Whisperland © 2011

by

David C. Newhouse

(1)  The Whisper Inn
    

Good morning Orlando ! It’s 7:00 AM and time for your traffic update.  I-4 is backed up from 414 south to downtown Orlando, use 441 as an alternate.  The East/West expressway is slow going, disabled car is off to the shoulder and rubber-necking is the reason. 

Elena turns and in nothing flat automatically positions her hand on top the radio's off button and stops it  from crowding her bedroom with jabber. Opening her eyes and stretching, her hands hit against the headboard, Elena smiles and tosses the down filled comforter to the empty side of her bed, places both feet on the floor,  now walking peers out from her upstairs window to see the new day. Overlooking her 50 acres of southern magnolias and silver maples surrounding Charm Lake. A tightly fit  road of cobblestones lead up to the Whisper Inn. A 20 room Tudor style manor with nicely trimmed ivy cascading down the front with all stained glass windows perfectly trimmed out gives this manor all the charm and elegance of a stately Inn.

Elena slides on her fluffy pink slippers and wraps herself firmly in a silk teal colored robe, walking over to her vanity she sits and brushes her long black and silvery gray hair,  with expertly trained fingers  quickly puts it in a bun grabs her mothers hair pin and then places it prominently in its place and walks out of the bedroom. Elena can hear her staff talking, sounds of the kitchen are prevalent pots and pans and she again smiles and thinks to herself how blessed she is to have this life. A life filled with unique challenges, Elena always loved a challenge.  In early school years, Elena was always way too shy.  Picked on by others, Elena soon emerged herself in so many school activities she went from fromp to pomp in 2 years and stayed that way to this day.

She walks into the kitchen and Heidi is cooking breakfast, Good morning Mum,  Heidi cheerfully squeaks. Coffee? Thank you Heidi, eggs this morning? No toast and jam will be all. Heidi have you seen Henry this morning?  Yes mum, he was here grabbed a danish and coffee and proceeded to his office, shall I ring him? Yes,  thank you,  ask Henry to join me this morning.  Henry Hollingsbee is Elena’s front desk manager and concierge to all Whisper Inn guests, he is a big man with rosy cheeks, and a perfect smile. Heidi lifts the receiver and buzzes Henry. Heidi squeaks out, Henry mum wants you in the kitchen right away.  Henry’s cheerful replys, on my way Heidi.  Henry quickly stands up forgetting his hot coffee knocking it over and spills everywhere . Oh no Henry says, gathering up the damage with his handkerchief, He saunters over to the mirror to straighten out his tie, tucks in his shirt and quickly makes his way down to the kitchen.

Elena received a overnight letter last week and has been pondering this request for a group of 3 couples who travel together every year and now choose to stay at the Whisper Inn for fourteen nights. Good morning Henry, morning mum, how can I be of service? As he stares at the letter in her hand. Henry how is our availability over Thanksgiving? Are we full? Yes mum we are, oversold as usual. Henry I have a feeling about this group, we should have them here with us. I cannot get it out of my mind, I feel drawn to them.  Something is up Henry.  Understand mum, however we are over sold. Henry I am thinking about opening the east wing. What? Mum you cannot do that Mum, Henry is shaken by this request, and fear in his voice, Shaylee locked that side of the Inn and forbids us to open it again mum. We lost 2 people remember? Do not remind me of matters that I am completely aware of. Henry please advise the staff to get the east wing ready, oh and Henry reply to this letter, welcoming them for Thanksgiving. 

Henry says begrudgingly, yes Mum. Henry slowly walks back to his office and leans against the door,  his mind racing with thoughts, realizing this is going to be a mess and a tremendous amout of work, he does not understand. Why is she doing this? What happens if Shaylee finds out? Finally collapsing in his chair Henry see’s soiled coffee stains all over his desk. Can this day get any worse he thought? Henry picks up the phone and buzzes Skeeter, in charge of housekeeping. No answer, Henry leaves a message hangs up the phone and starts to have a panic attack. Looking through his desk for some pills to take the edge off, when Elena comes into his office and says, are you alright Henry? Awe yes Mum I am fine, opening and closing drawers. Elena picks up his pills off his credenza, this what you are looking for? Yes Mum thank you. Listen Henry, you and I go back along way, and you know I have a reason for this. I know Mum, I am scared. That is ridiculous, this is our chance to find those two guests lost in Whisperland and help this group. What about Shaylee Mum?  Shaylee is my sister I will take care of Shaylee, now chin up and let’s get going. Yes Mum right away. Henry walks out of his office, two pills in his vest pocket. He moves quickly and his breathing is fast, cheeks red as two cherry tomatoes and is determined to locate Skeeter. 

Come on Skeeter where are you? Skeeter has a reputation for napping everywhere. This is not the time to be missing Henry thought to himself. He peeks his head into the laundry room and announces anyone seen Skeeter? Hi Henry, says one of the girls; yes Skeeter is down by the lake. The lake?  yells Henry, what is Skeeter doing at the lake? Henry proceeds to the service entrance jumps into a golf cart and darts down the cobblestone road bouncing up and down thinking to himself, can this day get any worse? He see’s Skeeter laying down feet facing the lake on his back gazing up to the clouds. Henry yells SKEETER….. no response….SKEETER……Henry gets off the golf cart walks over to Skeeter and stands over him with a foot on each side of his legs and yells SKEETER What are you doing? Skeeter jumps up and racks Henry right in the groin. Henry collapses and rolls on the ground mumbling why me? Why me? Skeeter now scared slowly walks over to Henry see’s him rolling on the grass in a ball and says hi Henry;  um I am sorry…are you ok?  Henry says come here Skeeter in an aggravated threatening voice, come closer, ah I am close Henry says Skeeter. No come closer, Skeeter slowly ever so slowly moves closer to Henry…Um hi Henry…Come here Skeeter closer this time Henry's voice is more in pain than angry…. Skeeter slowly gets on his knees and crawls closer to Henry and says here I am. Henry grabs him around his neck and says you ding dong, I’m going to kill you, Skeeter gasps for air trying to pry Henry’s hands off his neck. Finally letting go Henry and Skeeter are now both on their back starring up at the clouds breathing heavy like they just ran a marathon. Skeeter lets out a peep, what’s up Henry? Henry now trying to get to his knees says, Mum wants us to open up the east wing for a group for Thanksgiving and you have to get your staff organized. What? The east wing? Shaylee warned all of us. Mum said not to worry, she will handle Shaylee. Now help me up! Both of them stumble up helping each other to the golf cart, as they drive up the cobblestone road to the Whisper Inn they see Elena in the window arms crossed staring at them. They stare at each other and press the accelerator petal down on the golf cart hoping to go faster.

Skeeter starts talking about what happened years ago at the Inn. We asked all the guests not to get close to the murals. Stating they are rare pieces of art and do not touch. Mr & Mrs. Vale had marital problems and spent way to much of their vacation at the Inn, they should have gone fishing, hiking, bbq anything but fighting in their suite. That is why mum got involved, she wanted to help them too. The east wing is connected to Whisperland. People are all attracted to different murals. depending on emotions. If you have an issue with love you may be attracted to the wall to floor mural of Whisper Cove and The Lovers. A scene that draws you in with curiosity and clarity that will come to you in your dreams. Guests wake with understanding of their partners feelings about their particular issue. It's only temporary though, it's a kind of wake-up call to the real heart of someone's pain. The problem is, Mr. & Mrs. Vale were obsessed with the mural and actually crossed over into Whisperland and are now missing. We searched what seemed like years for them. Shaylee queen of the forest in Whisperland has banned us all from Whisperland as punishment for losing the Vale couple. Henry tells Skeeter ; Mum wants us to make good on a mistake and find the Vale's. Skeeter askes, Henry what brought all this up? Mum received that letter I told you about ding dong,  to join us for Thanksgiving for two weeks. Two weeks Skeeter squelched? Yes Henry said, We must paint over the murals and get all the rooms ready we only have two months to get ready. The east wing has been closed for over 13 years, Skeeter mumbled to himself on his way back to his office. Whisper Inn was a 20 room estate back then, now only 7 rooms, will we be back to 20 again? After all this, Skeeter keeps wondering what will happen?, then he realizes he does not even know where the room keys are for the east wing.

*Keep checking back David Newhouse will share more soon.*