The Missing Doormat
Fiction | This Did Not Happen To Me
“This is absurd!” My husband, Christopher’s voice had gone up a notch higher as he exclaimed. The receptionist kept repeating herself, “Sir, I’m sorry but we need to check your luggage again.”
I sighed as I leaned back on the couch while examining my well-manicured fingers. I pursed my lips and glanced sideways at the receptionist who was looking down while repeating the same words over and over again.
“Just let them do it, Chris.” I rolled my eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you that we didn’t take your rug or floor mat or whatever?!” I could tell that Chris was getting angry. I wasn’t sure if the receptionist alerted the security team but after a few minutes, a security guard came to check on the situation. She explained to him that the doormat was missing from our room when the housekeepers checked about twenty minutes ago. We had denied taking it and had even opened our luggage for her to check but there was no sign of it. Obviously. She wanted to charge the doormat to our bill but of course Chris would have none of it.
“Perhaps you want to check our car as well?” I sneered while rolling my eyes. I was still sitting on the couch as I couldn’t be bothered to deal with the fiasco. “Honey, don’t give them any ideas,” Chris said, testily. He turned to the receptionist again and said, “Look, lady. You’re out of your mind if you think that we would even touch the doormat with our hands. Goodness knows how much germs are on that thing. We didn’t even take your toiletries which we could have.”
“Sir, I have no choice but to put it on your bill.” Her voice was curt; her confidence was probably boosted by the presence of the security guard. She added quickly, “If you have any objections, we can lodge a police report.”
That’s it.
I got up from the couch, whipped out my alpine green iPhone 13 Pro and opened my Instagram app. I showed my Insta profile to the receptionist and said haughtily while looking at her squarely in the eye, “If… “ I paused for dramatic effect before continuing, “If you decide to pursue this, I’ll have to write a bad review about your hotel to my one hundred thousand followers. It’s up to you.” She opened her mouth, closed it again and it took her half a minute before she said, hesitatingly, “Let me call my manager.”
I sauntered back to the couch where I was sitting and plopped myself on the soft cushions.
I stiffled a yawn. This is getting so boring.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she told Chris that her manager had agreed to waive the amount from our bill. “Damn right, he should!” Chris yelled, indignantly. He handed over his credit card, punched in his pin code aggressively and snatched the card and receipt from the receptionist once the transaction was done.
“Let’s go.” He said as he walked past me briskly.
We didn’t talk much during the long drive home as Chris was still in a foul mood. An hour passed before I asked him to stop at the next rest area so that I could use the restroom.
Truthfully, my skin had started to itch from the doormat that was wrapped under my loose-fitting, babydoll styled summer dress. I practically ran all the way to the restroom once he pulled the car into the parking spot. In the restroom cubicle, I removed the dark brown doormat with the hotel logo and walked back to the car, hoping that Chris had gone for a smoke. He was still sitting in the car so I had no choice but to casually toss the doormat onto the back seat floor.
“What the hell is that?!” Christopher’s eyes were like saucers as he turned back to look at the doormat that we had been accused of taking. Alright, stealing.
I closed my eyes and muttered, “Just drive.”
Thank you for reading the story and here is the Simily version. If you enjoyed the story, I would appreciate if you could spend at least 5 seconds on the Simily link too so that I can earn a small amount for my effort (2 cents for each unique view).
Have you ever stolen or accidentally taken anything from hotel rooms? I know someone who once had overpriced beer from the minibar as it was already too late for him to go out and then he replaced them with store-bought ones before checking out. The design of the beer cans were slightly different but the hotel staff were none the wiser. Technically, that was not stealing, or was it?
P.S. Just thought I’d make it easier for everyone with the subtitle. Yes, I am aware that there is a publication whose title I have stolen, no, borrowed. Is “whose” the correct word here? 🤔
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