Peggy, December, the previous year – the evening of day two
Standing outside the motel, Peggy peers through the fogged up window, and watches as Jake registers for the room. The temperature has dropped even further in the last hour, and she shivers against the cold, wondering whether she’s made a smart decision. But, when Jake comes out of the office wearing a broad smile, and brandishing a shiny room key, she is convinced she has.
“I got us a room around the back,” he says. “That way, nobody’ll bother us.”
“Was it expensive?” asks Peggy. “I promise I’ll pay you back. Soon as I get home.”
“Look, I told you, it’s no big deal. Besides, if I hadn’t met you, I’d be stuck here all alone. Or, maybe I wouldn’t have gotten this far. A lot of people won’t even pick up a guy hitchhiking by himself. That’s a fact.” Then, he adds, with a wink, “But, a guy with a good looking girl like you—well, then it’s a piece of cake!”
“Oh, you’re just saying that to make me feel better about not having any money.”
“No,” he says, “I mean it. I’d still be stuck at the Red Apple Rest. Anyway, that’s it. The room’s on me.”
“Well, I really appreciate it.”
The two trudge through the accumulating snow to the end of the building, and around the back to their room. Jake inserts the key into the lock, twists it, and unlocks the door, opening it with a flourish. “Ta da!”
Peggy gasps. The room is not at all what she had expected. In her mind’s eye, she had pictured a dark, cramped cubicle, crowded with cheap, second-hand furniture, and indoor-outdoor carpeting. But, instead, when Jake flips the light switch, they are instantly transported back to the ‘60s, to a time of ruffles and lace, heavy drapes, and “shag” carpeting. “Oh my God; it’s beautiful!”
Jake’s opinion differs considerably. “Jeez-us,” he says, his voice barely audible. “What the hell—”
“Don’t you just love it?” says Peggy.
“I don’t think so,” replies Jake. But then, he quickly adds, “But if you like it, that’s all that counts.” He flops down on the bed, and is surprised at how firm it is. “Hmmm…maybe it’s not so bad after all.”
The walls are covered in heavy, textured paper, with embossed images of pink flowers scattered tastefully on its light green surface. The drapes are rose colored, contrasting nicely with the walls. The baseboards and all the wood trim have been recently painted in an off-white satin finish that gives them an elegant appearance, consistent with the overall scheme of the room. There’s a small writing table and chair in the far right hand corner, and an overstuffed recliner in the opposing corner. A medium-sized triple dresser sits across from the foot of the bed, and on it a modest flat screen TV. Jake walks over and picks up the remote control. “I hope they’ve got some decent channels,” he says. “Hey! It’s Monday. Maybe there’s a football game on.”
“You men,” says Peggy. “Is that all you ever think about? Sports?”
“Wel-l-l-l,” he says, with a slick grin. “There are other things we guys think about. What exactly did you have in mind?”
“Not what you think,” says Peggy. “I was thinking about TV shows. Maybe we could watch a movie.”
“Hey!” exclaims Jake. “I bet you can get those kinds of movies…I mean, you know; if you wanted to. Not that you’d want to. I mean, you wouldn’t, would you?”
“I’m really hungry,” says Peggy, changing the subject. “Do you think there’s any food around here? Maybe they have a vending machine or something.”
Jake is embarrassed. He realizes that he hardly knows this girl. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll go find out. You wait here. I’ll be right back.” He slips on his jacket, and opens the door. A gust of wind blows a cloud of snow into his face. “Shit!” he exclaims. “Why me?”
Inside, Peggy is exploring the bathroom, which, like the bedroom area, is impeccably decorated in the style of the ‘60s. She decides to brush her teeth, and while she’s at it, maybe change out of her clothes. Might as well make the best of it, she thinks.
Outside, Jake is tramping back and forth in the snow, muttering to himself. A part of him knows he should just go find some food, while the other part of him is answering to a different kind of hunger.
The wind continues to howl, and the snow continues to fall.