Solana Forever

S5 E5

After the review yesterday this morning I was eager to read what he had said about the Solana. I managed to get ahold of a copy of today's newspaper from the corner shop on my way to work but the reviews surprisingly weren't in it. I can't say I'm annoyed though because it meant the Solana hadn't gone down by any stars. True we didn't get a raise but at least we didn't get cut back. As I walked through the entrance I became confused. Loads of the staff were in reception frantically cleaning anything that could be cleaned. I also saw Joyce galloping as fast as she could in her ludicrous heals towards me.
"What time do you call this young lady?" She demanded the second she got close to me. She seemed very stressed.
"It's only" I checked my watch "8:30. That's the time I normally I get here" I explained to her.
"Well why didn't you arrive earlier? You must have known we needed help" God she really must have been stressed because she seemed to be forgetting to use her brain.
"Oh yeah sorry. I should've used the psychic powers that I have to see if had to be in early" i sarked back. She rolled her eyes and pressed her index finger to her temple.
"Just go an help Mateo polish the plant" she walked of looking like she was going to tear her hair out before I could ask any follow up questions. So I went to the plant to ask Mateo instead.

He was breathing on a leaf and then wiping it with a cloth. He stopped when he noticed the weird look I was giving him.
"Okay first question of the day: why are polishing a plant?" I had never heard of anyone polish their plants before. Especially natural ones.
"Because Miss Temple Savage told me to" he shrugged and pointed to Joyce who was screaming at Liam for spray a lightbulb which was now smoking. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah I worked that bit out" I spat. "Why did she tell you to?". It was honestly like talking to a child. I have to explain every little thing for him.
He shrugged once again. "Something about team BG staying at the Solana"
"Team BG?" I frowned trying to think of what on Earth he meant.
"Yes. They're going swimming in Valencia tomorrow and tonight they are going to do a show in our pool". Something caught my eye on the desk next to Mateo. It was a bright multicoloured leaflet with the headline 'Solana Pool Show Tonight'. I picked it up and studied it.
"This the leaflet for it?" I asked Mateo.
"I don't know Miss Temple Savage put it there before". He went back to polishing leaves. I huffed and began reading the information.
It read: 'Team Great Britain are visiting the Solana and are scheduled to put on a water show this evening'. My eyes widened. An Olympic team were staying here.
"Team Great Britain are staying here!" I exclaimed. Mateo peered over at the leaflet.
"Is what I said"
"No you said Team BG were going swimming" I repeated.
"Oh yes" he raised his eyebrow. "Is the same no?".
"Not quite" I said sarcastically. "God you really need to learn to pay attention more" I said more quietly.
"Hey I did pay attention to something" he quickly defended. He was looking happily at the picture on the leaflet. I followed his gaze.
"Yeah I'm afraid the lower halves of young girls sticking out of the water doesn't count" I pulled the leaflet away from him and put it back on the desk. "Perv" I mumbled. I followed Joyce's orders and began polishing the plant. It didn't take for me to be disturbed by Mateos hands gripping my arms.
"I am not a perv" He said rather authoritatively. It sent shivers down my spine. "If it's because you are jealous that I am looking at other girls lower halves and not yours I will happily change" his voice had gone very low and seductive. I looked at him through my per referral vision.
"Jesus what are you on?" I grimaced. "That wasn't anything like your normal flirty lines".
"Just trying something different" he spoke innocently. I pushed his hands of my arms and continued to polish the leaf.
"You didn't deny what I said" he annoyingly pointed out.
"Oh shut up!" I snapped. I turned my head away and smiled to myself.

Considering the obscurity of the things I had been asked to clean I was actually getting quite into it. The Solana now had the cleanest plants, banners, flyer racks and pondweed in all of Benidorm. I was just finishing cleaning the chairs behind the reception desk when Leslie shouted over to me.
"Gaby what do the five different coloured rings represent?" She was with the young Garvey boy who had the leaflet for tonights show in his hands.
"Ummm..." I scanned my brain for an answer that seemed relatively correct. "The four seasons?" I suggested.
"But there's five rings" Micheal pointed out.
"I know but I just wanted to put forward a suggestion" I saw Kenneth walking past with his new assistant who was carrying all of Kenneths salon supplies.
"Hey Kenneth what do the five coloured rings stand for" I asked passing the spotlight on to him. He suck out his lips as he thought.
"Mykonos 1989" he said a very grant manor. "Ooh what a holiday that was" he winked at us and smirked. I laughed a little bit we were quickly interrupted by a very posh sounding voice by the entrance.
"The Olympic Rings were designed in 1912" I looked round to find a stern looking women and a trail of young uniform athletes. The athletes were all very pretty and looked physically fit whereas the woman had a look of a crumpled white bin bag with her pale wrinkled skin and unpleasant aura.
"By Pierre de Coubertin father of the modern Olympiad" her voice was very robotic and dull. "De Coubertin also coined the Olympic motto Citius Altius Fortius..."
"... faster, higher, stronger" the girls said in unison. It was obviously this woman had these girls on a very tight leash.
"Thank you girls. Rest easy". She seemed to be very passionate about Olympics. Probably even more passionate than the Olympians themselves.
"Bloody hell it's hitler youth" Kenneth whispered to me.
"That's exactly what I was thinking" I whispered back to him as Leslie waddled over to welcome them.
The woman pulled her suitcase along the floor to close up the distance between her and us. Her obedient athletes followed her.
"Stand up boy when your elders enter a room" she barked at poor Micheal. He immediately stood up because she looked like the kind of woman you wouldn't want to anger. However once she had moved her gaze away from him I motioned for him to sit back down. He smiled at me and happily sat back down.
"Hazel McCafferty" she introduced herself to Leslie. God even the name sounded sharp and strict. "Could you tell the manager I wish to speak with him please?" She asked Leslie. At least she used manners.
"Oh it's a she" Leslie pointed out. She inhaled frustratedly.
"Would you tell the manager I wish to speak with him please Madam?" Me and Kenneth snorted. She obviously thought that Leslie was referring to herself.
"No no I meant the manager is a she" Straight after Leslie had spoke someone roughly barged into me from behind and then ran past. I managed to keep my foot in but only just. I saw a frantic looking Joyce rushing to greet the woman.
"I'm so sorry!" She took a breath and composed herself although she still seemed very giddy about having the Olympians here. "Joyce Temple Savage Solana manageress. You must be Hazel" she enthusiastically stretched out her hand for Hazel to shake it.
"This is correct. I won't touch you I'm haphephnoobic".
"She's a what?" I asked Kenneth. He shrugged.
"Buggered if I know".
"What starrage is this hotel?" That question was well expected. She seemed like the sort that wouldn't stay in a hotel with less than five stars. She will be extremely unhappy in a minute.
"I beg your pardon" she was clearly reluctant to admit we were barely a four star.
"How many stars do you have?".
Joyce paused for a moment. "We are what is known in the hotel industry as four star pending".  Hazel didn't look happy with that answer at all.
"So three stars. Girls we are leaving" she announced.
"Is there a problem".
"We are preparing for the London Olympic Games. We are not on a school trip or a hen party. It is paramount that my girls have first class accommodation-" I didn't hear the rest of it because one of the girls had strayed over to the reception desk where I was and was asking about a leaflet about the waterfalls of Albir.
"This is a lovely location" she commented smiling. "Is it near?".
"Fairly near. I've been before as part of one of our free coach trips and it was about 45 minutes on the bus" her eyes lit up. I really wanted to make her experience here a pleasant one so I tried to sell it even more. "And furthermore the water at the bottom of the falls is beautifully clean and probably just the right depth for you to demonstrate your incredible swimming skills" I propped my elbows up on the desk. She was smiling widely and almost jumping with excitement.
"Are there any of these coach trips happening in the near future?" Her eyes were filled with hope. I don't blame her. If I was under the control of that woman I would want to get away.
"As far as I know there isn't" I began.
"Oh" she sighed. The brightness in her face dimmed.
"But I'm sure one could be arranged" I winked at her.
"Really?" She seemed in complete disbelief. It was strange that she was getting this excited about it. But I enjoyed being able to make her youth more happy. It's no fun looking back on your youth and it just being you working all the time.
"Sure. You look like you could do with a break sometime".
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you" she embraced me in a quick hug.
"Here to help".
"Don't embrace the staff Hermione!" The beastly woman's voice barked at her. She quickly let go and backed away as her whole crew came to check in at the desk.