domenica 4 luglio 2010

Sometimes I do not mind working the nightshift at the reception during weekends. Sure, you couldn't go out and party, but it still was a good time to observe people.
Going to work you would see them on their way out and after ending your shift you would see them trying to make their way back home. And all that lies between those two moments I could observe through the glass facade of the hotel I was working at.

During such a weekend nightshift you would also receive visits. Normally by partygoers or the occasional prostitute (don't look at me like that!) looking for a toilet. Of course you had to be careful who you let into the lobby, but mostly it was fun people.
One time two young girls and a a guy rang the doorbell. Too young I thought. Too pissed I thought. I'm not going to let them in. Over the intercom I asked them if they were guests of the hotel and to my surprise one of them produced one of our keycards. Guess I had to let them in...
They actually turned out not to be as devastated as I feared, but they where all around 16-17 years old and so I kept an eye on them.
Sitting down in the lobby in front of me they started chatting. The two girls asked my to open the door again so that they could go for a smoke, while their companion fell asleep on the couch. No problem I thought to myself. Normally it's not allowed but who is going to see him?
When the girls came back in about 20 minutes later (turned out it was more than one cigarette) I decided that it was time for them to go to bed. Main reason: I was done with my work and wanted to watch TV in the bar. Secondary reason: I had a strange feeling about them. Nothing bad, but still. Why sleep in the lobby if you had a room?
I invited them very politely to go upstairs and off they went without discussions. Finally I was alone again!

A little while later the night cleaner comes to me and guess what he tells me? During his rounds of the floors he found three young people sleeping in the corridor. I suppose you know who he was referring to. So did I and I made my way upstairs.
Actually I must say the sight was somewhat comical. Seeing these three on the floor along the walls between doors. But didn't they have a room? They showed me the keycard!
Now, how to wake them up? I went for a discrete "Hey!!!!!!!" which proved effective. They all looked me with sleepy eyes, but immediately understood what was going on. Respect! I asked them again if they were clients of the hotel or if they just found the key. In short: explain!
Well, one girl was really staying at the hotel but in one room with her parents, while the other two were some new won friends made during the night. Being tired after a night out drinking and dancing she had the brilliant idea to invite them to sleep in a five star hotel. Believe my guys, the floor of a five star hotel is not much different from the floor of a two star hotel!
I waited until our "real" guest disappeared in her room before escorting the others down and out of the hotel tring to hide a smile. People sometimes have weird ideas!

The best part was when, arriving at the main entrance, they actually apologized to me. Who says that todays youth has no manners?!

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