Life as a Bellhop

Chapter 1

I’ve never been scared of elevators. Both my parents were bellhops or elevator operators at one stage in their lives. I’ve never had any visions or thoughts of how an elevator could break, fall or explode. I’ve always thought of elevators to just hover when you get in, then float or sink to where you want to go. The buttons control the way it moves. That was, until I saw the glass elevators in a shopping centre. I saw the metal ropes swing and dance above and below the elevator carriage. Until I saw videos of ropes snapping and carriages falling. People screaming and getting hurt. Until I realised what the emergency phone button was for. Until now, when I really experienced how it felt. The drop, the endless drop that made my stomach swirl inside. The feeling of floating, but not. The realisation that a rope had snapped and this could be it. The knowledge of being in an old elevator, with no safety factors. The emotion of wanting to cry, but not being able to.

                                                                                     ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

 Do-dee-da-doo-doo-dee-do-da went the jazzy elevator music. Ding! went the door. It slowly made its way to the edges of the lift to reveal an old couple. They smiled at me and made their way inside the cramped space like penguins. Snails could probably even beat them. “Number 3, miss,” croaked the old woman. I pressed the button and stood as still as I could in the awkward atmosphere. When it got to floor three they thanked me, tipped me and left. I still can’t understand why I get paid. When I’m on my bellhop shift, fair enough, but when I’m elevator operator? Seriously?

Sometimes during the day when no one is even in the hotel I swipe my hand down all the buttons to give me something to do. But when someone actually needs to go somewhere, they have to wait until I get back to them. I should really quit, this place is really getting me annoyed. Fancy people with fancy bags and fancy pets that need fancy treatment and the people need a fancy place to stay with fancy food and fancy music. Heck, I’m no fancy person. I’m just a regular kid who happens to wear a bellhop suit and unfortunately be related to some fancy uncle who owns a fancy hotel. Mum says its best that I have a job and earn money so that later on I can buy a car and a house. It’ll be two years before I have to buy a car, and mum keeps telling me that my godparents will all pay for my car. Make up your mind woman!

I slide my back down the slippery metal wall and sit on the strangely patterned carpet. I’m not even legally old enough to have this job. It’s only because of my uncle that I have to be here. I feel the elevator shift and I instantly stand up, facing the number buttons. Ding! The doors open to Toby, the only other bellhop round here. I start to feel my face flush but I hold myself together. “Afternoon Tobias,” I say as politely as possible. I could have detected a hint of wobble in my tone, but Toby is as blunt as a rock. “Afternoon Calliope,” he replies, bowing at my feet. He stands up straight again, flicks his hair and steps inside the elevator. “Where to sir?” I ask, grinning all the while. He smiles back, clears his throat and replies, “The penthouse suite thanks. 

I press the last button and spin around. “So, bro, have you lifted today?” I ask. He keeps his eyes on the doors ahead. “Nah, kid. Not yet today.” He looks down and falls back to the wall, leaning against it. Strange, he’s not his normal self today. I step over and poke him in the stomach. “ What’s up?” I say, watching his downcast face. The elevator dings and he walks out. “Maybe later kid. Not now.” Not once did he look at me.

“Oi, wait, can ya hold for a sec?” I hear someone scream out. I press the open button and wait for the person to appear. The doors start to close again so I stick my arm in the doorway and step outside, looking both ways. I see someone, a young person trying to drag something. I call Toby over but he’s gone. “You right?” I call out to the person at the end of the corridor. I hear a mumble but can’t understand a word of it. I’m not supposed to leave the elevator, but there aren’t many people here so I walk over to the person. It’s a guy, maybe 15 or 16 and has his luggage stuck in the doorway. He looks up at me and smiles. “Hey, thanks mate. Can you help? This thing weighs a tonne,” he says, probably thinking I’m a boy. I’m only supposed to take light luggage or backpacks, not proper suitcases like Toby does. “Errr, I’ll give it a go,” I reply, scratching the back of my neck.

I study the way the suitcase is wedged in the doorway. This guy has absolutely no clue, I think, wondering how the thing got stuck like this in the first place. “Awesome,” he says, smiling once again. I hop over the bag through the doorway and try to push the heavy suitcase through. “Y’know we could just turn the suitcase over and then push it through,” I suggest, causing the boy in front to turn around. “Do what, sorry?” he replies, leaning on the suitcase. “Twist the suitcase. Its wedged,” I say, making twisting gestures with my hands.

“I see where you’re headin’,” he replies, noting the way the suitcase has been placed. We roll the suitcase over and push it through with ease. “Ah, thanks mate,” he says, rolling his suitcase out into the corridor. He looks over at me, “Sorry, didn’t catch your name.” I turn to face him and hold out my hand. “Callie. You?” I reply. “Charlie,” he says, shaking my hand.

 “You from around here?” I ask, wondering why a kid his age isn’t in school right now. I pressed the button for the elevator to go down. “No,” he says, “I’m from Brisbane. Dad’s got a new job round here and wanted me working during the holidays. He’s staying here for the Christmas holidays, so he wanted me to be a bellboy thingie while I’m here. I take it you’re from here then?”

“Yeah, I am. My uncle runs this place so I’m employed as a bellhop and elevator operator. So’s my friend Toby, but I don’t know where he’s run off to,” I reply, spreading my arm across the doorframe of the elevator.

“That the guy who came out before?” Charlie asks, dragging the suitcase in.

“Yep,” I mumble.