Sneak Peek
The Phone Call
Peggy – Rehoboth Beach, DE
“What? Me? Why do I have to make the call?” I argued.
“Because there’s no way in hell I’m gonna deliver that news,” Marcus replied, pulling on his coat. “And since you’re new here, Peggy, I’m passing the responsibility on to you. Just remember, bad news is best delivered in a positive manner. Speak in an upbeat, positive fashion, and you’ll be fine. Oh, and make sure to use our slogan every time you mention the hotel’s name, like corporate told us to.”
“Upbeat and positive? With this news?”
The front door slammed shut in my face. Marcus had left the building. I looked at the piece of paper he’d given me and took a few deep breaths to psych myself up. Then, I dialed the number.
“Hello,” said the man on the other end of the line.
“Hello! This is Peggy, the night manager at the Reef Inn, where every day is a sunny day. May I please speak with Edward Pitt?”
“This is Edward.”
“Good afternoon, sir. I hope you’re having a lovely day. I’m calling on behalf of your daughter, Kate. She and the other girls on her high school cheerleading squad were guests of our hotel, last night.”
“Yes, I am aware, they’re competing in the state cheerleading competition. I’m the principal of their school. Why are you calling me? Is she okay? Did something happen to her?”
“No, she’s fine, sir. I’m calling to inform you that Kate is doing just fine… and so is her baby.”
“Her what?”
Try to act excited, Peggy.
“Congratulations!”
“Her baby?”
“Yes, sir, a beauty baby girl. Kate told me this would be a surprise to you and her mother.”
“Kate is pregnant?”
“Was pregnant, sir. She gave birth at ten this morning. So, woohoo!”
“What… who… where… how… ”
“Try not to beat yourself up for not knowing, Mr. Pitt. Kate explained to me that she managed to keep the pregnancy a secret not just from you and your wife, but also her teachers, friends, and coaches: everyone.”
“How?”
“I’m a little confused on that, myself. If you don’t mind my asking, didn’t you notice Kate was getting bigger?”
“Well, yes, but she’s always had her mother’s looks. I just thought she was fat like her mother.”
“Ah, that explains it.”
“I know who did this.” Mr. Pitt took a hard turn from bewildered to furious. “It was that kid, Billy. I caught him sneaking into her bedroom! I’ll kill him!”
“Sir, I’m sure you have a lot of thoughts and feelings, and probably some rage, going through your head, right now. Try to focus on the positive. The important thing is, Kate is with a doctor, and she’s okay.”
“Well, I guess that is what’s most important.” I could hear Mr. Pitt’s breathing calming down to a normal pace.
“That’s the right attitude. Your daughter and granddaughter are doing great. The room Kate stayed in, however, has sustained some serious damage.”
“Damage? Kate trashed her room?”
“Not intentionally. This is actually the real reason I’m calling. You see, Kate went into labor at three in the morning and called 911. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics determined they had to deliver the baby in her room, instead of taking her to the hospital.”
“Oh, Lord!”
“It caused quite a bit of commotion. Her screaming woke up many of the other guests. I’ll tell you, I’ve never received 13 noise complaints in one night before.” I chuckled, but Mr. Pitt didn’t. “Um, anyway, she gave birth in her room, and her uh… birthing fluids made quite a mess. The fluids ruined the sheets, the mattress, the carpet, and somehow made their way to the dresser, couch, and the TV across the room.”
Mr. Pitt made a noise I’d never heard before. It sounded like crying, vomiting, and having a heart attack, all at once.
“Mr. Pitt, are you still with me?”
“Barely,” he whimpered.
“Good. Now, we’ve had to shut down the room and call a special cleaning service usually reserved for when someone dies in one of our rooms. They’ll be in there for the next week, completely sterilizing it, and I’m afraid we’re going to have to charge it to you. That’ll be the cleaning crew fee, plus the weekly rate of the room, since we can’t rent out while it’s being cleaned. I’m guesstimating it’ll total around $7,000.”
“Seven thousand?”
“Correct, and I imagine the ambulance fee, and the other hospital stuff, will be charged to you, as well.”
“This can’t be happening.”
I could tell I was losing Mr. Pitt again. I needed to crank up the optimism.
“I know this must be a shock, but cheer up! Your family is going to be bigger and fuller, now. You’ll have the wonderful experience of being a grandfather, plus… oh, wait one second, please. I’ve just received a note from my coworker, Scott, with an update on Kate’s condition… she just delivered her second baby.”
“Twins?”
“Yes, sir. A boy and a girl.”
I heard Mr. Pitt make that crying, vomiting, heart-attack sound again. My attempts at levity and positivity had failed.
“Damn you, Billy! I’m going to find that kid and kill him!”
“Yes, well, again, congratulations on your new additions, look for our bill to arrive in the mail, and thank you for choosing the Reef Inn, where every day is a sunny day!”
I hung up as fast as I could. It was the most awkward phone call of my career.
I also wasn’t able to find the right moment to tell Mr. Pitt that his daughter’s cheerleading squad had won the competition, but somehow I don’t think the information would have made him feel better.
To this day I still wonder, how did Kate hide those babies?
