Read Online Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus by Joyce Magnin - Free Book Online Page A

here?”
    “Yes, you hang tight, and I’ll call your room the moment I have an answer. Now what kind of phone do you have?”
    After sitting at his desk for nearly three hours — checking email, googling stupid stuff, playing a few rousing games of Solitaire, and writing a little, Henry decided it was time for lunch. Humphrey must have heard Henry’s stomach growl because he scrambled to his feet with a terribly excited expression. Henry patted his head. “Don’t tell Prudence, old man, but I much prefer you over that hairy cat of hers.”
    Humphrey rolled over onto his back and let his tongue loll out as Henry rubbed his belly. “Are you hungry, boy? Do you like tuna sandwiches?”
    A few minutes later Henry sat at the kitchen table with Humphrey at his feet. They were both enjoying tuna. “So what do you think?” Henry said, looking down at the dog. “What bug bit Mom that made her decide to travel clear across the country on a bus or … or whatever. I mean, what is she trying to prove? Her last chance, she said.”
    Humphrey simply stared at Henry.
    Henry’s stomach wobbled. He swallowed. “Is she okay? You don’t suppose she’s … she’s sick or something and this trip —”
    Humphrey barked.
    “Nah, you’re right. She wouldn’t have kept that from us. Would she?”
    Harriet yawned and kicked off her shoes.
    “Next order of business,” she said, “buy a pair of sneakers.” Harriet wore leather shoes, and they were beginning to bite back. She lay down on the bed, a queen-size beauty, and closed her eyes. She had only been traveling for a few hours, and already it felt more like a few days.
    “I miss Humphrey,” she said out loud. “At least I could talk to him.”
    She yawned. Then the next thing she knew she was awakened by a knock on her room door. She saw five-thirty on the clock.
Goodness. I was tired.
    She scrambled to her feet, checked herself in the mirror on her way to the door, and was just about to open when she thought to ask, “Who is it?”
    “Bellman. I have your charger.”
    Harriet thought from his tone that he had been standing there for a few minutes, knocking and calling. Harriet was a sound sleeper. She pulled open the door. The same young man who showed her to her room stood there holding a package.
    “Your phone charger, ma’am.”
    Harriet grabbed the young man by the hand and practically pulled him into the room. “Oh, thank you,” she said. “That was quick.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    He stood a moment staring at Harriet. She stared back and then realized he was waiting for a tip. “Oh, oh, dear me, I’m sorry. Let me get my purse. Should I pay you for the charger?”
    “No, ma’am, it will show up on the credit card you presented at check-in.”
    “Now, isn’t that nice and convenient?” She opened her wallet and discovered she only had two twenties, a ten, and a five. “Oh dear.” But having a new charger without needing to go to the store herself was worth a good tip. She handed the young man another five-dollar tip thinking he would be pleased. But he simply smiled and said, “Thank you.”
    She opened the package and plugged in her phone. A huge wave of relief washed over her as she saw the tiny little lightning bolt flash on her phone. She decided it would be prudent to map out the next leg of her journey, so she spent the better part of an hour with Amelia, and much to her delight, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., had an incredible array of public transportation routes available. It was almost too much for her to decide. She could havetaken the train clear to Winston-Salem, but where was the fun in that?
    She saw the room-service guide sitting on the credenza and perused the hotel offerings but decided against them. This evening Harriet wanted to go out. So after a refreshing shower and changing into clean clothes, Harriet made her way to the hotel lobby. It seemed even bigger than when she first arrived. Bigger and busier. She spied the concierge