Oops-Wrong Hotel Room
I was once upon a time a Road Warrior.
I'd fly from one city to another throughout the USA.
Airports blended into one another, and waiting through endless security inspections, rental car lines and scrambling to find my next appointment or hotel became second nature to me.
One night the plan was to arrive in Mobile, Alabama at a reasonable hour, find my Hilton and crash for the night.
The plan got a tad screwed up because of thunderstorms, so my arrival time was slightly after 11 PM. I headed to the hotel and arrived about 11:45 PM- -dead tired.
The clerk was one of those all nighter type guys you typically find at these hotels. Evidently they hire zombies for the wee hours and late shift!
We go through the usual banter about where the breakfast is, and do I need two keys? I give my standard reply that two keys would be very nice in case the first key doesn't work! (now that's another story, for another posting!)
He points to the elevator and says "good evening."
The elevator "bings" quickly (thank God, because the bathroom will be my first destination after finding the light switch)
I get to my room door (all the while memorizing that room number over and over in my brain)
I put my bags down, swipe my card into the slot and pray that tiny "green" light flashes!
I turn the handle and swing the door wide open!
The lights are on and standing there half naked, is a screaming woman!!
I nearly jumped out of my cheap, wrinkled suit!!
Slammed the door behind me and ran toward that elevator.
Down to the lobby to find my night zombie pal!!
He is standing behind his counter with a half smile and says " yeah, I know, I guess I gave you the wrong room, eh?" " The woman in 1011 just called for security, I figured it was you!!"
I recall thinking that "eh" reminded me of one of my sales reps who must have Canadian friends, but that thought quickly vanished as I asked him why he was so stupid?
I can still hear that woman's scream of terror in my mind!
Of course the moron gave me the room right next door to hers!!
Mike Feldman
I'd fly from one city to another throughout the USA.
Airports blended into one another, and waiting through endless security inspections, rental car lines and scrambling to find my next appointment or hotel became second nature to me.
One night the plan was to arrive in Mobile, Alabama at a reasonable hour, find my Hilton and crash for the night.
The plan got a tad screwed up because of thunderstorms, so my arrival time was slightly after 11 PM. I headed to the hotel and arrived about 11:45 PM- -dead tired.
The clerk was one of those all nighter type guys you typically find at these hotels. Evidently they hire zombies for the wee hours and late shift!
We go through the usual banter about where the breakfast is, and do I need two keys? I give my standard reply that two keys would be very nice in case the first key doesn't work! (now that's another story, for another posting!)
He points to the elevator and says "good evening."
The elevator "bings" quickly (thank God, because the bathroom will be my first destination after finding the light switch)
I get to my room door (all the while memorizing that room number over and over in my brain)
I put my bags down, swipe my card into the slot and pray that tiny "green" light flashes!
YES!!
I turn the handle and swing the door wide open!
The lights are on and standing there half naked, is a screaming woman!!
I nearly jumped out of my cheap, wrinkled suit!!
I actually said "Sorry- - I must have the wrong room!"
Slammed the door behind me and ran toward that elevator.
Down to the lobby to find my night zombie pal!!
He is standing behind his counter with a half smile and says " yeah, I know, I guess I gave you the wrong room, eh?" " The woman in 1011 just called for security, I figured it was you!!"
I recall thinking that "eh" reminded me of one of my sales reps who must have Canadian friends, but that thought quickly vanished as I asked him why he was so stupid?
"Hey, mistakes happen, man" my brilliant new friend said in his monotone. "Sorry!"
I can still hear that woman's scream of terror in my mind!
Of course the moron gave me the room right next door to hers!!
Mike Feldman
Comments