The Room | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Room | Previous Challenge Entry
By Christian Reinboth
09/18/05
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

As I entered the cold, dark room, turned up the lights and threw my suitcase carelessly on the bed, I started wondering how many nights I had slept in this motel during the last six years. I always stayed in the same room, upper floor, the single window looking onto the street below.

Years ago, during my fist night in this room, I felt miserable, always having to desert my family working as a salesperson. I remember waking up at 3 o'clock in the night, pacing through the room after realizing I could not get back to sleep again. Out of boredom, I opened the drawer of the nightstand and was surprised to find a little black bible. I took it out, leafed through it and started reading. When my alarm clock went off, I realized I had read for almost four hours straight without even noticing, which struck me as odd. After all, during my years in Sunday school, no matter how hard I tried, I could barely focus for half an hour before I put the book down again.

And yet, here I was, having read for hours without even noticing. Being a rational person, I was quick to explain this experience with the long absence from my family. I mean...who in his right mind reads in those motel Bibles anyway? As soon as I started pondering that question, I knew I had to find an answer, so before putting the Bible back into the nightstand, I folded an 10$ bill and slipped it between the first pages, together with a note that read: „To anyone spending the night reading this like I did“. As I left the room, I was certain, that it would take at least three or four months for someone to find the money.

Next time I checked in, I successfully tried to get the same room again. After I had settled, I opened up the drawer and took out the little black book. Barely a month had passed, and surely, the bill was still safely tucked away between the pages. As the months and years went by, whenever I came to the motel, I could not help but bet with myself, and I never got disappointed, because book and bill were always waiting for me.

So, why should I expect anything different today? And – sure enough – 10$ floated out of the Bible as I turned the book around. Six years – what a fool I had been that night, thinking anyone would ever notice. As I put the bill back, I saw that my piece of paper had also fallen out. When I picked it up, my eyes fell on a line that read: „Thank you and God bless all of you“, a name and a date written below. My hands trembled as I unfolded the paper. More than a dozen people had written blessings, prayers and greetings. The paper slipped from my hands, floating on the bed and I felt a huge lump in my throat.

I quickly grabbed my coat, left the room and headed downstairs. I just had to leave this room and get some fresh air, anything but staying here, thinking about my discovery.

„Are you all right?“ It was the receptionist, or rather her daughter, taking over the evening shift. I assured her, I was okay, although my hoarse voice probably told her, that I was not. My hand had just touched the doorknob, when I heard her saying: „You are the one, who wrote the first note, aren't you?“. I turned around instantly, with a questioning look in my eyes. „You know, my mom has always been wondering who wrote the first one, because it had no name under it. But with you always taking the same room...oh, in case you should wonder about the ones that get replaced, don't worry, my mom keeps them around here somewhere.“

Replaced? Suddenly it hit me: my own text had not been on the page I found! „Ah, here they are“ she interrupted my thought, putting a small stack of pages on the reception desk, smiling. „See...nothing ever gets lost here.” I stared blankly at the desk. The paper on top read: „To anyone spending the night...“ in my handwriting. „Now, you look like you have never seen them“ she laughed.

Her laughter faded when hot tears started streaming down my face.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.