Vertical paneling hangs on all four walls; it is a sage green on the bottom and a vanilla cream on the top, separated by a sage green chair rail. The window treatments are all white; white framing, vintage white lace curtains and a faded white pull shade.
The light treatment; floor lamps and lamps mounted to the walls are all brass with a cream colored lamp shade; they use the new energy efficient light bulbs in each one. You must turn them on by hand; the light switch on the wall seems quite useless.
How long does it take for white to fade? Brass to rust? Who left the grease smudge on the vanilla cream wall?
The TV hangs from a black metal rack attached to the wall about four feet above the floor. Rug covers the floor, commercial grade brown rug. One table, one dresser and one night stand are placed around the room; they have a dark, laminated wood grain finish.
Two double beds take up the most space, resting on simple metal frames; white sheets and hospital corners. Rose covered bedspreads draped over each.
How many bear feet have walked across this brown rug? How many bibles are sold for night stand drawers? Who put the cigarette burn in the bedspread?
A white squared drop ceiling hangs above with a pattern like an ant farm. One small mini fridge rests beside the doorway to the bathroom and a silver coat rack is mounted to the wall behind the only door out.
One mirror hangs from the wall next to the TV and two pictures of mountains hang above the beds. The window shows a view of the parking area and a place outside for people who smoke.
How much weight does it take to break three coat hangers? How many people steal the batteries to the remotes in their motel rooms? Who received seven years of bad luck for breaking the mirror?
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Usually I dislike pieces that withhold information but in this particular case, I'm half won over. I really can't decide if this approach works for me--the hiding of the word 'motel' till the next-to-last sentence. Should a piece be a treasure hunt offering clues? Maybe. An argument could be made. I'm not saying no.
ReplyDeleteWhat I know I like for sure is the way you contrast the ideal and the real: light treatment vs busted light; fittings and furniture vs cigarette burns, bare feet, etc; mountain view on the walls vs actual view out the window.
And that very potent last graf is slick as anything.