The hotel was lovely, and the breakfast promised to be even better.
We all made our way down to the dining room, and were greeted by the Maitre d’ who checked our room number and showed us to our table. As we followed, our eyes feasted on the expanse of be-linened table, decked with all manner of deliciousness. This was always the best thing about staying at a hotel, and none of us could wait to get stuck in.
We all did the polite sitting-at-the-table thing, fiddling with knives and forks, each of us waiting for one of us to say “let’s go then.” We were aware that we had to wait for our brother, a student at the local university, but temptation was getting the better of us and mum soon gave us the ok.
‘Just need to pop to the loo Mum. Did you see where it was?’
Mum looked around, half distracted by the sight of one of the food baskets being replenished with fresh croissants, and pastries galore.
‘Um, yes, um, yes over there, look Liv, sign on the door, over there.’
Off I went, off she went, and my younger sister wasn’t far behind either. To be honest I didn’t really pay much attention, but headed in the direction of the door with the sign on it.
It took a little push to get the door to open, and it was pitch black inside; foolishly I let the door close behind me. I felt around for the light switch. Nothing. I staggered around with my arms out in front of me, hopeful that I would discover a cubicle if not a light switch. The darkness was only punctuated by the ever growing number of expletives that were falling out of my mouth.
‘For fucks sake, where’s the switch. It’s a disgrace that there’s no bloody automatic light in here. How sodding stupid.’
It was starting to feel like ages. I was desperate for one of those croissants, not to mention desperate for the reason I’d come in here! I’d lost my sense of direction, so trying to find the door through which I’d entered was yet another, virtually impossible feat.
And then, as if by magic, the light came on. Two people stood in the doorway. One familiar (my mother) and the other not.
‘Bloody hell Liv, what on earth have you been up to.’
Yes, breakfast time was nearing its end……and I had spent most of it in the stock room.
AnnieWat - The Bespoke Storyteller 