Jonathan hated doing the laundry.

It was yet another mundane task that he couldn't avoid, and once every week or so, he would have to take down his basket of clothes to the laundry area in the apartment building to wash them.

To avoid encountering other people who would be using the laundry at the same time, he always went there at night when everyone else was asleep in their beds. Not finding a single clean suit in his closet, he piled all the clothes he had to wash in the basket and decided to go down.

It wasn't as late as his usual time of doing laundry, but he doubted anyone would be there in the acrid hall of washing machines. He knew if he put it off for later, he wouldn't get to iron out the clothes he had to wear to work the next morning.

The overwhelming smell of detergent hit him as he opened the rusting door, carrying the basket inside. Much to his relief, the place was empty, so he got to work immediately.

He used the machine in the corner, placing his basket next to it, and began putting in the clothes one by one. He was about to reach for the detergent but paused, seeing that the pack wasn't where he put it.

"Boo!"

A small voice attempted to scare him, but he recognized it. "William, did you take the detergent?"

"Nope," the boy popped out from behind the washing machine, "Mandy did."

"Hi, Uncle Jon," Amanda remarked, a mischievous smile playing upon her lips.

Jonathan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. The Hanson twins seemed to pop up unexpectedly around him each time he left the apartment.

"What are you two doing here?" He asked, recovering from the slight unease he felt upon not being alone anymore.

"We are playing hide and seek," they replied in unison.

"This late?"

"Yup. It's more fun in the dark."

"And who is seeking you?" He looked around because he couldn't tell whether more of Miguel's spawns were lurking around.

"Seth said he would, but now we think he probably just ditched us," William remarked nonchalantly.

"But then, he probably wouldn't have thought of looking in here," Amanda added, "It's a perfect hiding spot."

"Yeah..."

"Can I have this back, please?" Jonathan asked for the detergent and to his surprise, the girl handed it over without any fuss. "Thank you."

He was used to their presence around him, so he busied himself with washing his clothes. If he avoided them long enough, perhaps they would take the hint and go.

"Can we help you?" William asked, as if suddenly struck by an awesome idea, "I'm great at folding clothes."

"And I can air them out."

"We can carry the basket up together!"

"Yes, we totally can!"

He looked up, taking in the twins' enthusiastic faces. They were waiting for him to agree, but he remarked in his usual cold voice, "No."

The eager smiles on their faces fell, but that did not affect Jonathan. He set the machine for another spin, leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

"Oh come on, we're just your friendly neighbors. You should let us help you," the twins made one last attempt to convince him.

However, Jonathan knew from experience that if he let them help him out, they would cause even more ruckus. He was in no mood to wash the clothes again, which was a possibility if the twins helped him out.

"You're two kids who are hiding down here for no reason even though it's dinner time," he remarked, giving them what he assumed was a stern look, "Your mother must be waiting for you. So go upstairs and don't cause any trouble."

"Aw no, that's no fun."

"Washing clothes is no fun either," Jonathan mumbled, getting back to work, still hoping that ignoring the twins would make them go away.

They had perched up on the counter close by, faces still set into little petulant frowns. It seemed as if they were plotting something and that was worrisome for Jonathan but for the time being, he kept his focus on the clothes.

Once the cycle was complete, he put the clothes in the dryer and waited a few more minutes so that he would finally be able to leave the shabby hall. After the dryer stopped, he began to take the washed and dried clothes out, folding them before he put them in the basket.

He was a bit surprised that William and Amanda had not disturbed him further, but the two were quite busy having a hushed conversation among themselves.

However, a few short taps sounded from the washing machine beside his, and he paused, looking at the twins and then back at the machine. The two kids immediately got off their perch as if they had just realized something.

"Oh no... That's Vinnie..." William remarked, trying to open up the washing machine but couldn't.

"Bill, you weren't supposed to hide her there. Oh shit!"

The two of them struggled to open the machine until Jonathan realized they were actually serious, and their younger sister was trapped in there. He pulled them apart and opened the machine's lid, seeing a three-year-old girl inside, her large hazel eyes full of tears.

The shock registered on his face, and he would have sworn under his breath if not for the toddler. Vinnie held her little hands up, wanting to be carried out of the machine.

"You know what, all three of you are coming up with me. Right now," he lifted the child out, not knowing what else to do to stop her tears. "I must have a word with your parents."

"No!"

"Don't tell Mom, please!"

The twins tried to stop him, but he was already on his way out, knowing that if he complained to Gloria, they would be grounded.

"Uncle Jon, your clothes are still here!" Amanda thought that would make him reconsider his decision, but to no avail.

"I will look after them later," he remarked, taking them all upstairs.

It was a hefty task as the twins tried to stop him by making all sorts of excuses and, at one point, even pulling him back by holding onto his legs.

But none of their efforts came to fruition. He rang the doorbell, waiting for someone to open up. Shortly after, Gloria Hanson opened the door but she wasn't ready for the unexpected sight that met her eyes.

Billy and Mandy were clinging to Jonathan while he held Vinnie, who was tugging at his hair. She was no longer crying as she was distracted by Jonathan's hair and spectacles.

"Oh my God, Doctor Crane, I am so sorry!" Her face flushed in embarrassment as she tried to pry away her children, "Billy and Mandy, let him go."

"But Mom, we only wanted to help!"

"I said let him go," she warned, taking Vinnie from his hands.

The toddler eagerly settled in her mother's arms, waving at Jonathan, who looked tired but past the point of telling the children off for annoying him.

"I'm sorry. I had no idea they went outside," Gloria explained, feeling bad for Jonathan as he often got caught up in her children's mischievous pranks. "I hope they didn't bother you too much... Although I am worried that might be the case..."

"They left the little one in the washing machine," Jonathan spoke up at last, despite the shocked gasps that ensued from the twins.

"You weren't supposed to tell her that!"

"Uncle Jon, whose side are you on?"

"They forgot her in a washing machine," he corrected himself, but that did nothing to help the twins' case, "She was crying."

"Wait, what?" Gloria was shocked to hear that, and that shock turned to anger at the prankster twins, "How in the world...?"

"We were only playing hide and seek!"

The twins shrieked, knowing that their mother, in anger, was quite a threat. And once again, they took refuge behind Jonathan, clinging to him as if he was the only shield they could use at the moment.

"We won't do it again, promise!"

"You two have annoyed Doctor Crane enough. Now come inside," Gloria said, taking both children by the ears, making them come out from behind Jonathan, who stepped aside so as not to interfere. "And don't think this is over. Just wait till your father gets home."

The twins looked at their Uncle Jon, who made no attempt to defend them, and then trudged inside, knowing for sure that they would get grounded. After they had gone, Gloria was a flustered mess because she did not have the slightest idea of how to apologize to their neighbor on her kids' behalf.

It certainly didn't help that he used to be Miguel's boss, and Gloria still remembered him that way. Thus, a layer of formality and awkwardness gripped them.

"I am so sorry," she apologized yet again, "If there's anything I can do..."

"It's fine," he replied, "I have to go now. Please make sure they don't put anyone in the washing machine again."

She nodded, but her words were still slightly incoherent due to her nervousness, "Oh, that I will. And... And thank you for bringing them here safely. I know I shouldn't have let them out. They just slipped past when I was in the kitchen..."

"It's fine, Mrs. Hanson. I understand kids this age are always up to some mischief," he tried to reassure her, knowing she meant well. "Don't stress yourself out."

He stepped back, and after a polite farewell, the door of the ever-noisy Hanson apartment closed. Jonathan headed back to the laundry room to retrieve his clothes, knowing that if any other mischievous kids showed up, he would have more trouble on his hands.

***