Monday 16 April 2012

The Dozen- 1



The summer sun seared its way through the canopy of trees of the huge rainforest. From up above, one could barely make out a dozen dotted figures making their way into town. Their backpacks were just about their own size and the holiday t-shirts they wore clearly labeled them as foreigners.
“Are we there yet? My back is peeling from the tan!” Fiona looked up from her hat at the path ahead. The three boys turned to look at her.
“If you’re so worried then you didn’t have to join our adventure” replied Mark. The rest of the dozen kept squelching the mud under their boots, trying to make progress. A flood was wiping out the civilizations in the country; the hotel that was sheltering them politely asked them to make a move. However they gave directions and a map referring another hotel so maybe it was compensated. But the only path was walking, and the river routes were impossible to maneuver, they had ended up cutting through the dense forest, hoping it was the shortest route. Finally after a day’s travel, they crawled up the steps to the reception.
“Hi, six rooms please for a dozen” Neil the eldest of the twelve put down his card on the polished desk.
The receptionist lowered her glasses, looked past Neil’s shoulder at the dirty customers and back at her monitor. The ceiling fan croaked while she tapped their names into the list or at least pretended to.
“Do we have a problem?” Neil flaunted his thin plastic card. She paused and then like a switch turned on, her smile turned on. Meanwhile the rest of them were grazing in the lobby.
“Oh yes, of course… the dozen; Mr. Gibbs already told me.” She came out from her imprisoned desk.
“This way please…”  Neil turned to see that Fiona was the only one in the room.
“Guys we got the room, come on!” Neil sighed happily; being the shepherd to this crazy gang was fun.
            They trailed off behind the receptionist who was giving the tour of the place on her toes the whole time. The hotel was pretty cliché, but the cottages were done in really well. It was on top of a hill and they had a good feeling that the flood wasn’t going to reach up till here to grab them. The dozen chattered the whole way, so much that some guests opened their doors to check them out.
“Pretty nice huh?” Brandon asked digging his elbow into Jeremy. They both were the last of the lot, lagging behind to explore the place themselves.
“Wow man, check out this basket! Champagne fit for the king!” he said taking one and assessing it. Brandon whistled low.  Jeremy looked all around, and slowly unzipped his jersey, stifling the bottle inside.
“Dude what are you doing? Put it back man, you’re going to get us into some serious problems” said Brandon obviously worried for the rest of them.
“Chill out Brandon, think of it as… complimentary; laid out for the guests by the management of the hotel. Let’s hurry we’re losing them.”
            Next morning at 4 the six cottages heard a loud knock on their doors.  Neil stepped out wrapped in a robe. The receptionist was there, a stern look on her face. Gary popped out from behind just as two officers popped out from behind her.
“Woah…what’s all this about?” whispered Gary eyeing the guns strapped onto their belt. By now everyone was out on the lawn crowing around him.
“I have no damn clue…”replied Neil as the three approached.
“Neil?”
“Yes?”
“You are under arrest for attempted murder


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