Somebody...

Above: Where my dry cleaning probably is.

The seemingly endless chess match I am embroiled in with the local dry cleaners has come to a head. What started with a simple next day pick up debacle that left me running for my flight to Paris (later to find it was delayed hours) was dismissed as a miscommunication. They also do not really deliver.

This latest episode was another simple drop-off wash 'n' fold with dry cleaning. After the customary 15 minutes of waiting the bill comes to 14.86. I pull a crisp 20 and 4 not so crisp, rather unsavory looking, 1 dollar bills. I grab my change and speed walk out the door. After conquering my 6 floor walk-up I pull out my change to find I never got $10 back. I run down to inquire and am rudely turned away. Sure, she gave me the 10. It blew away in wind/fell outta my pocket or another ridiculously unbelievable explanation.

The next day I go to pick up my dry cleaning to find only my shirts are there. These people have my clothes. I am totally defenseless against these people. "Come back later, maybe later" they say. Fine, I take the high road. I prepay to expedite this process.

I go in the following day  before my morning meeting. The pants are there. I grab them and head off .. . a disgruntled customer. Hold on now. What's that? I did not pay? I owe 9 dollars for these 2 pants? Fuck you! So now they are almost $20 ahead. It's like an onion, the more you peel it, the more it stinks. After minutes of waiting for them to verify what I know is wrong I ask, Can I just grab them and bring the money by later? NO.