Your True Tales
April 2003 – Page 10

Phantom Dish Washer
by shadow

When I was about 16, I often took care of my younger sister (she was around 4 when this happened) when my parents were out for the evening. After she was tucked into bed for the night, I would do any remaining housework left from the day. We had a large family and ate large meals, leaving plenty of dishes to be done in the evening. It so happened that this evening I was left alone with my sister and a pile of dishes to be done. I did not feel much like doing the dishes that night and was procrastinating, as teenagers will do. After checking on my sister who was sound asleep in her bed, I realized that my parents would be home soon and they would be angry if the dishes were still there when they returned. I put the dishes in hot water to soak for a few minutes before I began. 

I sat down at the table with my back to the kitchen sink and lit up a cigarette. I finished the cigarette, put it out in the ashtray, stood up and turned around to find that the dishes that I had put in the sink were gone! I was, of course, in shock. I slowly walked over to the sink. It was clean and dry. I opened the cupboard door very sheepishly... to find all of the dishes clean, dry and stacked very neatly inside. This was strange because my mother never allowed us to wipe the dishes and put them away. She insisted that we leave them in the drain rack to dry and she would put them away in the morning. She didn't want lint from the towels on the dishes. 

I looked up at the clock and realized that only about seven minutes had passed since I sat down at the table. I had heard nothing during this time. No dishes clanking no water running. Nothing! I was grateful for the help, but I was more than a little freaked out. It was several days before I was able to tell my mother for fear she would think I was cracking up. I have never been able to explain how this happened.

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