Article Viii

CHAPTER IMondayJeazel Pete is at it again. The investigation into the death of a local undercover agent continues. Wildfires are ravaging the west. The Vice Presidents ahead in the latest polls. And it looks like its going to be clear for the weekend, the TV announcer said although nobody was really listening as the sound softly filled the almost empty hotel lobby. Well be back in two minutes with the details here on WKYT-27, he continued. I glanced down from the TV perched on the wall as the commercial began. What channel is that in the room I asked the receptionist as I glanced at her name tag adding Debbie? Thats channel eight, sir. OK. I want to catch the weather. $52.25 is your change and heres your key. Have you ever stayed here before, sir, she asked with a smile. I nodded in the affirmative and she continued. Well good, youre in room 315, which is in the first building on the right when you come into the parking lot, its the one next to the indoor pool. Check out is 12 noon. Enjoy your stay at the Cumberland Inn. I counted out my change like a miser and then picked up the key-card from the counter top. Thanks I said as I turned and walked out to the parking lot. As I glanced around I thought, man, this is a nice place, much nicer than I remembered. Double spiral staircase, baby granddont touch the keys, an elegant portrait of the founders, looking stately in their golden years, hung over the fireplace which had a mantle that mustve been over a hundred and fifty years old. Upon the tables, strategically placed around the lobby, were books which had equally elegant, multi-colored bindings, all with a look of age that said, Ive been here a while. I dont know how I missed all this stuff the other times I had been here. But that was work and I was always in a hurry to check in and get to my room. As I walked through the double set of glass doors I saw a grounds keeper standing by my 85 Nissan pick up. He turned and looked at me and said, Good Afternoon. Afternoonuh, Doug, I returned, glancing at his nametag. I was just admiring your bumper stickers, youre sure getting around, he said motioning to the tailgate of my truck with his eyes and a slight movement of his head. They look kinda new. On my tailgate were 11 bumper stickers indicating that I was a tourist. Some placed horizontally, some vertically and others at angles. The stickers appear to be placed haphazardly, but there is a grand plan to this madness. Yeah, I chuckled. Im doing some sightseeing and I want to see if I can cover the whole tailgate before I head back home. That wasnt quite the truth, but he would never know. He chuckled like he understood why I was doing it, but I could tell he didnt share my enthusiasm for my effort. Weve got some in the lobby, do you want me to get you one? Sure, I didnt even see em in there, I said. I was too taken in by the setting. Man, this is a pretty nice place, especially for being so far in the middle of nowhere. Whats the scoop here anyway? Well, its actually owned by the college, Cumberland College that is, and one of the main focuses of the college is accommodation and comfort management. Hotel/motel management, you know, he said like I was having trouble understanding his meaning. Most of the people working here are students working through the summer and getting some extra credits to boot. Thats pretty cool. I said as I nodded my head and looked him in the eye. Let me get that sticker for you. He turned to walk into the lobby. I glanced at my watch and I thought about how badly I just wanted to get to my room. After what seemed like an hour Doug came struggling through the heavy glass doors. That door is tough, he mumbled as he came through and walked up to the back of my truck where I waited for him. Weve got two of them, take your pick. Gimme the one the says CUMBERLAND INN KENTUCKY As he peeled the back off he asked, Any place particular? Yeah, right under the one for Niagara, up and down I replied. I knew that he had no idea what pattern I was trying to achieve, but the way he said it, I sensed that he knew there was an underlying plan to this random disorder. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wad of change from Debbie. From the crumpled bills I fished out the two one dollar bills and tried to iron out the wrinkles with my hand by pulling the bills, one at a time, through my first two fingers. After three or four swipes of each bill I handed then to Doug saying, Thanks. No, thanks, Doug said with a tone of genuine wholesomeness. I just had a feeling he was a country boy. But, I also sensed that he was a little embarrassed to take my gratuity. Hey man, if you are going to make your career in the accommodation and comfort management business youd better get use to accepting tips. Thats part of the fringe be ...