A Room At The Maldon Hotel

 

A Room At The Maldon Hotel

By Paul McCann

He walked in through the revolving door at the Maldon Hotel and went over to check in at the front reception . There was no one there on duty so he waited  for a little while and the  before rang the bell on the counter saying .

“Hello . Is anyone there “

Suddenly he felt a cold wind on his neck and he called out again , 

“Hello “

Again he felt a cold wind that made him shiver and he stepped back from the counter and walked around the foyer . 

A man walked from a room adjacent to the reception and made his way over to the desk at  reception where he opened up the large book sitting there on the  counter and said ,

“Good day sir . Welcome to The Maldon Hotel . May I ask your name ?“

He replied 

 “My name is Harry ?”

The hotel staff member asked .

“ Have you made a booking here with us Harry ?”

 

 “Well the booking was made by a work colleague of mine called Jake  . He gave the room as a gift because he couldn’t make it this week . The booking is for a double room in the name of Jake White “

 Looking though the bookings the staff member said .

“Why here we are Jake White . You’re in room 27 . “

Then he went  to get the room key.

“ Thank you . You must have a window open somewhere .”

“ A window ?”

“Yes there’s a cold wind blowing though .“

Handing over the key to the room he said 

“ Welcome Harry , here’s your room key , enjoy your stay here at The Maldon . Take the lift to the second floor and you will  have no problem finding your room .“

“ My luggage is in the taxi out the front . Could you have someone bring it to my room please ?

“Sure Sir . Leave that to me and I’ll arrange someone to bring your luggage to your room .“

 

Harry walked over to the lift and made his way to the second floor .

When the door or the lift opened Harry found himself on a beach . There were sand dunes everywhere that looked like these miniature mountains . Some sailboats were out on the water .

Off shore there were some islands . A small jetty boat  was there at the end of the pier tied to a post .  A man was standing on the pier waving over to Harry .

Harry looked around in a state of shock wondering what was going on . A strange looking woman dressed like Little Bo-Peep approached Harry and said ,

“ That’s your  boat over there  . He has been waiting for you to arrive.

So if I were you I’d go over before it’s too late. The crossing to the Island of Dreams must go right on time and now’s the time to go .”

Harry panicked and ran over without thinking . He was assisted 

 on to the boat that was soon skipping over the waves to the island .

“Hello there , I’m here to bring you to the island , what’s your room

number “

“27 “

Harry said and the boatman said .

“ I’ll get you there in no time flat”

As the little boat arrived to the Island of dreams the boatman pointed to a path on the island .

“ That’s the path to your room sir so how long as you here for “

“Two weeks “

Harry replied . 

“ Take it easy here . On this  island you’ll find that time stands still “

Harry said farewell to the boatman and walked along the pathway where little houses sat on each side of the path with chimneys  busy making smoke for the the sky and then at the vendor the path was a door with the number 27 . Harry put his key into the lock and opened the door . On the other side of the door he was standing on the streets of a city in times gone by.

There were Mills and warehouses and a little store stood there on  the corner . A motorised tricycle with the number 27 on the carriage and done bags strapped to the roof approached and stopped . The driver said ,

“Room service  . We have  your luggage , get in and de take you to your room “

Harry climbed  in and the driver  took off . Her stopped outside a room with the number 27 on the door . The driver jumped off and began to take the luggage off the roof . Harry went and opened the door then walked in .

The driver followed with the bags  in his hand said .

“ Lucky I was at work tonight . “

Helping himself to some fruit on the table , he quickly ate his fill and disappeared out of sight  .

 Harry looked from his front door at the streets of the town called Maldon . Some  strangers passing by waved at him . 

It helped to remind him that some people are friendly and he waved back . He tried to forget about the harsh people he had met recently . He closed over the door and then looked around the luxury apartment . There was a back door and when he opened it he discovered a beautiful garden with a manicured green lawn with pathways to sections with water features and statues . There was a gazebo and a set of steps that went upwards as far as his eyes could see . He took a walk outside  about taking a walk in the garden and exploring where the steps went to . Somehow he felt young again it was as if he was walking in a dream through a world where he could be like child for as long as he wanted to  and he walked all around there with a smile on his face . He felt a love in his heart he had never known before it lifted to a place  where he forgot all the problems he had been going through . 

He walked up the steps there in the garden and golden sparkles were shimmering on the steps as the sun shone down upon that place . At the top of the steps he discovered an enclosure where butterflies were fluttering in many places and many hidden secrets were placed between plants and flowers . Statues of goblins  and  fairies were silently watching as were other  creatures sitting secretly in their own little  realms 

of an floating high above in this garden in the sky .

Then there was a door that he opened and on the other side of the door he was standing back at the reception of the hotel .

The lady greeted him .

“ We hope you’ve enjoyed your stay here at Maldon Hotel . Please come again  “

Harry was stunned and asked .

“How long have I been here ?”

“Two weeks Sir “

came the reply .

“Two weeks , it only seems like I’ve been here a few hours. “

“As we explained sir on your arrival . Time here at the Maldon Hotel might seem to stand still .We’ve brought your luggage down for you and have called a  taxi  which is already waiting out front “

 

“Thank you for everything “

Harry said .

Then he caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror and couldn’t believe what he saw .

He looked not in his sixties now not was a young man in the prime of his life .

The Taxi driver came into the hotel and carried out all the luggage . 

When Harry looked over at the reception there was no one there .

Harry followed the taxi driver out the car that drove away from the hotel .

The End