I held my breath as I nervously walked up to the window seat, looking at the lab coat wearing man behind the counter.
"Are you sure I can't talk you into letting me call someone to come pick me up?" I asked again.
"No, I'm quite sure." He responded flatly. "We have our rules here. You signed a contract when you checked in stipulating that you would stay the full term. I'm afraid we won't be bending the rules just for you."
"I really appreciate you being so understanding, sir." I said as I quickly looked around the lobby. "This really isn't what I had in mind when I signed up. I had to get out of my flat. My landlord thought he saw a mouse."
"I'm sure you don't want to stay here." He stated flatly, waiting for my response. I was tired of being judged and I had to check out right away if I was to get home in time to cook dinner.
"I need you to be honest with me, sir. Really I do. It's just, I've been kicked out of my apartment now." I said truthfully. "So it's safe to say I do not want to be alone during the school week. I'm sorry if that isn't a possibility. I won't hold it against you or anything. If you could just hold onto my bags for me for a little bit, that would be great." He gave me a look and I knew right then that I had said too much.
"I didn't mean anything by it." I added quickly. "I'm sure you're really busy, but I really need to get out of here. I have a single room lab on the first floor in the corner. It's five pence a night to stay here."
He strolled out of the lobby and headed my way. I took a moment to wipe the sweat from my brow while I waited.
"I'll need to talk with my team. Stay here." He stated firmly while he headed through a door behind the check-in desk. I took a seat in the plush lobby and waited, hoping that he would work with me on this.
The door opened behind me and the noise of rain could be heard. I turned and saw an older man standing behind me, breathing heavily.
"Hello, sir." I said warmly as waved. He stared at me. "It's a real treat to meet you. Do they always put big, muscle-bound hamsters in the lobby?" He laughed and shook his head, which made me happy. I was glad to have someone there to talk to. "They usually have way-to-small hamsters here. You know, with these little rodent arms and legs? Oh it's awful to watch them try to do anything. I feel sorry for them." He shook his head and started walking away. "I wonder sometimes when they eat too much just to get a belly, if they do the same thing with their arms and legs. Huge, bulging hamster arms and legs all twisted in the wrong direction. Though I guess they don't have to worry about being active at all, do they?" He was now out of eye-shot, so I kept talking. "You know if I had arms and legs that small, I'd probably stay in my room all of the time. I mean, you would too, right? I mean, who would eve…"
"Miss?" I heard behind me, snapping me back to reality. The man who had been in the lobby was now sitting behind the counter. The other man was gone, at least for the moment.
"Yes? You were gone for a big. Did you talk to your team or something?" I asked. "No, I checked again and we are booked full. What seems to be the problem?"
"I have nowhere to go." I said again. "It's just, my landlord thinks that he saw a mouse in my room. I didn't know where else to turn. I really need to get home to cook dinner for my husband. I'm sorry to make a fuss. I really need to get out of here. " He was staring at me with a blank expression before speaking.
"Your husband?" He asked with a dazed look.
"Just my husband. No…" I said, stopping myself before I said too much.
"I see. I'm afraid I can't let you go. I have my team of people to review any cases like this." He said firmly, holding out a clipboard to me. He was one of those sticklers that held to the rules. It didn't matter if every cell in my body was screaming for me to get out.
"OK." I agreed. I stood and took the clipboard. "I just don't want to cause any trouble. I need to get home for dinner. I don't have time for anything else happening." I put the clipboard on the counter and turned to leave.
"Wait." He called out. "We have an opening tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" I asked, looking back at him. "I'm sorry but I…"
"I know it's short notice, but it would only last one night. You could come back again in three days." He pointed to a section on the form. He filled it out and handed me the clipboard. I took it, feigning interest and flipped it open to see the option.
"I guess." I said as I studied the time. "I'll have to make that work. I had nothing better planned though, I'm afraid."
"We could hold your spot, if that would make a difference." He suggested. "I'll just have my underling call the agency and have them pull up your paperwork." He looked up at me. "If it doesn't work out, you have a full still in here. We would be happy to offer you our stay rate, to make up for the lost time."
"I'm sorry again. Truly. I appreciate it." I wasn't looking forward to tonight, but I didn't know what else to try. "But the fresh air is too good right now. I'm going to relax so I can cook tonight, I promise. Maybe I can meet you at the hotel in the morning before I leave to cook today?" I asked.
"Of course." He said as he typed in the request to my name. "I wish I could do more. If you want to change your mind, call us and we can hold your place again." He handed me a piece of paper with my name on it and a phone number to their call center.
"Thank you." I said as I flipped it open.
"You're welcome. Take it easy, miss." He said as I walked through the door.
I raced down the street away from the hotel, pockets feeling heavier and my eyes watching every curve around me. I wasn't looking forward to going home tonight. I was nervous and scared, but my thoughts were still on leaving. The rain was a distraction and I turned a corner and entered a much better neighborhood.
oOo
"Wait, wake up!" I sat up, eyes wide.
"What?" He responded.
"She's right. I just saw her. That was way too close!" I realized that I had been dreaming. "How did they find us?"
"Calm down. It was just a dream." I heard an older man say. "I'll go check it out. You stay here and try to get some rest."
"I can't, sir. I'm sorry. Call me crazy, but I think we should head out." I said as I dressed as quickly as I could. He tossed me my staff. "Where are you going now?"
"I'm going to find out what's going on. You stay here and don't come out." I stared at him, wondering if he thought I was still part of their group. "Come on. I do dishes, I won't leave. Just don't come out." He let out a little whimper and started to walk away. I waited a few moments and headed out the door, looking over my shoulder a few times as I went.
Mall
I walked into a cute little store that had lots of shops made in it. I wore my cute little red dress and purple glasses. I walked up to the girl and smiled.
"Hi. What can I help you with?" She asked.
"I'm looking to get a few things. Is there any one that you would recommend? I'm kind of new to these things." I smiled at her.
"Of course! Just ask anyone by the counter and they can squeeze you in. I do my shopping over there. They're always ready to help. Why don't we look over there." She pointed to a corner where a few people were looking through some clothes. "I'll show you where to go, okay?"
"Thank you." I said and followed her over a few little pieces made of various materials. She pointed and pointed until she took me to a booth. "You don't have to yank my arm out of place. I can walk on my own." I said, still looking over the little piles of clothes.
"You're very sweet. You're welcome." She giggled.
