Get Your Bat and Sharpen Your Knife

In the beginning it was...boring.

Just another boring day on the job. Check the people out, check people in. I'm sort of regretting not going to college for a more exciting job. It just wasn't in the cards for me. My parents were caring, but not good with money. Plus, I was just never interested. I got a job as a maid at the Holiday Inn when I was 17. Now I work as the desk clerk. You would think it was exciting all the travelers coming through. But it's not. Most people are tired and grumpy because they underestimated how long it takes to get to Florida and had to stop for the night just over the border in Georgia.

I pulled the night shift this week and I'm OK with that. It's mostly checking in stragglers and delivering towels. We get a fair amount of traffic from the military base too. Lately, I have been seeing a lot of fancy uniforms on dour-looking people. They always think its the end of the world.

"Hey Emily, got any big plans for your vacation?" asks my overly attentive boss Henry.

I roll my eyes.

"Sure do!" I say. "I'm going out of town with Matt, Jared, Mitch, and Josh. We are going to have so much fun! Hannah, Sam, and Maddie are going to be so jealous."

"Really, he blinked, "those are all guys. No girls?"

" No, I want to party with the big dogs! They know all the best places. We are all SO close."

"Like big brothers?" I see this weird look on his face.

"No, not like big brothers." Then I smiled big and walk away.

The thing is I share a house with 7 other people 4 guys and 3 other girls. He doesn't know that, he thinks I still live with my parents and I like it that way. Two of the guys are gay and the other one shares a room with one of the girls. Their idea of a fun night is drinking wine, eating cheese and playing cards. I have to say though rent is always on time and chores get done. It works for us all.

We live in this old monstrosity of a Victorian house. It's in fair shape but the inside looks like someone just stopped in the middle of a flip. The bathrooms were done and the kitchen but not much else. The thing is it's my house. No one knows that. My parents gave it to me after they won a small bit of money in the lottery. They sold up everything and hit the road in an RV with the dog.

Nearing the end of my shift the lobby suddenly gets busy. All the military guys are checking out. They seem to be in a big hurry to hit the road. That happens sometimes. Some big thing happens somewhere else and they are off like a flash.

"I hope you enjoyed your stay with us," I say with a smile as I hand the Captain his receipt. "Hope it's nothing to worry about."

The whole lobby went silent. The military guys are looking at each other like I just spilled a huge secret.

The Captain looks at me and shakes his head.

"Of course not. Some higher up just called a meeting we needed to be at yesterday. They give us very little warning sometimes." He looks out. "And there is our ride."

Four Humvees have pulled up outside.

He looks at me, "Stay safe."

OK, that was weird. I look at Henry. He just shrugs. I get my things together and clock out. I finally have vacation time to use and this is the week. I'm going to spend one whole day being lazy and then work on the house.

"See you in a week Henry." and run for the doors. If I get out fast enough he won't ask me any more questions.

I get in my old Yukon and drive home. Everyone will be up getting ready for work. I like that part of the day when I'm on the late shift. One person getting coffee ready, one tea, someone cooking, and another making toast. Then boom they are all gone and it's quiet. I clean up the dishes and head to bed.