitt: "Bleacher! It's overflowing now."

Bleacher: "Get in there. Back to work."

Willy: "All right."

Scrubitt: "It's up to me ankles!"

Bleacher: "Time-waster."

I quickly follow Willy as we enter the wash house, letting some of my laughter out as Bleacher walks away. I then assist him in finding supplies in the Wash House and wheeling them into a room behind a curtain.

All:

First, you pick up the apparel

Then you stick it in a barrel

Scrub, scrub

Then you put it through the mangle

Larry: