Maytag

The panel behind the Maytag's knobs lit up and glowed pink. Bought in a time when appliances were as revered as a new family member, the machine with backward dials and luminous glow seemed like a relic from a utopic, parallel world. Danny touched the panel and marveled. He'd covered all the basement windows with aluminum foil hoping that they neighbors wouldn't notice a squatter, although the nearest neighbor was two miles away down a different gravel road. The Maytag bathed the utility room with bubblegum cheer--chasing spiders off the web and evicting the boogeyman, all the while washing his hand me down yuppie uniforms.

Photo: spacesuitcatalyst