“As I mentioned before, this last room is our infirmary. Grant is our doctor on-site, he’s thorough and a bit abrasive but he means well and is well-educated. We are abundantly stocked for most any emergency since many of the individuals who arrive here are on retreat to heal from injuries or illness. This next room is a lounge. Most of the staff meets here in the morning for coffee and to discuss the daily itinerary and needs for the hotel. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergens please let Janine know so she can accommodate,” Lisle requested as they entered the next room.

The lounge was decorated with several small tables and comfortable chairs surrounding a fireplace in the center of the room with glass panels all around it.  Both of the walls opposite the corridor entrances were nothing but floor to ceiling windows that looked out either across the tundra and the interior of the hotel.

Board games and decks of playing cards sat out on the tables. Favorite mugs that held rings of tea and coffee stains were placed near novels, sweaters and throw blankets were bundled up in armchairs. The space seemed to be well-utilized by the staff.

“This is always open, as you can see, so feel free to use it if you need a space to relax. The only time these doors close is if there’s an emergency break in the windows. The rooms will seal off if it notices a severe temperature drop. Luckily, that’s never happened. You’ll often find us lounging about here in our ‘off-hours’,” Lisle noted.

“Why the quotations?” Ellis inquired.

“We aren’t ever truly off-duty, of course. We’re a small staff and things are always in flux, but we let the guests know and remind each other that we are merely human and do require time to relax, so we take advantage when we can. On Tuesdays we have a movie night that everyone, guests and staff alike, are encouraged to participate in. On Thursdays we play poker and other card games. Oh, and we have a book club! We meet on Monday mornings for those who are interested.”

“Sounds… intimate.”

“We are a family, Ellis. We are roommates, coworkers, confidants, and so much more.”

Ellis smiled a bit, thankful that Lisle had his back turned. He liked the sound of this place more and more with each passing moment. He felt as though, despite the long flights and all that led up to it, this was a good call for him to make.

The duo continued walking, bypassing a door labeled ‘Stock’ that was closed as they continued their forward momentum.

Lisle pointed at the closed room, “This is where all of those crates you saw earlier were brought and will eventually be unloaded when we have some free time. It has the back stock of all of our necessities, sans our food, and there’s a door on the interior that leads to our store which is… here!”

He pushed open another glass door and leaned out of the way for Ellis to look inside. The young man peered into the room. It looked like a convenience kiosk one would find at an airport but it held the aesthetic of an old fashioned department store. A place seen in old films, where the rich and elite would go to buy Christmas gifts and paltry things. It was filled with all sorts of necessities that one may need on a trip. Things forgotten, things misplaced, things needed. Bottles of cologne and aftershave sat near various styles of razors. Shampoo and conditioner bottles were on display, all expensive and salon quality, the kind that would cost you several hundred dollars just to indulge in a brief wash. Makeup containers of various shades and skin tones sat on a nice display case. A refrigerated shelf was placed against the far wall with bottles of liquor and few pre-made sandwiches with December 31st sprawled out in fancy handwriting. Glass containers with diced fruits and pressed juices, all with rich and tantalizing shades to their colors, sat at the forefront to tempt passersby.

Lisle set his hands behind his back, “Anything one may need while here is available. I run the shop, keep up the inventory, restock the shelves, et cetera. The food is handled by Janine, she wakes up bright and early to make sandwiches, cut up fruits, and make smoothies for us. The stock is low today since our only guest is leaving but Janine also knows we’ll be busy flipping the hotel for tomorrow and may need to grab a quick bite so she prepared some options. If you ever decide you need anything and I’m not here, you’ll take it to the counter and scan the tag and your thumbprint and it will tack it onto your purchase history. Please eat as much as you’d like, Ellis. We have plenty and I’d rather it get used than go to waste.”

“Does it come out of the end of season pay?” Ellis inquired.

“No, the only time we deduct from your end of season pay is if we need to order something and have Roland bring it in. We simply keep track so we can know where our stock is going, things that are selling, whether or not we need to update what we purchase. I actually could use some help here so, if you’d be interested in learning how this works, I’d love to bring you on as an apprentice for this. It doesn’t get as much traffic as a real store, obviously, but during our busy seasons it can get hectic.”

“When are the busy seasons?”

“March is always dreadfully busy since it’s when nightfall arrives. That’s when the poets and dreamers come to get inspired. We’re also quite busy during our July-August season, parents needing a rest will send their kids off to summer camps and come to unwind. We do often have families stay during that time, too, and many times we’ll get teenagers who need a respite since they won’t miss much school during those month. During those seasons usually all fifteen of our guest rooms are full. One of our dark seasons a few years ago had such a demand we actually had guests in our empty staff rooms and some sleeping in our lounge! It was a mess.”

“And you said we only have four coming tomorrow?”

“Yes. Two regulars, a newcomer, and the daughter of a regular who recently went through a hardship and needs a safe place to rehab. Are you ready for lunch?”

“Who… who all will I be meeting?”

Lisle smiled and closed the store door. He continued walking.

“You met Masoud earlier. I’ve mentioned Luisa, head of housekeeping, and Grant, our physician. Janine is our head chef, Ove is our janitor. That’s it.”

Ellis nodded to let him know he heard and understood. He picked up his pace to follow the long strides of his boss and continued to try and memorize the layout of the hotel. As they wandered around the loop, they bypassed the laundry room and another door with several warning signs on it. The label on the exterior noted it was the pantry and freezer entrance, which sat close to the kitchen door. Ellis barely had time to peek through the small, circular window before he was hurried by Lisle.

They finally entered the restaurant and Ellis felt himself stiffen at the sight of the group sitting around one of the tables. They all stopped conversing and turned to face the incoming duo. Lisle looked over his shoulder and smiled softly, he whispered that it was alright, and nodded his head ever so slightly to let him know he could approach.

“Good afternoon, everyone. I’d like to introduce you to Ellis Hughes. He’s still a bit groggy from the flight so please don’t badger him with questions, you all know how hellish that trip can be,” Lisle reminded as he took a seat at the table. He pulled the last chair free and patted it to let Ellis know he could come sit close.

“H-hello,” Ellis said quietly.

“Hi, kiddo! I’m Luisa, and I’m head of housekeeping. You and I will be working together from now on. You let me know if you need anything, okay?” Luisa said with a smile as they pointed to the pin on their collar that read They/Them.

They were short in stature but their arms were nearly the size of his head.  Every muscle on their body seemed to be crafted from marble, perfectly sculpted and maintained with an air of pride.  They had long black hair that was wound up tight atop their skull, with dangling earrings of gold that framed their heart-shaped face.  Their dark brown eyes were lined with wrinkles brought on from a lifetime of laughter.

“Luisa is our resident fixer, anything that’s broken or needs adjusting, they can handle it in the blink of an eye. They’re also in charge of the housekeeping, flipping the rooms, the laundry, making sure everyone has fresh towels. They’re also our mixologist, so you’ll often find them at The Pink Hare in the evenings,” Lisle explained as he extended his hand to the next individual.

“I’m Janine, I act as the head chef here at Lonely Planet. Please let me know if you have any dietary restrictions or favorite foods,” Janine noted plainly, obviously absorbed in the task of setting the table for lunch.

Ellis recognized the accent that slipped from her lips after spending time with an exchange student from Jamaica in primary school. It was warm and soulful. Her hair was braided and held back with an intricately designed bandana that matched the decor and color scheme of the hotel. She was tall, with an hourglass figure that was covered by a long cardigan. She moved with the motions of a seasoned chef, handling several plates and dishes at once without a shred of hesitation or discomfort.

“You met Masoud earlier and, I assume, that Ove is consumed with some project no one asked him to tackle?” Lisle inquired.

“Yes, he decided to tend to the garden while we have some time between guests. You know how fickle he is,” Masoud replied with a hearty laugh.

“Ove is a clean freak who loves to go over everything with a fine toothed comb. He’s incredibly thorough and not much of a talker, but he keeps this place spotless on a consistent basis. He also tends to our botanical garden and the plants around the hotel. You’ll see him racing about at all hours of the day,” Lisle explained as he turned his head to the man at his side. “And this rude individual who refuses to close his ledger and engage, is Grant.”

The man sitting to Lisle’s right did not move in the slightest at the provocation from the hotel owner. He was broad shouldered, with a short beard of deep chestnut-hues over his face. He continued to mark his ledger up and refused to be a part of the moment.

“I told you, he’s a right prude,” Lisle chided as he took an outstretched bowl of soup from Janine.

“I’m behind, Lisle. Mrs. Olmsted is a complex guest with an excess of things for me to notate, and I would be remiss if I did not keep her documentation updated in case an issue arises. I’d rather not invoke the wrath of her children by not having proper notes,” the man responded with a thick Southern American accent, Cajun in origin. He finally turned his dark brown eyes to the newcomer, “Grantham Fontenot, Doctor Grantham Fontenot. I’ll expect you in my office at 1400 sharp, Mr. Hughes.”

Ellis nodded hastily and turned his eyes down.

“Do you need anything, Ellis? Your box was quite light,” Masoud noted as he picked up his tea.

“Masoud has you covered for furniture, and I can get you linens and pillows and the like, just let us know and we’ll be happy to bring it along!” Luisa said with a chipper tone.

“I don’t know, yet. I’m sorry,” Ellis apologized.

“It’s still early, Ellis hardly had any time to sleep let alone settle in. Let the poor boy breathe and enjoy this fine chowder while we talk needs for the day, shall we? Masoud, Luisa, if either of you see Ove please let him know what we talk about,” Lisle requested.

They both nodded and turned their attention to the meal. Everyone grabbed their bowls and slices of freshly milled bread. Notebooks were pulled out of pockets and laid to the side as the team readied themselves for the meeting. Ellis sheepishly took the food that was offered and set it in front of him. He swallowed hard, hands shaking uncomfortably.

“You aren’t allergic to shellfish, are you?” Lisle asked.

Ellis looked at him for a moment and went to shake his head. Lisle picked up the bowl and moved it out of the way. Janine quickly took it and set it on the cart. She brought out a helping of vegetable soup instead.

“You needn’t—no—you shouldn’t eat it if it will harm you, Ellis,” Lisle assured.

“Please do not induce anaphylactic shock on day one, Mr. Hughes, I don’t take kindly to troublemakers,” Grant chided, eyes still not lifting from his notebook.

Lisle shot him an unenthused look before he addressed his new employee. Ellis’s face turned red, he looked to be on the verge of tears.

“Ellis, you’re in a new environment and it’s overwhelming, we all understand. You needn’t oblige any request or offering that makes you uncomfortable or harms you. It’s why we ask, it’s why Grant does medical checks. Take a deep breath and relax,” Lisle assured, tone calm and quiet.

Ellis nodded and took the other soup. He felt embarrassed. This was not how he wanted his first impressions to go, though it did not surprise him. He felt his heart race and his hand tremble. He took a deep breath and tried to center himself.

“I, too, am allergic. I always request an excess of potatoes in the vegetable soup, it’s good,” Masoud stated with a smile, one filled with understanding.

Ellis lifted his eyes. He searched the strong man’s face for a moment and finally complied. He scooped up a spoonful of the soup and took a bite. It was delicious and his expression showed it. Everyone, once they knew he was alright, continued about their routine to try and alleviate the stress of the situation.

It was apparent to the staff that the new hire was uncertain and scared. The hotel owner could see the cogs turning behind his employees’ eyes. They were all contemplating ways to help, to make this an enjoyable experience for him. He was so proud of his staff, his family.

Lisle dabbed his lips with his napkin, “Luisa, would you mind showing Ellis how to turn over a room, please? I know Frances usually keeps her suite clean but it would be a good opportunity to show him how to properly make the beds, fold the towels, and the fine details. After that, if you could show him how to use those temperamental washing machines that would be wonderful. That should be enough time until Grant is ready to talk to him about his medical details. After dinner, Masoud, if you would show him where the luggage carts are and the stockroom so he can help with guest arrivals in the morning, I think that would be plenty for today. We can let him unpack and rest after that.”

“I’d be happy to!” Luisa replied.

“Of course,” Masoud confirmed.

“Wonderful. Now, let’s get the rest of our schedules down and enjoy this lovely meal, shall we?” Lisle inquired.

His staff nodded in understanding.