Motel

The plastic family dropped me off as their path began to veer south, and I found myself outside of a small town in Colorado. After so many nights of hitchhiking and sleeping on buses, I decided to splurge and spend a night at a motel. I got to my room and was immediately filled with an urge to clean. The walls looked like an avocado left in the air for too long, and the brown shaggy carpet left me to wonder what evidence of past guests was trapped inside.

I sat gingerly on the edge of one of the beds, half expecting it to collapse. Once it proved I could trust it, I fell to rest on my back. I let my eyes drift closed and challenged myself to listen to the silence, to hear what couldn’t be heard. This lasted only a few moments before I heard the most abrasive voice singing songs from The Sound of Music.

Normally, I would have just waited it out. But something about the fluorescent bathroom lights and stocked mini fridge gave me the gumption to check it out.

I pulled my jacket tight and followed the voices to a field across the parking lot. One woman with dark hair and striking features stood with her arms crossed and wide gait silently judging the others. The others consisted of two men red in the face who seemed to be singing and spinning themselves drunk.

It took them all a few moments to recognize my presence but took even a few moments longer for me to register what I was watching. They had come to a stop and were watching me with heads askew, and I stared back.

“Hi,” I said, trying to be casual.

“Are we bothering you?” One of the men asked, a drip of sweat sneaking down his face.

“No, no. I- I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing out on Julie Andrews in the flesh.” With this comment, the woman gave out a loud and grating laugh, and I appreciated how genuine it seemed.

“Join us if you’d like!” The other man exclaimed as he began to spin again.

He started the motion, and the other followed suit by beginning his rendition of "Edelweiss".

I wandered over the woman and felt small in her presence although I was much taller.

“Are you with them?” I asked, trying to not sound nosy.

She gave another startling laugh and seemed to contemplate before answering no.

My protective instincts began to tingle, and I wanted to rescue this stranger of a woman from the scenario I was watching to make up for the times I hadn’t done anything.

I offered the open bed in my room and to get her to town safely. She shook her head and let out a knowing chuckle.

“I chose to be here, I am quite enjoying myself. But thank you for the offer. I am sure you could join us if you'd like!”

Were her motives to be here for the company, for sex, for a safe place to stay, or something else? I couldn’t tell.

I admired her bravery but wanted to shake her for how naive she seemed in the moment.

As the two men broke into “You are 16 Going on 17,” I knew my time with them had come to a close.

I made sure the woman knew my room number and walked back across the parking lot alone.