Hotel Candelabra: Chapters 35, 36 & 37
Three chapters bring Day 5 to an end!
End of Chapter 34:
68 stood up and said, “Why don’t we all meet in the lobby for dinner at 5:30? The Flame can go down through the kitchen and the other two floors can go down the Narnia Passageway. The teenagers can bring the children down a few at a time in the elevator. Maybe this afternoon, it would be good to take turns visiting the children’s floor, so they get accustomed to everyone.”
“Great plan! Lower floor, why don’t you head to your rooms first down the Narnia Passageway. That would be the best way to do any navigating during the afternoon.”
The more I could keep them from using the elevator, the better!
Day #5: Chapter Thirty-Five
When I arrived in the lobby to check on dinner plans, I was shocked to find the room much bigger than I had remembered. It looked more like a large restaurant than a lobby. Small tables for four were clustered around the massive table and candelabra. Booths that could comfortably hold up to six people lined the walls. Alden had been busy. My concerns about seventy people fitting into the room vanished.
I was also surprised to see the teenagers gathered in a corner all dressed in server’s attire, complete with aprons and caps. Walking over to them, I smiled at their excitement. I remembered how I had always enjoyed events best when I had a job to do. The organizer had been busy as I went from floor to floor to see how the packing was going. My own packing had been minimal. I was sure everyone else’s choices would be everything I would ever want.
Earlier that afternoon, I was surprised to find a new backpack along with my luggage. My old friends—my laptop and phone—were carefully stored in the compartments. I was glad to see them safely in my possession again but had no current use for them. I doubted that there was a WIFI signal in Hotel Candelabra anyway.
I was getting ready to ask the teens who was caring for the children when the elevator door opened and the 62 arrived carrying One, holding Two, and with Three dancing around them. They went directly to a table of four with two highchairs. As I helped them settle, the elevator opened again with 68 and as many elementary-aged children as the elevator could hold.
I was again, a little concerned about the elevator.
One more trip and it seemed the floor must be empty. I was wrong, the elevator arrived one more time with Nine on her bicycle. Every adult, child, and teen in the room laughed. Even the baby giggled.
Meanwhile, streams of women were arriving through the Narnia Passageway. Navigating their way from behind the counter, they asked children to join them at tables and got settled. I was so relieved to see everyone so comfortable with one another. The room was abuzz with conversations as I chose a seat at the table with the very youngest children—just as the teens began serving the food.
I smiled at Alden’s Cheshire grin glowing behind the clerk’s desk.
Day #5: Chapter Thirty-Six
The massive lobby candelabra was directly in my view for the entire meal. After days of staring at shrinking candles, it seemed odd to look at one that held no candles. I hadn’t noticed the tiers of candle holders around it the first night. I also had not noticed that the candle that Alden took down for me was in the center and stood above the others. I counted the tiers, there were five, plus the top candle—just like the number of floors.
Wait! The candelabra is the Hotel Candelabra!
I looked at a space that should have held a door just in case my realization made it appear. No such luck, but I did think I was getting closer to a solution. What had Alden said? The lobby is dark. He wasn’t wrong. It didn’t seem that way because small lanterns had been placed in the center of each table, but without them, it certainly would be dark.
Excusing myself from the table, I walked to the counter to talk to Alden, who still had a Cheshire grin on his face.
“You gave each of us a candle from this candelabra to take to our floors, right?”
“Well, that would be true for those on The Flame, but not those who came in your baggage.”
“Yeah, about the baggage. Thanks for returning my cell phone and laptop. The lower floors were none too happy to realize they arrived as baggage. Who brought which ones? Did they come in order?”
“No, it depended on who processed a story after 61 went to the Victorian. 60 only arrived with Shame and I had to lock it up in the basement until 60 was ready to understand it was only a little girl.”
“That seems horrible to lock a child in the basement! How could you do that?” This thought had not occurred to me earlier and it was distressing.
“Oh no, I was taking good care of her. My room was in the basement with her. She and I got along famously.”
As if knowing Alden was talking about her, Three ran over, gave him a hug, and then returned to her table.
Alden looked at her fondly, “She is really the most amazing child. I have missed her since she went to her room with the other children, but I know it was the very best thing for her.”
Then remembering my reason for coming to talk to Alden, I asked, “Why did you say it was dark in here. Why was that the clue?”
“Why do you think it was?”
I really hated to be asked a question in return for a question but knew the answer.
“Well, the only way to light this room up completely would be if the candelabra was full of candles, right?”
As if sensing that I had learned what I needed to learn and that our time was limited, Alden gave me a direct answer.
“That is exactly right. The candles need to be brought back here for the door to appear again.”
I understood that we would all need to be ready to leave when that happened.
Day #5: Chapter Thirty-Seven
Looking around the room, I saw the teenagers were removing plates. The children were getting restless, and One had fallen asleep in 62’s arms. From my estimation of the candles, I believed we had one more night. We needed to leave in the morning.
Mustering up my loudest voice, I said, “Can I talk to those who live with me on The Flame?”
They all stood and gathered around the clerk’s desk—62 still holding One who did not wake. I explained everything and ended with, “We need to have everyone here in the lobby by no later than 10:00 in the morning—with their luggage.
68 quickly assimilated what I had said and had a plan. “Okay,” she said. “We need to explain this to all the adults and teenagers. We can explain it to the older children in the morning. For now, we need to get them in bed. How about if 62 takes the younger ones up while the rest of us explain the plan to the others.”
62 nodded in agreement and said, “We have their luggage packed and the teens can carry their own luggage and that of the smallest ones.”
66 giggled, “Nine has been figuring out how to leave with her suitcase on the bicycle.”
“Of course, she has,” I said with a laugh.
Everyone moved out into the room as if on a mission. I took one last look at the massive candelabra and headed to The Flame via the Narnia Passageway. My hope was that everyone would have a good night’s sleep and be ready for whatever tomorrow might bring.
My hopes were quickly dashed.