It's old news that socks disappear in the laundry. I have forestalled future losses in that department by using safety pins to join sock mates together before tossing them in the wash.

Now a new wrinkle to the unfolding sock mystery. I took off my socks last night, laying them on the hassock next to the reading chair. I intended to pin them this morning and toss them in the hamper.

This morning there was only one sock on the hassock. Has the Infernal Sock Ingester moved from the garage (where the washing machine resides) to the upstairs bedroom? Has the Terrible Sock Thief struck again? The cat looked innocent.

After breakfast I was straightening up the afghan that I leave folded on the hassock for reading warmth (and to protect against too-enthusiastic feline claws), out fell not one, but three, unattached socks.

OK, guys, who's the comedian?