Post by Tom Carradine on Aug 12, 2024 3:18:05 GMT -5
Tom Carradine's Hotel Room
Gainesville, FL
August 10, 2024
In the bathroom of his hotel room, Tom Carradine stands in front of the mirror, a relieved look on his face.
Tom: Son of a bitch… I’m never eating airport burgers again!
He turns on the water at the sink, but furrows his brows at the weak stream of water coming from the faucet.
Tom: You’d think a place like this would have better water pressure.
Almost immediately, he notices a dampness at his knees, which quickly spreads down his jeans, prompting him to step back from the sink.
Tom: What the fuck?
He ducks down to check beneath the counter, only to be blasted in the face by a stream of water as the pipe snapped off of its fitting.
Tom: FUCK!
Shielding his face with one hand, he reaches for the shut-off valve where the pipe leads into the wall, and is able to stop the deluge from further flooding his suite. However, by this point, he’s already fully drenched, and the water has spread into the walkway leading to the main portion of his room.
Tom: Ah, shit!
He moves through the room, his shoes squishing into the soaked carpet. He pauses, looking briefly into his empty closet and running a hand through his hair.
Tom: Good thing I left my stuff in the car...
He moves over to the nightstand by his bed and picks up the phone. After muttering under his breath for a moment, he dials the front desk.
Tom: Come on… pick up!
Front Desk: Front desk… hold please!
Tom: Ugh… I really don’t have time for this...
Tom hangs up the phone and grabs his room key, storming out of the room, wet clothes and all. He hurries toward the elevator, managing to catch it just before the doors begin to close, staring at the walls to avoid eye contact with the other guest riding down to the first floor. However, a quick glance to the side finds him briefly meeting the gaze of the older woman, who gives him a confused look. Tom merely offers a sheepish smile.
Once on the ground floor, he holds the door open just long enough for the older lady to exit, then rushes to the front desk. Upon seeing his girlfriend Stella Basch standing there, he breathes a sigh of relief.
Tom: Starr… I’m glad I ran into you… mind if I bug the front desk clerk for a second? It’s kind of an emergency.
Stella steps aside, her face frozen in shock at the site of her waterlogged boyfriend.
Stella: What happened?
Tom: My sink sprung a leak. I need to have them send someone up to fix it.
Receptionist: Can I have your name, sir?
Tom: Tom Carradine…
The receptionist turns to her computer and types in his name. After a few clicks, she looks back at Tom and offers a sympathetic smile.
Receptionist: How bad is the leak?
Tom: The entire bathroom is flooded and a sizable amount of the carpeted area near the bathroom is soaked…
Receptionist: Oh, I see. Normally, we would transfer you to another room, but unfortunately, we’re fully booked until…
She returns to her computer, typing at a hurried pace as she bites her lip.
Receptionist: Next Thursday.
Tom runs a hand through his hair, a look of pure exasperation etched on his features.
Tom: I’m not going to be here that long! What am I supposed to do for accommodations in the meantime?!?
Stella reaches over, putting a hand on Tom’s shoulder.
Stella: You can stay in my room. I’ve got plenty of space.
Tom: Are you sure? I don’t want to be an inconvenience….
Stella shakes her head, giggling a little.
Stella: Oh, come on! It’s not like it’d be the first time you crashed at my place. Remember? You drank all that beer and basically passed out on my sofa. I would’ve moved you into one of the spare rooms, but there was absolutely NO WAY I could move you without waking you up.
She smiles.
Stella: Plus, you just looked so cute curled up on my sofa.
Tom: But this is different! At your place, I was on the sofa, while you had the privacy of your bedroom…
By this time, Tom looks less flustered by the water leak in his hotel room than by the prospect of sharing a room with Stella.
Tom: Besides, if this ever got back to your brother, he’d skin me alive with a rusty letter opener…
Stella stifles a snicker, as does the receptionist. In fact, the receptionist has to turn away for a moment so as to not have it turn into full-blown laughter.
Stella: Don’t worry about my brother. Given the circumstances, he’ll understand. Besides, the only way he’s going to find out is if I tell him. Or if you do…
She tilts her head slightly and smirks.
Tom: I may be a goofball, but I’m not an idiot. There’s no way in hell I’d ever mention this to him.
Stella gives a quick nod of her head.
Stella: Well, then… now that that’s settled…
She turns around to face the receptionist.
Stella: I’m gonna need a second key to my room for Mr. Carradine here. Oh, and cancel his reservation.
Receptionist: If he’s staying in your room, we’ll have to charge you for the double occupancy.
Stella scoffs.
Stella: That won’t be a problem.
Receptionist: Alright… just give me one second…
She prepares a second room key, then types in the new information. When she’s finished, she slides the second key across the counter. Stella picks it up and hands it to Tom.
Receptionist: There you go; all set. Oh, and Mr. Carradine, we’ve gone ahead and waived the cancellation fee for you.
Tom: Thank you.
Receptionist: And I’ll be sure to let the staff know about the situation. They’ll take care of everything.
Tom: Good, I can’t wait to change into some dry clothes…
Stella smiles.
Stella: Like I said… my room is HUGE. Being in there by myself would be kind of boring. Now, I’ll have someone to talk to. And later, you can help me sleeve my deck.
Tom cocks an eyebrow, as if stuck on the last word she said. Sensing his confusion, Stella reaches into her purse and pulls out a box of fuschia card sleeves.
Stella: I just built a new MtG deck. Red and black. I figured we could sleeve it together.
Tom realizes he completely misread what Stella was trying to tell him. He closes his eyes and grits his teeth in embarrassment. Now, it’s Stella’s turn to raise an eyebrow.
Stella: Wait… what did you think I said?
Tom: I plead the Fifth…
Stella chuckles, shaking her head.
Stella: Let’s go out to your car and get your stuff.
Stella gestures toward the door leading outside.
Stella: And then we can get you out of those wet clothes…
Tom gulps as he and Stella make their way out of the lobby.
Gainesville, FL
August 10, 2024
In the bathroom of his hotel room, Tom Carradine stands in front of the mirror, a relieved look on his face.
Tom: Son of a bitch… I’m never eating airport burgers again!
He turns on the water at the sink, but furrows his brows at the weak stream of water coming from the faucet.
Tom: You’d think a place like this would have better water pressure.
Almost immediately, he notices a dampness at his knees, which quickly spreads down his jeans, prompting him to step back from the sink.
Tom: What the fuck?
He ducks down to check beneath the counter, only to be blasted in the face by a stream of water as the pipe snapped off of its fitting.
Tom: FUCK!
Shielding his face with one hand, he reaches for the shut-off valve where the pipe leads into the wall, and is able to stop the deluge from further flooding his suite. However, by this point, he’s already fully drenched, and the water has spread into the walkway leading to the main portion of his room.
Tom: Ah, shit!
He moves through the room, his shoes squishing into the soaked carpet. He pauses, looking briefly into his empty closet and running a hand through his hair.
Tom: Good thing I left my stuff in the car...
He moves over to the nightstand by his bed and picks up the phone. After muttering under his breath for a moment, he dials the front desk.
Tom: Come on… pick up!
Front Desk: Front desk… hold please!
Tom: Ugh… I really don’t have time for this...
Tom hangs up the phone and grabs his room key, storming out of the room, wet clothes and all. He hurries toward the elevator, managing to catch it just before the doors begin to close, staring at the walls to avoid eye contact with the other guest riding down to the first floor. However, a quick glance to the side finds him briefly meeting the gaze of the older woman, who gives him a confused look. Tom merely offers a sheepish smile.
Once on the ground floor, he holds the door open just long enough for the older lady to exit, then rushes to the front desk. Upon seeing his girlfriend Stella Basch standing there, he breathes a sigh of relief.
Tom: Starr… I’m glad I ran into you… mind if I bug the front desk clerk for a second? It’s kind of an emergency.
Stella steps aside, her face frozen in shock at the site of her waterlogged boyfriend.
Stella: What happened?
Tom: My sink sprung a leak. I need to have them send someone up to fix it.
Receptionist: Can I have your name, sir?
Tom: Tom Carradine…
The receptionist turns to her computer and types in his name. After a few clicks, she looks back at Tom and offers a sympathetic smile.
Receptionist: How bad is the leak?
Tom: The entire bathroom is flooded and a sizable amount of the carpeted area near the bathroom is soaked…
Receptionist: Oh, I see. Normally, we would transfer you to another room, but unfortunately, we’re fully booked until…
She returns to her computer, typing at a hurried pace as she bites her lip.
Receptionist: Next Thursday.
Tom runs a hand through his hair, a look of pure exasperation etched on his features.
Tom: I’m not going to be here that long! What am I supposed to do for accommodations in the meantime?!?
Stella reaches over, putting a hand on Tom’s shoulder.
Stella: You can stay in my room. I’ve got plenty of space.
Tom: Are you sure? I don’t want to be an inconvenience….
Stella shakes her head, giggling a little.
Stella: Oh, come on! It’s not like it’d be the first time you crashed at my place. Remember? You drank all that beer and basically passed out on my sofa. I would’ve moved you into one of the spare rooms, but there was absolutely NO WAY I could move you without waking you up.
She smiles.
Stella: Plus, you just looked so cute curled up on my sofa.
Tom: But this is different! At your place, I was on the sofa, while you had the privacy of your bedroom…
By this time, Tom looks less flustered by the water leak in his hotel room than by the prospect of sharing a room with Stella.
Tom: Besides, if this ever got back to your brother, he’d skin me alive with a rusty letter opener…
Stella stifles a snicker, as does the receptionist. In fact, the receptionist has to turn away for a moment so as to not have it turn into full-blown laughter.
Stella: Don’t worry about my brother. Given the circumstances, he’ll understand. Besides, the only way he’s going to find out is if I tell him. Or if you do…
She tilts her head slightly and smirks.
Tom: I may be a goofball, but I’m not an idiot. There’s no way in hell I’d ever mention this to him.
Stella gives a quick nod of her head.
Stella: Well, then… now that that’s settled…
She turns around to face the receptionist.
Stella: I’m gonna need a second key to my room for Mr. Carradine here. Oh, and cancel his reservation.
Receptionist: If he’s staying in your room, we’ll have to charge you for the double occupancy.
Stella scoffs.
Stella: That won’t be a problem.
Receptionist: Alright… just give me one second…
She prepares a second room key, then types in the new information. When she’s finished, she slides the second key across the counter. Stella picks it up and hands it to Tom.
Receptionist: There you go; all set. Oh, and Mr. Carradine, we’ve gone ahead and waived the cancellation fee for you.
Tom: Thank you.
Receptionist: And I’ll be sure to let the staff know about the situation. They’ll take care of everything.
Tom: Good, I can’t wait to change into some dry clothes…
Stella smiles.
Stella: Like I said… my room is HUGE. Being in there by myself would be kind of boring. Now, I’ll have someone to talk to. And later, you can help me sleeve my deck.
Tom cocks an eyebrow, as if stuck on the last word she said. Sensing his confusion, Stella reaches into her purse and pulls out a box of fuschia card sleeves.
Stella: I just built a new MtG deck. Red and black. I figured we could sleeve it together.
Tom realizes he completely misread what Stella was trying to tell him. He closes his eyes and grits his teeth in embarrassment. Now, it’s Stella’s turn to raise an eyebrow.
Stella: Wait… what did you think I said?
Tom: I plead the Fifth…
Stella chuckles, shaking her head.
Stella: Let’s go out to your car and get your stuff.
Stella gestures toward the door leading outside.
Stella: And then we can get you out of those wet clothes…
Tom gulps as he and Stella make their way out of the lobby.
