shorts to point out the obvious.
“Then we have a conundrum, don’t we?” I ask.
“Oh, a smart girl, you are.”
“And you’re auditioning for Star Wars ?”
“A nerdy smart girl.” That’s when I decide I’ve had enough. Taking both hands, I put them on Finn’s back and shove him into the pool.
“No one calls me a nerd and gets away with it.”
“Duly noted,” says Finn, backstroking toward the ladder of the pool. He flips his head backward and shakes water from his hair. The tattoo on his neck appears to be a butterfly, an odd choice for a guy. “You know!” he yells. “It’s kind of creepy to stare. Someone once told me that!” But before I turn away again, another cannonball sends a fresh load of pool water all over my head. Finn laughs and dives under the water. I walk in the direction of the buffet that has been set out, grab a hotdog and a bag of chips, and walk up the stairs and back to my room, dripping water along the way.
I slide my key down the security pad, waiting for the light to turn green. That’s when I realize I’m not alone. I turn the knob.
“Really? You just met the guy, Tinley. Have you no self-respect?” Tinley is staring at me like she’s been caught shop-lifting and I’ve just threatened to call her parents. The strings from her halter dress hang untied at her shoulders, and Murphy’s hands freeze on her waist. With one swift motion she pushes Murphy off her. So not expecting her sudden change of mind, Murphy flies off the bed, though he’s not all that much larger than her.
“Do you know how to knock?” he says, angrily shoving his shirt back into his khaki shorts and slipping on his flip flops. Tinley runs past us holding her stomach and gagging as she throws open the bathroom door.
“Aren’t you going to thank me now?” I ask. Murphy grunts and brushes past me, slamming the door behind him.
Chapter 3:
I’m awakened by a text the next morning.
Blake: Having fun up north?
Me: Just making money.
Blake: Try to loosen up. You’re living in a resort.
I slide my phone to off and put it away in my purse. If only I knew how to do this like my sixteen-year-old brother.
“Reese?” I hear my name but drawn out and painful sounding, like a bird call from a dying bird. “Reeeeeesssseee.” I roll over so I am facing Tinley who is lying on her bed with her face smooshed against the pillow. “Thanks for last night.”
“Yeah, it’s nothing. I am a domestic engineer after all. I’m all about cleaning these days.”
“I would laugh if it didn’t hurt so badly, but I’m sorry I was an ass. You’re really not so bad after all.”
“Well, I guess coming from you, that’s a compliment,” I say.
“It is, and…thanks for interrupting, you know…when you came back to the room.”
“You mean you’re not still mad about me busting your “date” with Murphy?”
“He’s not so bad, either. We weren’t going to do anything.”
“Of course not. That’s why your dress was practically around your waist.”
“You know, you’re not my mother. I try to apologize, and…oh, never mind. I’m going to take a shower.” Tinley throws off her covers and limps to the bathroom. I am hoping that she has to plunge a few more toilets today because smelling someone else’s crap might open her eyes to her own.
“Girls you are late, late, late,” says Helen as we amble onto the 8 th floor at 9:00 AM. This happens again, and you will be demoted to sanitation duty. Understand?” We shake our heads yes in a sorry act of contrition though I doubt Helen would ever demote us. I’m pissed that I even waited for Tinley this morning after she begged me to, but it will be a long summer if we can’t at least be agreeable. “Now, I cannot stay mad at my girls. I want to hear all about the staff party last night, but first we work, work, work.” Helen points me toward a cleaning cart and one direction in the hallway and Tinley toward the other. “I will meet you
“Then we have a conundrum, don’t we?” I ask.
“Oh, a smart girl, you are.”
“And you’re auditioning for Star Wars ?”
“A nerdy smart girl.” That’s when I decide I’ve had enough. Taking both hands, I put them on Finn’s back and shove him into the pool.
“No one calls me a nerd and gets away with it.”
“Duly noted,” says Finn, backstroking toward the ladder of the pool. He flips his head backward and shakes water from his hair. The tattoo on his neck appears to be a butterfly, an odd choice for a guy. “You know!” he yells. “It’s kind of creepy to stare. Someone once told me that!” But before I turn away again, another cannonball sends a fresh load of pool water all over my head. Finn laughs and dives under the water. I walk in the direction of the buffet that has been set out, grab a hotdog and a bag of chips, and walk up the stairs and back to my room, dripping water along the way.
I slide my key down the security pad, waiting for the light to turn green. That’s when I realize I’m not alone. I turn the knob.
“Really? You just met the guy, Tinley. Have you no self-respect?” Tinley is staring at me like she’s been caught shop-lifting and I’ve just threatened to call her parents. The strings from her halter dress hang untied at her shoulders, and Murphy’s hands freeze on her waist. With one swift motion she pushes Murphy off her. So not expecting her sudden change of mind, Murphy flies off the bed, though he’s not all that much larger than her.
“Do you know how to knock?” he says, angrily shoving his shirt back into his khaki shorts and slipping on his flip flops. Tinley runs past us holding her stomach and gagging as she throws open the bathroom door.
“Aren’t you going to thank me now?” I ask. Murphy grunts and brushes past me, slamming the door behind him.
Chapter 3:
I’m awakened by a text the next morning.
Blake: Having fun up north?
Me: Just making money.
Blake: Try to loosen up. You’re living in a resort.
I slide my phone to off and put it away in my purse. If only I knew how to do this like my sixteen-year-old brother.
“Reese?” I hear my name but drawn out and painful sounding, like a bird call from a dying bird. “Reeeeeesssseee.” I roll over so I am facing Tinley who is lying on her bed with her face smooshed against the pillow. “Thanks for last night.”
“Yeah, it’s nothing. I am a domestic engineer after all. I’m all about cleaning these days.”
“I would laugh if it didn’t hurt so badly, but I’m sorry I was an ass. You’re really not so bad after all.”
“Well, I guess coming from you, that’s a compliment,” I say.
“It is, and…thanks for interrupting, you know…when you came back to the room.”
“You mean you’re not still mad about me busting your “date” with Murphy?”
“He’s not so bad, either. We weren’t going to do anything.”
“Of course not. That’s why your dress was practically around your waist.”
“You know, you’re not my mother. I try to apologize, and…oh, never mind. I’m going to take a shower.” Tinley throws off her covers and limps to the bathroom. I am hoping that she has to plunge a few more toilets today because smelling someone else’s crap might open her eyes to her own.
“Girls you are late, late, late,” says Helen as we amble onto the 8 th floor at 9:00 AM. This happens again, and you will be demoted to sanitation duty. Understand?” We shake our heads yes in a sorry act of contrition though I doubt Helen would ever demote us. I’m pissed that I even waited for Tinley this morning after she begged me to, but it will be a long summer if we can’t at least be agreeable. “Now, I cannot stay mad at my girls. I want to hear all about the staff party last night, but first we work, work, work.” Helen points me toward a cleaning cart and one direction in the hallway and Tinley toward the other. “I will meet you
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