Work....Work...

Work....Work...(Vinni) Work....Work.... By Vinni
It was five o’clock. I was tired after a day’s hard work, dealing with people. I was trying to shut my computer off and ready to leave my office. Telephone started to ring. Who is calling me at this time? I was thinking to myself. I reluctantly picked up the phone. Since I started working in this hotel in Toronto, I have never left office on time. Why should it be different today?
Security Guard called me to inform that guest in Room 1345 is complaining of chest pain. I rushed to the thirteenth floor, leaving everything behind. Security guard was performing first aid on a man who was lying on the floor holding his chest in pain. I called for ambulance and it arrived within few minutes. I followed the ambulance to the hospital with the patient and finished the hospital formalities.
By the time I reached home it was nine o’clock. All three of my children waited for me, had their dinner and gone to bed. “What happened? why were you late?”, “have you forgotten that you promised to take the kids for a hockey game at five o’clock today?” asked my wife Lisa. Lisa was angry and upset. She was not in a state of mind to listen to my story. I can understand Lisa’s frustration as a result of dealing with our kids. she is the one who has to put up with them. I don’t spend much time with my three kids. It was not the first time I was late. It happened almost everyday.
I woke up early next morning thinking of the man at the hospital. I rushed to the hospital on my way to work. I realized that the children did not speak to me before I left.
I could not see the guest as he was in the operating room.
Children were angry that I did not take them for the hockey game, as I promised. What can I do? It was due to my work. Lisa may understand but will my children? Lisa will excuse me, will my children? What will they tell their friends when the friends ask them about the game?
I visited the hospital next day as well. I saw the guest and inquired about his health. He said that he feels well. He thanked me for taking care of him and for visiting him at hospital. I said “that was my duty”. I didn’t tell him that I failed in my duty to my family.
“I want you to do me a favour” he asked me. “My wife is arriving tonight from New York and she will stay in my room. I want you to remove some items from my room before she checks in”. “Please go to my room and call me from there and I will let you know what to do”. Can’t I do that to a long staying guest who pays two hundred dollars a day rent? I went direct to his room from the hospital.
Expensive Cuban cigars kept arranged in a beautiful box. One of the cigars, half smoked was lying on the ashtray. A bottle of expensive Shivas Regal whisky, a glass half full with whisky. Half bitten fried chicken legs in a plate. A playboy and ten to fifteen adult magazines, all of them spread all over the room. It didn’t take much time for me to realize what he wanted me to hide from his wife. I am not a doctor but I can guess the cause of his heart ailment.
Sports magazines, white sheets of typing papers and half typed article about Maple Leaf hockey team, all spread all over the writing table. His business cards showing he is a sports writer and TV reporter. I remember seeing him on TV programs. I put all items, he asked me to hide from his wife, in a cardboard box. I took them to my office and carefully saved them for him.
Four days have passed my children are still angry and avoiding me. How shameful it would have been after boasting to their friends about going for hockey match and not making it.
My telephone was ringing. The guest called me. He has been discharged from hospital. He wanted to see me. I asked him to come to my office. He was there in few minutes. I inquired about his health. He hugged me and thanked me for acting swiftly to save his life and visiting him at the hospital. I said “that was my duty sir”.
He thanked me for saving his marriage by hiding those things from his room before his wife’s arrival. I remembered the box in my office and wanted to bring the box to him. He said “I don’t need it anymore. I have given up all those vices now, just get rid of the box”
He was trying to give me an envelope and said “a small gift for you”. I said “I can’t accept it” He forcefully stuck the envelope in my shirt pocket and started to walk away saying “my wife is waiting for me and we are checking out now”. I didn’t even open the envelope to see what was in there. My thoughts were with my family. I solved the guest’s problems and saved his family life but I have to deal with my family problems. How am I going to do that? It’s between family and work, which one comes first!
I don’t know what happened to me that day but I left work at four o’clock. Lisa and children were staring at me surprisingly. They did not believe me at all!
I started to drink a cup of tea Lisa made me in the kitchen.
I heard my children screaming loud in joy and running towards us. They were jumping up and down happy. My children who didn’t speak to me for last few days, hugged me and kissed me repeatedly. They kept on thanking me again and again and apologizing for the way they behaved last few days.
I suppressed my tears and noticed my son had the envelope that guest stuck in my shirt pocket. I did not notice the envelope falling on the floor from my pocket, while I took off my shirt.
There were five expensive season tickets for Maple Leaf hockey games in that envelope!
They thought I bought the tickets for them. I decided to keep quiet.
As usual I was at work next morning but I have to make time to go for hockey games!.

Written by Vinni