He prepared his tools meticulously, as a surgeon prepares to operate, making sure every tool was laid out and ordered by when and where he would need it. Each one had to be exactly where he needed it to be to complete the task as efficiently as possible.
The preparations were complete. It was time. With a flick of the wrist, his work began. There was no going back.
As the water began to rise, the first ones plunged in, clinking against each other. The sounds were unmistakable to him, like a bell to a prize fighter. He was after them furiously but cautiously. This was nothing new to him. He knew one can never be too careful with a task like this. One mistake and the whole process could be ruined. He wasn’t about to make a silly mistake.
All went quickly, exactly as he had planned it, exactly as he wanted it to. The mental choreography was paying off. Each one was dealt with deftly, then laid out to air dry for a moment before the towels came out. Stacking would commence only after a thorough drying, and each one, as they had through the entire process, received his utmost attention during this final step.
Finally, it was finished. Everything was back in its original place. The towels were hung to dry, and the tools were all returned to their respective areas. The dishes were complete.