"Hello. I'd like a room." Billie said.
"Alright" an older man said, standing up and grabbing a large book. The Tumbleweed motel was not the classiest, by far. It was old. Very old. It was small and had maybe 20 rooms, all accessed by outside doors. It needed to be painted and the man working there was obviously the owner as well.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Lily. Lily Bell." She said. She was praying he wouldn't ask for her driver's license. He scribbled her name in the ledger book and wrote the date next to along with a room number. He looked up at her and noticed her guitar and small bag.
"Just passing through?" He asked.
"No. I am hoping to stay in town for awhile, just got a job at Paula's diner." She said.
"Paula? You know Paula?" He asked. Billie could see he had some kind of fondness for her.
"Yes. She's my friend." Billie lied a little.
He smiled and grabbed a different key and scribbled out the original room number.
"I'm going to give you the upstairs suite. I usually save it for people staying awhile." He said.
"What is the rate?" Billie asked.
"Thirty a night, a hundred fifty a week or four fifty a month." He said. She could tell he was giving her a discount. A big one. She pulled out her wallet and gave him three hundred dollars for two weeks. It was almost the last of her money.
"After I work for a week or two, I'll be able to pay you monthly." She said.
"Sounds good to me." He said, handing her the key. She smiled and thanked him.
"Room one. All the way to the end and up the stairs. The only upstairs room." He said, pointing over the far end of the motel. She nodded and grabbed her things. The motel was at the end of the where the main highway in town turns back into a two lane road. It was slightly secluded yet only a short walk to the diner and she appreciated that. She climbed the stairs and put the key in and opened the door. It smelled slightly musty and old. To her surprise, it was kind of cute. There was a queen bed against the far wall facing the front door of the main room with a vintage mid century dresser and a vanity with a large round mirror, stool and drawers. A small loveseat couch was against the center wall with a television on a small tv stand on the opposite wall. The colors were green and gold and antique Starburst Atomic lamps lit up the room when she flipped on the switch. It was actually cool as hell. A retro Cosmopolitan style table and vinyl, two-tone finished orange and green patterned chairs were in the smaller living area with a sideboard stand with a vintage Green & Gold Ice Bucket Caddy Set sitting on it. A large green and amber colored Moroccan lamp style chandelier hung over the table. The bathroom had pink tiles and a cool circular light fixture around the oval mirror above the sink. She put her things down and opened the sheer curtain covering a sliding glass door that lead to a balcony overlooking a vast desert and red rocky view. It was beautiful. She was in love and couldn't believe the incredible find. She walked back inside and saw there was a small mini fridge and a regular sized coffee pot by the door which made her smile. She found a pad of paper and pen in one of the drawers and made a list.
-coffee
-cream and sugar
-diet soda
-sandwich stuff
-chips and veggies
-good bourbon
She smiled and ripped the page and put it in her bag.
"Time to check out the town," she said, smiling.