I could feel my adrenenaline building as I stood in the dark, dusty and deserted lobby.
Oh gawd, what have I gotten myself into now.
I knew there wouldn't be an answer, mainly because I didn't have one. Yet.
The edges of the room began to darken as the sun drooped behind the trees. I could hear shuffling sounds on the porch coming closer, becoming louder. The screen door creaked in protest as it was slowly opened. In shuffled three of the oddest people I have ever seen in person. They looked like they just came from the movie Deliverance.
I heard myself gasp internally.
"Oh. Hello. I didn't know anybody was here. Welcome to the River Rat Motel. I'm Larry. This is my brother Daryl, and my other brother Daryl."
OHMYGAWD... I'M IN A NEWHART NIGHTMARE!!
"ah... a.. hello. My name is... its Suzie Q."
(What? Do you think I'm really going to give them my name?)
"Are you from Princeton?" Larry asked suspiciously.
"ahh....No, why?"
"Oh... no reason I guess. My brother Daryl applied for admission a couple of years ago and we never heard nuthin. I was just awonderin."
I just stood there dumbfounded. I'm sure my mouth was open. I couldn't seem to process that piece of information.
Finally Larry shuffled behind the counter. "May I help you?" he said stiffly.
This is where I should have said no and left, but it was getting dark and scary out there. It was dark and scary inside, too. This is called a dilemma.
"ah... I'm not sure. I was thinking about a room for the night, but..."
Larry didn't wait. "Let me see if we have something available."
There was a small puff of dust as he turned the page of the register. "You're in luck. Our best suite is available. Would you like to register now?"
"Would you mind terribly if I checked the suite out first before I made up my mind?"
It was Larry's turn to look a little dumbfounded and that wasn't easy.
"Of course. Daryl, would you take Ms. Que up to room 13, please."
I turned quickly to see which brother it was going to be. The one sitting at the table got up and shuffled towards the stairs. Don't they know how to pick up their feet?!
I followed but kept a safe distance behind him. I wondered if I should ask him if he was the one who applied to Princeton, but I didn't want to start a conversation. I wasn't sure if he could maintain one. I wasn't sure if I could, either.
We turned to the right at the top of the stairs and stopped in front of a door. The "suite" was apparently right over the lobby. Daryl opened the door and switched on the lights.
"WTF?!!"
No... really, my mind said W. T. F. when I saw the room. I clearly spend way too much time on the pc and texting. Texting!!!! Ohmygawd, did I have my cell phone with me? I wanted to pat my pockets to see but I didn't want to give Daryl any ideas. I mean I didn't know one Daryl from another, know what I mean. But the room.... the room was lovely.
"WTF?!!" I repeated.
"Huh?" mumbled Daryl.
"a...nothing. This room is lovely" I said in total disbelief.
It looked clean, and light, and..... and useable. It was so incongruous I struggled to wrap my mind around it. The screen protected windows were open and a gentle breeze fluttered the white lace curtains. A french door lead to the balcony and beyond was a breathtaking view of the river even though it was getting dark.
I went over to the bed and turned down the covers. The blanket and sheets looked new and unused. The pillows looked puffy and full. There was a subtle fragrance of rose petals in the room. I felt myself relax a little.
I turned to Daryl who still stood in the doorway as though he was not allowed to come in.
"How much is it a night?"
Without missing a beat, Daryl replied "$39.00. That includes a voucher for dinner and drinks at the Grill next door and a continental breakfast in the lobby tomorrow morning."
I blinked. Then I blinked again. Was I going insane?
"Okay, I'll take the room for the night."
8 comments:
Reminds me of old times at the board...
I enjoyed it
Miss P
Well I KNEW you could pull this off much more creatively!! I love it. Absolutely love it. I like the way you illustrated the room and the guys are hilarious!!! hahahahah.
Great creativity going on and I can't wait to hear more!! What is going to happen next? I'll link to here so anyone who comes to mine can follow it over here.
Woo hoo....this is fun.
BTW I want that room. The balcony is so inviting and those clearn white curtains billowing in the breeze.
s
BWAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
LOVED IT!
Loved the illustrations!
Loved the whole idea...very clever!!!
Ya know, after finishing the first draft of the installment I found myself sitting back thinking 'hey.. that took some effort. Okay, not a bunch, but effort nonetheless. And time. It took time.' And when I was trying to do the room illustration I found myself thinking 'shit! What the hell did I get myself into here?!?'
Bottom line here is that trying something for myself ALWAYS gives me such a better (or renewed) appreciation of what others do. So much more appreciation. In everything! (especially creating art.)
An idea is brewing for the next installment, but after that I don't know how long... you know the drill. If anyone wants to do a 'round robin' with it, just let me know.
('round robin' is where someone starts a story, passes it on to another who adds to it, then it gets passed on to yet another, etc.)
hahahaha, well I'll step back for awhile on this one! But if you take it in a direction that gets me motivated, maybe I will....
Yeah, it is a little bit of work to do these....and creativity...
You're a really good writer!!! I enjoyed this a LOT!
Thanks, Sharon. And thanks for commenting.
Miss P... I still check your blog at least every other day. just, you know, to let you know. And you're right about the old board and group stories... hadn't thought of that.
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