A Plan (Socks CDXL)

The cord wanted to get a plan together, "We should have formulation."
"What's formulation?"
"Getting planning together."
The boys had tried this before, so they took over, "When we see Mom, we all yell as loud as we can, in unison."
Unison was a new word for the cord, and he liked it. He vowed to use the word every chance he got. The others were sure the word would not be used correctly, but they didn't care.
From the other room, "I'm home."
"I'm in here, Mom."
By now Match was dressed, sitting in a chair, reading a book.

A Pact (Socks CDXXXIX)

Match came in with a towel wrapped around her hair. She sat on the bed, causing the ring to bounce off the bed, hitting a slipper, and rolling under the bed. Peace returned.
The boys could now finish their story about Mom. They took turns recounting stories of their injuries and repairs, how nice Mom was, and the way they had teamed up with other objects to try to get Mom to hear them.
"Maybe us can trying it."
"I don't think we have enough, but it would be worth a try."
They agreed to try when they saw Mom.

Who's Mom (Socks CDXXXVIII)

The ring and emerald were back in the not speaking phase of their ongoing feud. Peace and quiet. Everyone knew better than to speak of the argument, so nothing was said.
Eventually Rar broke the silence, "It will be nice to see Mom again."
"Sure will."
Sunbeam wanted to know, "Who's Mom?"
"She's the lady that fixed my toe."
"And my heel."
"What a coincidence. You're a heel, maybe she can fix you."
"Maybe she could get you to be quiet."
The peace had been broken once more, so there could be no conversation.
The door opened, steam came out.

The Note (Socks CDXXXVII)

Match opened the front door, "Mom, I'm home." No answer. She walked into the kitchen. A piece of paper was on the table. Holding the paper in front of her, Match's lips moved soundlessly.
Match moved to the bedroom, and placed the objects on the bed. She walked through a doorway, water started running. Match returned, and undressed, tossing her clothes in the hamper. She put on a robe, and went in the other room. The door shut, then opened again. Match came out, stood by the bed, and removed the ring. She tossed it next to the other objects.

At the Bug (Socks CDXXXVI)

Sunbeam could hear the fracas, and was sorry he had breached the subject. Once more all conversation ceased, because the argument was all encompassing.

Match finally approached a small, yellow vehicle. She set all the objects on top of the car, took out her keys, and opened the door. Pulling a sweatshirt from the seat, she slung it over her shoulder, shutting the door. She reached for the objects, but stopped.

Match then removed the ring from her finger. She held it in the light, and turned it this way and that. After a moment, she put it back on.

Socks starts on 2-25

Walking Home (Socks CDXXXV)

As she walked, Match unwound the cord from Sunbeam’s handle, releasing Lar and Rar. She carried the coffee pot in her left hand, holding the twins in her left, looking at them.
Sunbeam and the cord were having a field day, “Hey boys, it’s nice and quiet over here. How’s the bickering going over there.”
“That’s right, it’s quiet here. We’re not fighting, we’re friending.”
“Real funny. It’s quiet over here too. Their not talking to each other again.”
“I’d like it if she never talked to me.”
“I’m not going to give you what you want.” The fight resumed.

Quitting Time (Socks CDXXXIV)

Match came along, picked up the card, wrote on it, and put it back in the rack. Next she grabbed Sunbeam and the others, which brought the ring and emerald close. The argument continued.
“Besides, I like red better than green.”
“I like platinum better than gold.”
Match opened the double door, and in a loud voice, “I wrote on my card like you said. It’s in the rack.”
“Ok. I’ll sign it before I leave. Have fun with Kyle.”
“Just friends.”
Match went out the back door. When the door shut, she tried the knob. The door wouldn’t open.

Repeat (Socks CDXXXIII)

Sunbeam remembered a pair of soft, smooth hands, and a pair that were not so smooth. Then he added, "I haven't done my job for a long time, but now that I have a cord to help, I'm ready."
"I'm ready too, our coffee will be in the better."
This was the first time Acroprint had heard the cord speak, "Your coffee will be the best."
"Yes, I glad you be agreement."
"You're glad I agree."
"Do you repeating everything?"
The time clock was at a loss, "No, I don't repeat... I was just trying... Your speech is... Never mind."

Off Work (Socks CDXXXII)

"I was off work for a while. After getting a hole cut in my toe, I had to get repaired before I could work. And my brother got chewed on by a mouse."
"How long were you off?"
"I really don't know. I'm not very good with time. I know that most times I only work for one day, then I wait to get washed, then I wait in the drawer."
Now it was Acroprint's turn to be confused. Rar explained the laundry, waiting in the basket, the swimming, the tumbling in the warm dryer, and the soft, smooth hands.

On Task (Socks CDXXXI)

"We're getting way off the subject. We were talking about work."
Rar was confused, "I thought we were just talking."
"Let's keep on task, shall we?"
"If you insist."
"When you see people standing around talking, that's called gold bricking."
Rar voiced his skepticism, "How do you know?"
"I was brought here, hung up, and plugged in twelve years, ten months, two weeks, two days, twenty three hours, and five minutes ago. I've been on this wall doing my duty ever since. A few times when the power went out, I simply got reset, and went right back to work."

Break Time (Socks CDXXX)

"When they come in the door, I punch 'em in. At the end of their work day, I punch 'em out."
"What's the purpose?"
"I keep track of how long they work. I should say that differently. I keep track of how long they are at work."
"What's the difference?"
"People don't actually 'work' the whole time they are 'at work."
More explanation was needed.
"I've seen people pull a chair up to the bench, put their feet on the lower shelf and eat a sandwich. That's called a break."
Acroprint explained breaks.
"Do they get fixed after they break?"

Acroprint (Socks CDXXIX)

The door opened, the woman from the counter came in, "I'm glad I caught you."
"Why, what's happening?"
"A guy with a pick up load wants to donate it."
"I just now punched out. I can't punch back in for an hour."
"Just write 'Plus thirty minutes' on the card, and I'll sign it. I'll send them around."
"OK." Match put Sunbeam and the other objects on the clock, and opened the back door.
Sunbeam wondered out loud, "What does 'Punched out' mean?"
"That's what I do."
"What's your name?"
"Acroprint."
"Aren't you a clock?"
"Well, I'm a time clock."

? (Socks CDXXXV)

Les, don't leave me hangin' here!