Read Online Crestmont by Holly Weiss - Free Book Online
Authors: Holly Weiss
Tags: Fiction, Historical
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Jimmy, great day for mi
schi
ef, eh?” Zeke said, r
ubb
ing his hands together. “The best part is tonight’s my first Saturday night off this summer. Heck, I even had to work the 4 th of July.”
Guests, eager to begin their Crestmont vacations, streamed through the lobby past the two bellhops. Amidst the flutter of activity, Zeke kept one eye out to see who might need assistance with their luggage while he coached Jimmy on the finer points of his new job.
Jimmy’s chunky fingers fiddled uneasily with the gold buttons on his maroon bellhop uniform. Pushing his brows together he said, “Thanks for showin ’ me the ropes about bellhoppin ’, Zeke, but I’m thinkin ’ bein ’ a lawn boy was easier. At least when you get done cuttin ’ and prunin ’ you can clean up and you’re done. I don’t like what you’re tellin ’ me about the guests callin ’ us bellhops anytime of the evenin ’. That’s gonna seriously cut into my love life.”
“Oh, you and Bessie had something cooking tonight? Guess you couldn’t tell Mr. W about that.” Zeke laughed. “Well, you won’t work every Saturday night. Anyhow, you’ll get tips as a bellhop so you can buy Bessie some little trinket to keep her happy, then love her up the next week.”
“Yeah, I was supposed to meet her down on the dock after dark. I know we ain’t supposed to be up in that part of the second sleepin ’ floor, but maybe we could slip a note under her door. I know her room number. She’s had enough of that singin ’ in the staff lounge stuff and is gonna hit the roof if I don’t show up tonight.” Jimmy shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
“You can go up there, if you want, but I’m not getting myself fired.”
“Damn, you never saw Bessie really mad, have you, Zeke?” Jimmy asked. “Oh, yeah, and Mr. W said somethin ’ about after I do check in for the big house that he’d give me the cottages to bellhop. They’ve got call bells in those, too. Can those guests call me any time of the night, too?”
“If you’re the bellboy on duty, yessiree .”
“Geez, I gotta tramp all over Crestmont campus, and for what? I hear they give the worst tips.”
“You’re all wet, Jimmy. The cottage guests are much nicer than the ones in the big house. But don’t even try to top me at pleasing any guest. Even those Rude Regals love me,” Zeke boasted. “They ring my bell and I appear at their door, towel over my arm, ice and lemonade or Bromo Seltzer on my tray. Last year I had to carry a hot pan of water to Mrs. Pennington so she could soak her feet. She gave me fifty cents and asked me not to tell her husband. She’s what they call a hy-po-con-driak and I heard she carries her husband around with a ball and chain. Come on, let’s get a wiggle on and I’ll show you how to get great tips.” Zeke hurried over to a couple surrounded by assorted luggage and two unruly children.
“Allow me to show you to your room, sir,” offered Zeke, taking a suitcase out of the man’s hand. Winking at Jimmy, Zeke adeptly placed one suitcase under his left arm, put another in his left hand and picked up the largest with his right hand. He made chit chat with the family that trailed after him and Jimmy took up the rear, carrying two hat boxes and a large stuffed rabbit.
Once upstairs, Zeke threw open the guest room door, set down the bags importantly, and cracked the window. “Wonderful view. Have you stayed with us before?” Opening and closing each faucet, he said, “Here is your hot and cold running water. May I help you in any other way, sir?” he said with finesse, flashing a crooked smile.
“Thank you, sir, mighty generous of you.” Zeke’s head bobbed as he accepted his tip. “Welcome to the Crestmont and we hope you enjoy your stay.”
“See, Jimmy? Be all nicey -nice and give ‘ em a twenty dollar smile for an extra nickel tip. You’ll make out great,” Zeke said when they were back in the hallway out of earshot.
schi
ef, eh?” Zeke said, r
ubb
ing his hands together. “The best part is tonight’s my first Saturday night off this summer. Heck, I even had to work the 4 th of July.”
Guests, eager to begin their Crestmont vacations, streamed through the lobby past the two bellhops. Amidst the flutter of activity, Zeke kept one eye out to see who might need assistance with their luggage while he coached Jimmy on the finer points of his new job.
Jimmy’s chunky fingers fiddled uneasily with the gold buttons on his maroon bellhop uniform. Pushing his brows together he said, “Thanks for showin ’ me the ropes about bellhoppin ’, Zeke, but I’m thinkin ’ bein ’ a lawn boy was easier. At least when you get done cuttin ’ and prunin ’ you can clean up and you’re done. I don’t like what you’re tellin ’ me about the guests callin ’ us bellhops anytime of the evenin ’. That’s gonna seriously cut into my love life.”
“Oh, you and Bessie had something cooking tonight? Guess you couldn’t tell Mr. W about that.” Zeke laughed. “Well, you won’t work every Saturday night. Anyhow, you’ll get tips as a bellhop so you can buy Bessie some little trinket to keep her happy, then love her up the next week.”
“Yeah, I was supposed to meet her down on the dock after dark. I know we ain’t supposed to be up in that part of the second sleepin ’ floor, but maybe we could slip a note under her door. I know her room number. She’s had enough of that singin ’ in the staff lounge stuff and is gonna hit the roof if I don’t show up tonight.” Jimmy shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
“You can go up there, if you want, but I’m not getting myself fired.”
“Damn, you never saw Bessie really mad, have you, Zeke?” Jimmy asked. “Oh, yeah, and Mr. W said somethin ’ about after I do check in for the big house that he’d give me the cottages to bellhop. They’ve got call bells in those, too. Can those guests call me any time of the night, too?”
“If you’re the bellboy on duty, yessiree .”
“Geez, I gotta tramp all over Crestmont campus, and for what? I hear they give the worst tips.”
“You’re all wet, Jimmy. The cottage guests are much nicer than the ones in the big house. But don’t even try to top me at pleasing any guest. Even those Rude Regals love me,” Zeke boasted. “They ring my bell and I appear at their door, towel over my arm, ice and lemonade or Bromo Seltzer on my tray. Last year I had to carry a hot pan of water to Mrs. Pennington so she could soak her feet. She gave me fifty cents and asked me not to tell her husband. She’s what they call a hy-po-con-driak and I heard she carries her husband around with a ball and chain. Come on, let’s get a wiggle on and I’ll show you how to get great tips.” Zeke hurried over to a couple surrounded by assorted luggage and two unruly children.
“Allow me to show you to your room, sir,” offered Zeke, taking a suitcase out of the man’s hand. Winking at Jimmy, Zeke adeptly placed one suitcase under his left arm, put another in his left hand and picked up the largest with his right hand. He made chit chat with the family that trailed after him and Jimmy took up the rear, carrying two hat boxes and a large stuffed rabbit.
Once upstairs, Zeke threw open the guest room door, set down the bags importantly, and cracked the window. “Wonderful view. Have you stayed with us before?” Opening and closing each faucet, he said, “Here is your hot and cold running water. May I help you in any other way, sir?” he said with finesse, flashing a crooked smile.
“Thank you, sir, mighty generous of you.” Zeke’s head bobbed as he accepted his tip. “Welcome to the Crestmont and we hope you enjoy your stay.”
“See, Jimmy? Be all nicey -nice and give ‘ em a twenty dollar smile for an extra nickel tip. You’ll make out great,” Zeke said when they were back in the hallway out of earshot.
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