Jane Unrue - Love Hotel

It was a period of remarks about the grounds the foliage seasons winter coming Christmas presents apple cider holly berry satin ribbon. I looked out across the lawn that seemed in its expansiveness to validate my sudden dreading of the weeks the days until it would be Christmas Day. As we approached the rising slope to where THE FIVE STONE STEPS would take us to the walkway hooking around the CORNER

NORTHWEST of the mansion she said Now just getting back to what we had been talking about last night

She paused.

I turned to watch a twinkling snowfall taking place across the lawns. Black birds were diving skipping leaving coal black markings on the white. Then suddenly

excruciatingly

the snow

the markings

disappeared.

The CORNER

NORTHWEST had bay windows looking out upon an autumn colors view that reached down to the boathouse.

Be prepared I told myself. They’re going to ask you something you won’t want to answer with an answer.

I peeked in the window from outside.

607

I stuck the key into the

Covering all four walls a figurative print rich brilliant colors created a selection of the principal trades chief occupations aspects of the Chinese style of life. Against a dark red background illustrated cutouts of a rural Chinese landscape featured brightly colored Chinese figures firing pots they hauled the pots away they loaded them on the junk they gathered rice stacked rice they argued to a judge they carried out the various stages in production not just tea but silk they even grew a Chinese garden.

It was papered in a weighty dense repetitive unceasing world of working. Talking.

Thinking.

Still it was a cheerful although seedy room small lamps on either side of the bed a Chinese chandelier two floor lamps plus a table lamp without its shade bed covered with a leafy bedspread bearing no stylistic similarity even to the garden illustrations on the walls . The bed was big enough for two coordinated with a red gold wingback chair set in the corner near the window. Bed like chair was decorated with gold satin pillows differing in their shapes all old all floppy threadbare looking.

Then I

Yes I would have liked to get to business but I took my boots off closed the heavy curtains peeled the bedspread back exposing

Once there were two teenaged sons who on cool moonlit evenings left their home and walked into the woods presumably to court young girls.

a pale pink

When I thought I saw a moving form behind the glass he took me gently by the arm then turned us all around to face the autumn colors view said There look back down there. He motioned with his finger toward the east. Now following the slope down to that tree he said you should be able to catch the corner of the boathouse there.

She said We’ll take you there .

Of course we’ll take her there he said.

She said We’ll have a picnic by the boathouse.

Though I wanted to I did not ask them when the picnic would take place.

In time the shock will fade. Her sadness may diminish too. Although repeated entrances

new acts of waking

walls the softest blue

may give impressions of repeated shock

soft carpet

blue

gauze curtains shimmering in the night

each shock remains as freshly devastating

undulating

heart

knees

fingers

as the old shock was.

No it was not my intention to fall asleep. It was my intention to rest my eyes get up go look for him.

Next morning due to (Room Service: N) to (Restaurant: N) to (Vending Machines: N) (Coffee/Tea: N) I went out to find a place for breakfast.

Late one night concealing himself behind a tree their father who for various reasons had become suspicious of these outings watched his sons begin to roll upon the ground beside a campfire.

After breakfast I walked back through playground in the park through park then made the rest of the way to the hotel. I went up to my room collected (Bag Storage: N) then took the elevator right back down returned the key into the slot below the room selection panel.

In this clearing lit up by the fire beneath a heavy to bursting moon the sons rolled over and over becoming as their father watched them wolves.

Besides some unexplainable sounds a shaving smell or two the hallways whiff of mouthwash breath were empty. If not for so few illuminated numbers on the room selection grid I would have sworn all rooms were empty too. The place felt empty

although utterly full of

I don’t think he’s here I just don’t think this thing is right I told myself when I stepped out into the patio began to make my way to (Recommended: Y).

A week

I think

It’s hard to say. No depth. No clear perspective. No free space.

before I met them I had started having problems with my

Previously

But this had been my pattern for as long as

sleep.

A lack of evidence.

I woke up. Walked. Discovered I was in the light of the refrigerator opening up a little tub of

Just about a week before I met them though I found that I would wake up get up out of bed

dried cherries. Not so interested anymore in snacks I found that I was walking through my dark apartment

As their father watched them from behind the trees the wolves attacked and murdered a couple walking on the rarely traveled footpath.

to a hanging photograph from which I

When I met them for about a week or more before that meeting I had started hearing wheezing coughing sobbing squeezing out the corners of the frame. I’d turn around walk back get into bed return to sleep wake up walk back to it again.

The night we met my sleeping troubles disappeared.

Night Five: A bit more wine girls? he said.

We were seated on the VERANDAH.

Be right back he said.

She leaned in closer to me said It seems as though we have a deep connection you and I. Do you know what I mean?

Night Six: We said goodbye just at the edge of the estate where parked beside the gate a taxicab was waiting in the dark.

Night Seven: After getting ready after giving my bags a run through guidebook matchbook I emerged from my apartment building right on schedule having factored in the likely waiting time for taxicabs around the corner by the bus stop. Right away I noticed that their car was sitting out in front of my apartment building. I had not expected them to pick me up

especially after what had happened on the night before

but

Hurrying my approaching I

especially after what

She stuck her head out of the car as if to say Surprise.

I got into their car. I had the feeling I was leaving behind a swarm.

Let’s go she said.

but

Yes let’s get me out of here I told myself.

I exited the Public Library (Restaurant: N) with (Bag Storage: N) but (Restrooms: Y) with all of my belongings with me. Then I ducked into the market just across the street. I had decided I would eat my lunch at one of the little wrought iron tables in the tree lined fairly crowded park behind the Public Library. Tourists mainly local couples working people baby strollers.

After another long much longer stint inside the (Recommended: Y) I went back over to the market spooned up dinner from the buffet of prepared foods set into a wide bank of warming trays before stopping at the adjacent drugstore. Fear of awakening in the middle of the night without sufficient

Weaving in among the trees the father hurried home while praying that his children who as far as he could tell were ignorant of his watching them would choose the easier slower path back to the house.