I am worried she won’t remember to give him his treats in the evening, not in the morning. I told her to only use his special tennis ball to play with him, but I’m not sure she will listen.
I didn’t like leaving Murphy with Imogen. I like Imogen; she’s a nice person and she likes Murphy but she won’t take care of him like I do.
But I want to see Ellie. I can’t take Murphy with me to the hotel. They don’t let dogs stay there.
Ellie’s excited to see me too. She’s not nervous like I am.
When I spoke to her last night, she sounded happy.
I find the hotel. I wrote down the directions and they were easy to follow. There was no traffic and I arrive at twelve forty-eight. Two minutes earlier than I was supposed to arrive. I sit in the car for two minutes until the clock on the dashboard says twelve-fifty, then I get out.
I walk to the front of the building and go inside. It smells funny. Like old people and vanilla.
“Why does it smell bad in here?” I ask the girl behind the counter. I don’t like how she’s looking at me. I wonder if that was something I should have kept in my head.
“Do you have a reservation?” she asks.
“I asked you a question,” I tell her. Maybe she forgot. She doesn’t look very smart.
“I don’t smell anything,” she says and her voice sounds funny. Like how Ellie sounds when she gets annoyed with me. I don’t say what I think. That her perfume is too strong and that’s why she can’t smell anything else. I keep that in my head.
“My name is Flynn Hendrick. I am staying with my girlfriend, Ellie McCallum for two nights. I reserved the queen room. It’s non-smoking. Check-in is at eleven. I got here a little late,” I tell her.
“I don’t need your life story, buddy,” she says, and I frown.
“I’m not your buddy. I don’t know you,” I say.
“Here’s your key. Your room is down the hall at the very end. Room one-oh-one,” she says and I can tell she wants me to leave.
I pick up my bag and head to the room. I wish Ellie were here already. I want to see her.
I go into the room and I don’t like it. The carpet is ugly and when I touch the blanket on the bed it’s rough. I go back out to the girl at the front desk.
“Can I get a different room?” I ask.
“Is there something wrong with the room?” she asks me.
“I don’t like it. It’s ugly. The blankets aren’t soft and the carpet has spots on it,” I tell her.
“Look, Mr. Hendrick, all the rooms will look the same. If you wanted something nicer you should have gone to the Ritz.” Her voice is getting loud, and I don’t like it.
I take a deep breath like Leonard and Kevin have told me to do. I want to see Ellie but I don’t want to stay in this hotel. I want to go back to Wellston and be in my own house. I don’t want to be in Franklinburg, Maryland.
I feel myself getting angry.
“I don’t want to be in that room!” I yell. “Move me somewhere else!”
The girl’s eyes get wide and she quickly hands me a different key. I don’t take it. I don’t want to touch it. I don’t want her looking at me.
“Stop staring at me!” I scream, covering my face with my hands. Where’s Ellie? I just want Ellie!
“Flynn! What’s going on?” I hear Ellie, but it doesn’t help! I just want to leave! I don’t want to be in this hotel anymore! It has ugly carpet and it smells bad!
“He wanted a different room and when I told him they were all the same, he flipped out. What the hell is wrong with him?”
“There’s nothing wrong with him, but there’s obviously something wrong with your people skills. I’ll be telling your manager about it, too,” Ellie says, but I can’t look at her.
I hate it when I get mad and scream. I feel bad afterwards. I know people will be staring at me. I’m embarrassed.
