The locals from Away
Just as they came, they disappeared into the night. The rain beat down on a dark parking lot with only two familiar cars parked. I sat for a long time thinking about the strange occurrences that had happened that afternoon. It would be a while before the family would return so I had the luxury of puzzling in quiet for a few hours.
As with every guest, I try to steal a few moments to sit and talk. Ask some innocent questions. Or at least they may seem to be innocent. The single dad with his wired son. He was unsure of his address at check in. I recall him trying very hard to remember which one to to use. "Don't worry about it" I said, "Happens all the time". I could hear the satire echo in my mind. Who doesn't remember where they came from that morning........
At last, in the upper dining room, over a big black cup of coffee, dad started to relax. With each sip of coffee he talked more. Until a picture began to emerge. One for the story books. "My wife left us last month" He said. "She had the job, insurance, checkbook and took care of all the bills" "ooooh" I replied not sure if I wanted to open up this chapter. But....after all what else have I to do.
"Left huh" I said. Using a perfect mirroring technique to not really ask questions but to urge him to continue.
"Yes, she took care of everything. But left us with nothing. We had to move out and find an apartment. I only had enough money for one month rent. When I get back I will have to find some work" a long pause " I don't know" He said straight into the bottom of his coffee.
"More?" I said, refilling his cup. "I wonder who's paying for this room" I thought to myself.
"I can barely take him anymore. I apologize if he gets out of line." he said
"Hey, I got kids too, I know what they can do."
"No..... You don't." " If I give him his medication to early than we can't go out tonight, if I give it to him to late, than I won't be able to go to sleep tonight."
"Wow, I said, that's gotta be tough"
The dad shook his head. I felt for him, really I did. But this story just added to my confusion of the family and their history. Now we add a beaten dad, left with an over medicated son, no place to go, one month rent money and the best thing is to spend a chunk of his rent money on a room in my Inn. Good thing I had the sisters credit card. I was guessing at this point that she might pick up the tab. It turned out later that I was right.
I was going to have to find out more about this family. The quiet grandpa, stilled with an unknown trauma, the domineering sister who control's everything even the conversion, the sports fan husband who knew nothing of sports and the dad caught up more tragic events than bad romance novel. All traveling across the country for a one night cookout and returning home the next day.
I had made up my mind that I would wait up for them to return and see how there cookout went. A cookout indeed. Hidden away in the western Maine mountains was more than a charcoal fire and a couple of wieners.
When I return, a twist, they have returned to the Inn and I of course was listening.
As with every guest, I try to steal a few moments to sit and talk. Ask some innocent questions. Or at least they may seem to be innocent. The single dad with his wired son. He was unsure of his address at check in. I recall him trying very hard to remember which one to to use. "Don't worry about it" I said, "Happens all the time". I could hear the satire echo in my mind. Who doesn't remember where they came from that morning........
At last, in the upper dining room, over a big black cup of coffee, dad started to relax. With each sip of coffee he talked more. Until a picture began to emerge. One for the story books. "My wife left us last month" He said. "She had the job, insurance, checkbook and took care of all the bills" "ooooh" I replied not sure if I wanted to open up this chapter. But....after all what else have I to do.
"Left huh" I said. Using a perfect mirroring technique to not really ask questions but to urge him to continue.
"Yes, she took care of everything. But left us with nothing. We had to move out and find an apartment. I only had enough money for one month rent. When I get back I will have to find some work" a long pause " I don't know" He said straight into the bottom of his coffee.
"More?" I said, refilling his cup. "I wonder who's paying for this room" I thought to myself.
"I can barely take him anymore. I apologize if he gets out of line." he said
"Hey, I got kids too, I know what they can do."
"No..... You don't." " If I give him his medication to early than we can't go out tonight, if I give it to him to late, than I won't be able to go to sleep tonight."
"Wow, I said, that's gotta be tough"
The dad shook his head. I felt for him, really I did. But this story just added to my confusion of the family and their history. Now we add a beaten dad, left with an over medicated son, no place to go, one month rent money and the best thing is to spend a chunk of his rent money on a room in my Inn. Good thing I had the sisters credit card. I was guessing at this point that she might pick up the tab. It turned out later that I was right.
I was going to have to find out more about this family. The quiet grandpa, stilled with an unknown trauma, the domineering sister who control's everything even the conversion, the sports fan husband who knew nothing of sports and the dad caught up more tragic events than bad romance novel. All traveling across the country for a one night cookout and returning home the next day.
I had made up my mind that I would wait up for them to return and see how there cookout went. A cookout indeed. Hidden away in the western Maine mountains was more than a charcoal fire and a couple of wieners.
When I return, a twist, they have returned to the Inn and I of course was listening.
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