Hotel from Hell

The California Hotel 9:30 am
The Penthouse suite oozed affluence. The living quarters consisted of a soft green velvet two-seater sofa and two matching sofa chairs. The suite terrace opened out on the hotel's pool and outdoor bar area. In the corner is a circular table with leather chairs. On the table lies dirty plates, cutlery, and the final remnants of a plentiful breakfast.

Maribel Butterbelly groans and sighs in defeat at her inability to zip up her elegant red party dress. She gasps in fear that the zip line may not be able to stretch and cover her corpulent frame. Aged sixty-five, standing at five foot seven in height she weighs three hundred and twenty-five pounds. She is an extremely wealthy businesswoman running her Financial & Property services business. She is unafraid to show off her opulence with a diamond-encrusted thick white pearl necklace and gold earrings.

"Jennifer Darling", her voice well-defined with a tone of snobbery. Jennifer her thirty-five-year-old daughter at five foot three matched her mother in girth weighing in at three hundred pounds. She like her mother is a successful businesswoman and is part owner of her mother's business. Jennifer is dressed in a Navy formal dress with a matching navy blazer fastened across the upper torso concealing her extensive stomach. Like her mother leads quite a sedentary lifestyle working long hours and enjoying fine cuisine. Both are physically unfit, resulting in them huffing and puffing with the slightest exertion. She is carefully applying mascara behind her thick black-rimmed glasses, she wears practically twenty-four-seven. The strong makeup mirror light shines into the think lenses making it all the harder.

"Jennifer Darling", her mother calls again. With her mascara brush, Jennifer slowly dabs it around her right eye afraid to strike it with off her glasses or get the brush into her eye "One second Mum, this makeup light is absolutely awful".

"Well, that's three-star hotels for you! What were they thinking? We should have taken the Mayfair" states Maribel with disgust.
Jennifer carefully placed her mascara brush into its bottle "Come on Mum, this is the hotel's premium penthouse suite, we agreed to try it.

"Now Darling Can you zip me up, you pay a fortune for a dress and they put a zip of inferior quality in."
Jennifer groans as she rises from the makeup desk, She slowly waddles towards her mother "Mum, did you not try it on before you left, I think this will be a tight fit!"

Maribel throws her arms in the air in annoyance "Of course it will fit! It's shrunk! "

Jennifer struggles to close the zip chains to begin zipping, the lack of strength in her arms even shocking her "Bare with me mum, I'm very weak".

"Take your time darling, I'm in no rush to meet these Yokels".

Jennifer's breathing labors with the physical exertion of closing and pushing the zipper "Mum let's not be snobby".

Maribel grimaces as the dress tightens in on her, "The way they treated us, I was the fat uppity girl from the city, never gave me a chance".

Jennifer groans as she struggles to align the zip chains "Ah mum, they are simpl"

"Don't give me that simple country folk nonsense. You can be simple and kind. The first thing that crusty old grandfather of yours said to me when he saw me you don't look like you've ever done a day of manual labor. I put him back in his box. I told him I don't, I do brain labor and get more money for it".

Maribel felt her temperature rise as she thought back to the horrible treatment she received. She was never accepted.

The Church 1 pm
The Satnav showed one mile and a half to go. Jennifer sat behind the wheel of her silver one-year-old Mercedes-Benz. The air-conditioning was on full blast, and a pair of prescription sunglasses protected her eyes from the glaring sun.

Both feel more uneasy as each mile passes. The previous three completed in silence, not even business talk distracted them.
"Is your father coming with his latest toothpick?" asks Maribel as she stares out at the California countryside.

"I asked but he ignored my question"

Maribel sighs "It means he is not!!. Playing his little game. When he is going he always says yes straight away to try and antagonize me, hoping that I will be dreading seeing him with his latest little fling."

"Only one humiliated is himself," says Jennifer as she gives a concerned glance at her mother.

Maribel finds her body confined within the tight-fitting dress "Before you were born, he told me that I was responsible for allllllllllllllllll the cheating, that I needed to lose weight!".

Jennifer feels her eyes swell up "Oh mum that's horrible I would have left him then".

Maribel shakes her head and tightens her lips "Oh I wanted to, so to spite him I worked hard, dieted hard, ran hard. Never was I fitter.".

Jennifer wipes tears from her eyes. Her mother never told her this before.

Maribel looks across at Jennifer and smiles "The only good thing out of our marriage was you, Darling".

Jennifer feels a lump in her throat and her eyes begin to water, she never understood how her mother fell for him, a constant cheater.

Maribel stares straight ahead as old wounds begin to resurface "Darling love is blind. I was good in the sack, still am of course, I think that surprised him but I was never good enough for the weasel. Of course they blame me for the divorce".

Tears drop from Jennifer's eyes. His fling with her German Aupair, Martha brought on the divorce. She was eight and loved Martha, a twenty-year-old German student. Occasionally she would think of Martha and wonder what she was doing and if she regretted the hurt she caused.

Maribel hands Jennifer some tissue "I knew something was going on with Martha!!. She went awkward around me. I came home about seven after a business meeting, she was in a panic unable to find her denim shorts. I read you your bedtime story, went into our bedroom, noticed the bed poorly made went to fix and there in the bed were the shorts".

She stops momentarily to gather her thoughts unsure about opening the wounds more "So I put them in the bag, went down to the kitchen placed it on the table, opened the freezer, and ate a tub of ice cream. I don't know how many tubs of ice-cream I've eaten because of that man!".

They both remained silent briefly before Maribel continued.

"I told him, I didn't want anything from him apart from monthly allowance for you and he also had to buy me out of the mortgage. I agreed on visitation rights and that I would bring you to visit his grandparent's farm as I didn't trust them with you. They were always calling you a spoilt child. YOU THINK SHE IS SPOILT!! No!! Unfortunately more accurate given how your son cheats on his family I would say".

Maribel clasps her hands together trying to stop them from shaking. "The idiot of course didn't have the money to buy me out so they had to sell land off the farm. Of course that didn't go down well. The next time I brought you to see the farm. Your grandmother came thundering out of the house to the car. I had the door only half open when she started firing abuse and profanities at me. Told me it was all my fault, all the affairs were my fault, told me they call me MarsBarIbel behind my back. That cut me in too!!".

She pauses again as the scene replays in her mind "So I closed my car door rolled down the window and told the witch that the apple never falls far from the tree. I drove out with you were crying in the back and I crying in the front!!".

Jennifer bit her lower lip, "I'm sorry all those times I made you bring me back there."

Maribel smiles "Darling, I wasn't going to let those backward farts say I was denying them their granddaughter ".

They see the whitewashed wooden church ahead "Mum, let's be positive, it might be that they were unsure what to do and left our invite late. Having a relationship with these people might be good for business too, sell them our financial products and perhaps purchase some of their land for real estate!".

"Ha" laughs Maribel sarcastically, "More like our invite is a second thought. As for doing business, the only things they have is putrid moonshine and stacks of beef jerky".

They slowly drive into the Church Cark Park comprising mainly of pick-up trucks of various ages and models.

Outside the church a crowd is gathered chatting however they turn and stare at the opulent Mercedes-Benz as it searches the car park for a spot near the entrance. Both can feel the stares as they try and find a spot "Mum, we're going to have to go down a bit unfortunately"

She finds a spot and just as she does, a lady of average weight with short black hair in a White and Blue dress passes her walking three children ranging from fourteen to seven. The lady stares in at them, a good long stare. Fear suffocates Jennifer, it was Hester.
The last time she saw Hester was 19 years ago she was sixteen, and it was the day after her grandmother's funeral. Her grandfather passed away two years earlier. She sat by the old oak tree she loved took out her Dan Brown novel and began to read taking shelter from the sun. Her mind flashes back.

"There's Jennifer Jelly, the spoilt girl from the city". She jumps in fright as the novel is whipped from her by Hester, who is with Polly and Joy. She stands up terrified, the three girls tower over her. "You such a fat little nerd aren't you" teases Polly. Paralysed with fear she just stands still. The girls laugh. Hester starts ripping pages out of the book "What are you going to do about it" taunts Hester. Jennifer says nothing just stays still. "Nan always said you were a spoilt" as she gets a push from Hester knocking her against the tree. They laugh again. Hester throws the ripped-out pages on the ground and flings the book off in the distance. Go get your book, Polly demands "Out of fear, she does but as she moves Polly pushes her, she loses her balance and hurts her knee off a tree root. As soon as she got back to the house in floods of tears, her mother got their things and drove away. Never to drive back again.

"Darling are you all right". Jennifer clutches her stomach as pain strikes through. "That was Hester!" she wheezes, trying to take deep breaths but can only manage short shallow ones.

"Oh darling" Maribel opens her a bottle of water "Here drink some of this. She was such a monster, along with the other two brats. The way they excluded you, no child should be brought up to behave like that. It still breaks my heart to think about it, I hope she is better at disciplining her children than her parents were with her"

Maribel scans the crowd many just staring over at them. She recognizes her ex-husband's sister, Sadie, now seventy skinny and slightly stooped, she partially feels sympathetic toward her.

"Darling, we don't have to do this, you can just drive the car out." Jennifer massages her tummy "No, no we have to do it, we need closure. We need to know-"

"Oh darling" interrupts Maribel "I had my closure almost twenty years ago when I drove you out traumatized with a bandaged knee and torn book"

Jennifer's pain subsides "I know Mum but I'm carrying enough weight without the weight of this too. Time heals wounds".

They alight the car. The intense heat smacks them hard causing them to breathe heavily as they struggle to walk "I suppose we better congratulate Charlie".
They feel the stares and hear some sneery whispers as they move through the crowd to the groom.
The groom a forty-two-year-old six-foot tall beef farmer stands at the church door with the groomsman and his parents. Maribel and Jennifer can feel sweat build up already on their brow. Maribel extends out her hand "Charlie, gosh you have grown, congratulations, do you remember Jennifer!".

He stares wide-eyed trying to hold back a smirk. He shakes her hand and then Jennifer's "Thank you, enjoy the day!" he then returns to conversation with the groomsman and two other strangers they didn't recognize.

Jennifer's spirit drops, the groom's lukewarm welcome is not a good sign. Her mother now faced Aunt Sadie "Hello Sadie, it's been a while".

Sadie glares at her in silence, her teeth grinding behind her pursed lips.
Maribel flicks her left hand "Fine but you could at least acknowledge your beautiful niece" Sadie half looks at Jennifer and completely ignores the Hi Jennifer gave her "You're a lamb dressed up as mutton in that dress Maribel. It sums you up nicely"

Maribel places her right hand on her chest in horror "I love this dress and I like how I look in it. Add to the fact you can't even acknowledge your own niece shows you to be the lemon you always were -BITTER!!. Come on Jennifer".

Jennifer moves off from Aunt Sadie with her mother. Her spirits dropped more after her poor reception from Aunt Sadie.

One stare Jennifer couldn't shake off was Hester's, every few moments she felt her unwelcoming stare zone in on her. She hasn't seen Polly or Joy yet, maybe they weren't here. She feels like a fish out of water. Hester begins to walk towards her with the children, she feels her cold stare on her back. Jennifer turns again as Hester is beside her "Hello Hester", "hello there" she says to the children. "Oh, my word, what lovely Children, what are your names" asks her mother. Hester points at the eldest boy first "He's Jason, he's fourteen, this is Kelley she is nine, and this is Shannon, she is four"

"What lovely names" smiles Jennifer, she notices a teddy bear in Shannon's hand "Is that your doggie", what's his name?

The girl shyly hides behind her mother's leg, her mother replies "It's Chase off Paw Patrol".

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Paw Patrol, they have soooooooo much these days don't they!" states Maribel in the hope of getting some conversation out of Hester.

"Hester glares at her like she is the dirt under her shoe "They do, she also likes Peppa PIG she loves Peppa PIG".

Jennifer feels her stomach knot, she knows this is a direct dig at them "Oh, that's good" pants Jennifer as her mother hands her the fan "Pigs are very clever animals". Jennifer stares back at Hester whose eyes narrow in.

Maribel turned to the older boy "So what do you like, do you like to read?".

"No!" he replies "I like baseball and football". Maribel puts on a shocked face "You don't like to read!!, my Jennifer liked to read she loved Dan Brown novels, have you heard of him?"
Maribel stares directly at Hester, her eyes practically shut "No!" he replies with impatience. "Well, I'm sure your mother can tell you all about Dan Brown!".

"We've to go over to some people here", Hester's tone filled with anger.

"Well that leopard hasn't changed her spots" states Maribel. "Let's get into the church".

As they slowly shuffle towards the church door Maribel recognizes her ex-husband's sixty-two-year-old brother Gordon, dressed in his official green military uniform. He is with his fifty-five-year-old second wife who smiles politely at them. His brother also divorced. Gordon's crunched facial stare sends shivers down their spines "Three cornfields you cost us, three cornfields that farm now could use to be viable". His face steaming with rage.

Maribel's heart races, and he blocks her path into the church. Part of her wanted to turn back but she didn't want them to win, she came this far "No Gordon, it's because your brother couldn't keep his dick in his trousers, seems like it's a common trait for you too brothers".

He purses his lips, unable to manufacture a comeback "Should be ashamed using that language in a place of worship, you always had a potty mouth"
Maribel dismisses his comment with a flick of her right hand "I call it telling the truth which you meant to do I'm a place of worship"

Gordon turns his attention to Jennifer he looks her up and down in disgust "Like mother, like daughter"

Jennifer trembles inside, her chest tightens making breathing all the more difficult "Thank you" she smiles falsely "I will take that as a compliment"

"You're right Gordon, she is like me, She's a successful Businesswoman" Maribel's tone is boastful and full of pride. "Isn't that right Jennifer darling?"

"You remember my daughter, Joy, Jennifer of course you do. She is here somewhere" Jennifer feels butterflies in her stomach upon her name as cruel memories of torment at the hands of Joy come to mind.

"Joy can bench press 140 and carry bags of animal feed all day without breaking a sweat. What can you bench press, Jennifer?"

Jennifer looks around anxiously trying to identify Joy "I can't lift that, nothing like that" She pauses momentarily "But I can just about manage a pen so I can sign business deals"
"That is why she drives a Mercedes-Benz and wears fancy suits" boasts Maribel as she barges past Gordon "Come on Jennifer"
"Ye shouldn't have come" he shouts after them.

They enter the small church with light wooden benches on each side. Jennifer removes her sun shades and puts on her normal glasses. She points at the back row "Let's sit here mum, I don't think we'll be welcome nearer the front. They lumber to the far end of the bench and sit down glad for the momentary rest for their bodies.

Slowly the church begins to fill up. Behind them, they feel a shadow, and then a head pops in between their heads "Well if it isn't the fat cats from the city!". Suddenly an arm is rested behind their outer shoulders. "Gosh ye are so soft and cushiony, I could easily fall asleep on you both".

Maribel and Jennifer feel goosebumps as the strong muscular female arms rest on their extensive chests. They stare at each other unsure what to do. Jennifer adjusts her glasses "Joy can you please take your hands off us"

Joy stares at her grinning "No!! I haven't seen you both in aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages, I regret I wasn't in the car park to greet you both. Am so jealous of Hester that she got to. But look at you Jennifer, you have filled out"

Jennifer nervously stares at the muscle-toned arm resting on her chest. She feels fleshy and soft in comparison. Joy's strong facial expression accompanied by a prominent Jawline and and a healthy radiant glow makes Jennifer now conscientious of her pappy chubby cheeks that seem to combine to form her double chin, which she has long since accepted. She feels weak and powerless within her skin "Why don't you take a seat the church is beginning to fill up"
Joy runs her fingers over Jennifer's chest area. Jennifer freezes in fear "Polly will be here soon, be great having the four of us together again, me, you, Hester, and Polly, it will be like the old days again, we're going to have so much fun". Joy moves off confidently.

Maribel's gut told her Joy was not a good person she watched her as she strutted up the aisle in her blue jumpsuit suit which complemented her strong figure "Jennifer darling, are you all right" Maribel placed her left hand on Jennifer's right wrist to reassure her, she's there for her. "Darling" she warns "We need to keep out of her way as much as possible."

The idle chatting in the church is interrupted by a loud cackle. Jennifer closes her eyes "Not Polly" she says to herself. "You can still hear that one before you see her" moans Maribel.
She powers up the aisle, her high heels clacking noisily off the tiled floor. Behind her, a forty-year-old male dressed in a dark suit and a black tie hanging loosely. She is dressed in a dark green dress, with her black hair covered in a hat and they jump in beside Joy. Jennifer tries not to watch, she can predict what's coming next, and she prays that Polly will stay away. Polly breaks out in another loud cackle. She stands up on the bench like she is looking for someone. Jennifer and Maribel look at each other they both know what's coming next. Joy stands up and points her in their direction. She breaks out in another wild cackle.

At the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom wait by the church door as the guests exit. The church empties row by row. Maribel and Jennifer are in the last row to exit. They congratulate the bride and groom who greet them with a half-hearted hug.

Jennifer places her sun shades on. They stand awkwardly outside the church door, cliques formed and chatted none of which they belonged to. They scan the crowd anxiously checking the best route to the car to avoid certain people. Jennifer points a direction "Let's go this way". Their eagerness to leave is restricted by their slow pace in the hot sun, and their breathing labours from the exertion.

Relieved they make it to the car "Where are you two big squishy marshmallows going" and then the cackle of Polly. Jennifer bites her lower lip and curses her lack of fitness. They turn around "The wild streak is still visible in Polly's face after all these years.

Polly rubs the hood of the Mercedes-Benz "Nice car money bags!!"

"I'm sorry Polly, we have to go back to the hotel for a business meeting", lies Jennifer.

Polly ignores her "I bet you have to be careful where you park this, do you?"

Maribel sighs "Yes of course"

"I imagine so because it would be a shame to park it somewhere and find it keyed, wouldn't that be horrible, to think it's safe somewhere like a hotel car park only to come out the next day and find it keyed!"

She smiles sadistically at Jennifer who stands shell-shocked by the driver's door, her legs turn to jelly. Polly walks away cackling wildly.

Jennifer and Maribel gingerly sit in the car. Jennifer quickly hits the electric star and drives out shaking. "Oh my God Mum" her breathing was heavy "What are we going to do, these people are horrible, I can't park at the hotel!"

Maribel pulls out her cell phone from her handbag, and her heartbeat races, what a vile creature to threaten us like that. I'm calling the hotel. We're paying a premium rate for that suite, they have to provide a safe space for the car".

Wedding Reception 5.30 pm
Maribel and Jennifer exit the elevator into the hotel lobby. The hotel secured their car in a safe location much to their relief. The meal is due to start at 6 pm. They purposely left it as late to reappear. With dread, they enter the wedding venue.

They check the table plan. With a mix of relief and annoyance, they are placed on the very last table, the fourteenth table. They didn't recognize any name on it. "Well our table number proves what they think of us Jennifer, but I would rather not sit with that riff-raff anyway they will spoil my appetite. " Maribel begins to walk towards the table.

Jennifer flinches as she feels the muscular arm of Joy rests over her shoulders "You waddled off very quickly after the wedding, are we not good enough for you?"

Jennifer watches as her mother makes her way towards the table "No, we had to get back for an urgent business meeting".

Joy tightens her grip "So business is more important than family?"

Suddenly Jennifer feels like she is that frightened fifteen-year-old girl underneath the tree again "No no, it's a demanding client, we didn't want to go but had to!".

"I don't believe you Jennifer Jelly, I don't believe you?"

"Joy please, we were invited to the wedding and came with the good intention of building bridges instead we are faced with hostility".

"mmmmmmmmmmmmm, building bridges, breaking up farms, that's more your thing. Your mum's little stunt with her divorce all those years ago, is costing our farm money.".

Jennifer stretches out her palms, she catches her mother looking around for her at the table "This is not our fault, mum could have taken him to the cleaners, but she didn't all he had to do was buy her out of the mortgage. Stop blaming us".

"But I do blame you Jennifer Jelly, Nan and Grandpa were right you are spoilt. Go easy on dinner as I am going to wrestle you later". Joy lets go of her and walks away.

Jennifer feels her windpipe close in, her breathing strains struggling to get air into her lungs. She can't wrestle Joy, no way, she will get seriously hurt".

She slowly totters towards their table.

Maribel notices the color strained from Jennifer's face "Darling, you look like you saw a ghost, sit down!"

Jennifer takes a seat beside her mother, their table still waiting on other guests. Maribel pours her a glass of water "Darling what happened?"

"oh mum" she gasps, gulping water. "You wouldn't believe this". She tries to catch her breath but struggles "Joy has told me she is going to wrestle me, to say I'm terrified is an understatement.".

"Oh my God", squeals Maribel getting a glance from some guests nearby "We can't stay down here, let's go, get to our room, and plan from there."

Jennifer attempts a few deep breaths but is weak and shallow "Let's stay have the main course and go then, I don't want them talking and I don't want her having the satisfaction that they frightened me again".

"Are you sure Darling?" asks Maribel as she rests her left hand on Jennifer's right wrist "We can always get room service and quite frankly I don't care what these yokels think"

Anxiously they work their way through the entre, starter, and main course of Salmon, mashed potato, and mixed veg. Their appetites are not what they usually are, but they struggle through. To their dismay, the speeches commenced. "Darling" whispers Maribel "We could go now but we're so slow moving we will be noticed". Jennifer nods in agreement "Yes, once finished, people will want to use the washroom and dessert will be coming, it will look less obvious. They will doubt very much we would leave dessert behind us".

Maribel nods in agreement "I am sure it would underwhelm us anyway just like the occasion itself".

The speeches end Jennifer notices Joy heading towards the Washroom. "Oh Mum" she whispers "Joy has gone to the Washroom, this is our chance, let's go as quick as we can." They grunt as they rise from their chairs
"How many main courses have you eaten tonight?"
Jennifer whines "We just had the one Polly"

"In fairness MarsBarIbel you possibly couldn't fit any more into you as that dress is two times too small". Maribel feels her chest tighten in anger "How dare you!" she snaps in a gaspy tone "Show some respect to your elders. I am your aunt"

Polly cackles causing a few heads to turn around at other tables "I know the shame that you too fatties are related to me."

Jennifer feels sweat build up at the back of her neck "We're leaving, so please leave us alone!"

Polly stands in front of her, staring her down "YOU NOT ALLOWED LEAVE!"

Every sinew of Jennifer's body tenses, and she can't allow herself to be the frightened fifteen-year-old again "Polly, I may not look it but I am a very powerful businesswoman with some powerful friends in powerful positions. If you don't get out of our way and let us go, I will call them and I will sue you for everything you have and have you barred from this state and many more".

"oh Jennifer, behind that fancy suit, you're still Jennifer Jelly. You may have power in a boardroom but here I have the real power".

With speed and ease, Polly places Jennifer in a headlock.

Jennifer gags for breath as Polly's headlock leaves her helplessly doubled over. Her airway struggles to pump air to her starved lungs. The sound of her mother's screeches in horror as her pathetic attempts to help Jennifer prove useless. Jennifer flaps her hands in all directions. Her world was a blur, as Polly snatched her glasses. Her head pounds and burns, she worries she is seconds from losing consciousness. The sadistic laughter of Polly terrifies her. Her heart pounds so hard she worries it will pop out of her chest. She can't tell how many are watching but there are several having a good laugh. Sharp pain stretches from her ankles to her lower back.
"let go, let go" screams her mother "She's almost purple". Polly releases laughing "Here's your glasses piggy" as she places them in the outer pocket of her blazer. Jennifer uses a chair to lean upon. Her lungs struggle to work, every breath is a shallow wheeze".

"Oh darling" cries her mother as she removes her glasses from Jennifers jacket and shaking places them on Jennifer's face. "Are you all right darling?" she asks.

Jennifer continues her loud raspy gasps for air, she tries to respond but her voice doesn't come.

Maribel shakes with worry her airway almost shut off too with worry.

"Ah poor Jelly Jen" taunts Joy, her tone dripping in sarcasm "I'll let you recover and then it's my turn to wrestle you".

Jennifer's pulse intensifies in fear, she can't take anymore, how she regrets convincing her mum they should attend."

"You little crud" cries Maribel "You lay one finger on my Jennifer and I'll have the law on you!".

Joy laughs "Oh shut up MarsBaribel, I will have my fun!".

Maribel ignores the jibe, come on darling, as she gently places her hands on Jennifer's right shoulder and helps straighten her up.

They gasped hard as they waddled out of the ballroom as fast as they could but their increased pace was short-lived as they didn't have the stamina to maintain it. Every pulse in both their bodies raced, Maribel's dress felt like it had tightened in more as her chest felt like it was caged into a space half its size.

Anxiously they keep checking their backs that Joy or Polly isn't following them, neither have the energy to handle her, at least they were in the hotel lobby, she would not dare tackle them there.

Jennifer could feel her face begin to cool down. She sighs in relief as they make the elevator. The twenty-second wait felt like an eternity, the constant worry that any of them would just appear. They enter the elevator and Maribel quickly hits floor five. Their hearts still racing, and the thought that they might get on another floor terrifies them.

Maribel places her right hand on Jennifer's back and begins to rub it gently in an attempt to massage it "Oh darling, my poor darling, what has she done to you!".

They exit the fifth floor continuously checking around them anxiously, their slow labored pace meant catching up on them would be no problem.

"Oh thankfully" wheezes Jennifer her first words since she was accosted as they reach room five one five. Maribel struggles to find the room card key with panic, they hear the lift door in the distance. Her breathing intensifies. Jennifer stares down the hallway her chest aches, she hopes it's neither a panic attack nor a heart attack. Maribel finds the key card and places it in its slot the door opens.

She removes the card steps in and closes the door and places it in its electricity slot. She then fumbles nervously at the door locks until they are locked.

They turn and embrace each other in a hug. "Oh mum" wheezes Jennifer, "I was this close to losing consciousness, I was terrified and everyone just laughing".

"Darling sit down". Jennifer gingerly sits down on the sofa groaning hard her whole body in agonising pain.
"Let me get you a cold cloth" Maribel shuffles into the ensuite finds a face cloth and runs cold water through it, she rinses excess water out and returns to Jen who lolls on a chair at the table "Now Darling". Maribel gently rubs the cold face cloth around Jennifer's plump face and double chin. The cold cloth gave some comfort to her burning chubby cheeks.

Jennifer takes the cloth in her hand removes her glasses, and begins to wipe around her face. "What happened Dar-" but Maribel's question was interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside their door. Jennifer puts her glasses back on. Both sit in silence, the only sound of their heavy breathing. Seconds pass and then a knock. Both were paralyzed with fear in their seats. With another knock, Jennifer attempts to get up but her legs tremble and she fears they would buckle under her.
"Mum I just don't have the strength just now to check" she whispers.

Suddenly the knock happens again "I'll get up whispers Maribel groaning as she rises from the chair. Just as she rose, the knock happened again. "Maybe I should ask who is it?"

Jennifer whispers "No" waving her hands to emphasize the point "If it's them we don't want them to know we are here".
Maribel nods in agreement and slowly steps towards the door. The hairs stand on the back of her neck, and her airway strains. She looks through the spy hole "I don't see anyone there darling I'll take a look"

"Noooooooooo" screams Jennifer, "Mum it could be a trap, please don't unlock anything".

"Your right darling but we can't stay hidden in here, we can't let them win".

Maribel returns to her seat but just as she does the sound of footsteps returns and then silence "Oh my God darling, they won't leave us alone. We're going to have to go."

This time there was no knock but the sound of paper being slid under the door. Maribel sighs as she rises from the chair again. She opens her handbag and takes out her reading glasses.

She puts on her glasses, but she dares not bend down and pick up the sheet of paper. "au" she screams disgusted at the badly drawn image of two pigs and the words oink oink. She places the tip of her shoe on it and pushes it behind a mini garbage bin.

"What is it?" asks Jennifer

"Darling a childish drawing of two pigs".

Jennifer bit her lower lip, and suddenly the footsteps returned, this time they could hear giggling and muffled whispering.

The knocking returned with the drunk voice of Hestor "Let me in Piggies, this is the big bad wolf"

Jennifer's stomach knotted, why didn't they go straight to reception and report to the police or security, she wasn't thinking how could they be thinking.
She placed her plump index finger to her lips indicating to her mother not to make a sound.

"This time the knocking got louder "Come on Jennifer Jelly, why won't you come out to play Joy is looking for you". Jennifer began to feel nauseous, this day was not going as she hoped.

They hear whispers outside and laughter, "If you don't open up I'm going to huff and puff and blow this door down".

Jennifer's legs and hands tremble, she begins to feel like she is breathing through a very narrow straw. She looked down at her hands and rolled them into weak soft fists, they would do more damage to herself than anyone else she thought.

They jump in fright as the door is tugged aggressively, they hope the superior door build will hold up.

Maribel rises from her chair, not quite sure what to do. She stands by the door and shouts in a trembling tone "Go away and leave us alone".

There is laughter outside again whispers " MarsBaribel we just want Jennifer Jelly to come out to play".
Maribel had enough of this charade that's it, I am going to put manners on this one she thinks to herself.
She places a shaking hand on the first door lock, her adrenalin kicks in.

"No please mum, don't" begs Jennifer, her mother turns around, and her adrenalin rush quickly evaporates on Jennifer's terrified face.
"Please, we are no match for them, you saw what Polly has done to me, this one might be worse and Joy is worse, we are safe here".

"Darling we can't stay here hold up all night", suddenly there is a loud bang off the door like someone is trying to burst through.

"Oh my God" screams Maribel "These are expensive doors you can't afford to replace them" she gasps, her voice filled now with a mix of venom and fear.

"I don't care," the voice says as there is another attempt to force the door. Jennifer's stomach aches but she has to do something. As fast as she can she rises from the sofa grimacing in pain, she struggles to walk, cursing her physique as she lifts the phone receiver on the circular table and calls reception. "Hello, she gasps, panic in her voice, this is room five one five, there are hostile guests from the wedding harassing us and now trying to break in, please send security straightaway, we're terrified, we're trapped in our room.

She puts down the phone and stands beside her mother placing her left hand behind her mother's back "I'VE CALLED SECURITY" she shouts, her voice trembling with fear.

"Ah, there is Jennifer Jelly, of course, you did you, big fat coward".

The words hurt Jennifer, she felt like a coward but what could she do, she wasn't a fighter never was.

"Maribel turns towards the door, I won't have them calling us cowards!"

"Mum" don't wheezes Jennifer "The safest thing we can do is just stay here".

"Darling, their treatment of us all day has been nothing but rude. I won't tolerate it any longer".

Another banging sound of the door being pushed "Do you think Jennifer they respect us by hiding behind this door".

Jennifer stands in front of her mother and places each hand on each of her arms "Mum listen to me". Her speech was interrupted by long continuous banging and shouts of open up".

"Mum we're businesswomen, when we make a decision we think logically, look at us, look at them. They are physically fit, they are strong. We are unfit, overweight, and weak, we can't negotiate with these people".
Her mother stood still and listened, Jennifer's message was being understood. "You open that door, they won't touch you, you're sixty-four, they will insult you and belittle you but they will me". Jennifer points at her glasses, I wear this all the time, I can't see without them, there is no way they can come in because she will hurt me".

"Oh darling" Maribel embraces Jennifer in a hug as the banging and laughter continue "So mum, thinking logically as businesswomen, the best outcome for us is to have security deal with them. It's not because we're weak or cowards but it's because it's the safest option. That's all we're doing the safest option".

Maribel strokes her right hand through her daughter's hair "You're right Darling, it's not about pride and not wanting to appear as a coward but safety and the safest for us is to let security deal with it".

Outside the banging stops. The women hold hands in silence, as they listen in. The sound of two other male voices they haven't heard before begin to talk. There is some shouting. Then the banging begins again, this time one male voice warns them to stop or they will call the police. The sound of footsteps moving away provides welcome relief to the women. The sound of silence was broken by a knock on the door. "Who is it" cries Jennifer.

"I'm Philip, Hotel Security". Jennifer glances at her mother both shaking in fear "Are you alone"

"I am". Jennifer cautiously checks through the door spy hole, a tall handsome gentleman in his mid-forties in a black suit and well-groomed facial hair awaits. Her left-hand trembles as he opens the door.

He gaped at the two women as he closed the door behind them. "I want to check you're both okay and assure you this won't happen again, however, can you please explain what happened".

He listens as they both explain the afternoon events. "Thanks" He stops momentarily "However Jennifer, the lady said you instigated it by threatening members of her family throughout the day"

"Huh" screeches Jennifer "She is lying!! She is a bully! Always was and always will be!!

"These ruffians have been nothing but beastly towards Jennifer and I. We both came in good faith however have encountered nothing but horrendous treatment from these wild untamed animals".

Philip stands up "My team is dealing with these individuals downstairs, I promise you they won't be back up. If you need anything let me know. May I ask if will you be heading back down to the wedding?"

Maribel flaps her hands outwards "Absolutely not! So far we have been insulted, Jennifer almost choked to death, threatened and besieged in our room by these wild savages".

Philip makes his way to the room door "Okay well if you need anything just let us know".

Twenty minutes later they sit watching a late evening business show. They jump in unison clutching their chests as a loud rap pounds the door.

"Where did you park your lovely car, Jennifer, saves me looking for it, I've got a nice set of nails from my husband's truck that will key it nicely" It was Polly.

Jennifer's chest tightens, and she feels her breathing labor more. "Go away and leave us alone she wheezes, you touch my car and you'll know all about it".

The pounding intensifies "You don't tell me I'm going to have to find it and I will just key it more".

Maribel groans as she makes her way to the door, gasping heavily for breath she places her hand on the door handle. "No mum no!" pleads Jennifer "Don't open it".

Maribel removes her hand from the handle "I would advise you to stay away from the car Polly, the paintwork alone is worth more than you'll earn in a lifetime".

From the other side of the door is tittering and whispering followed by several fists pounding off the door, Maribel steps away from the door terrified it will give way.

"I've got a surprise for you MarsbarIbel" Polly teases "I've got chocolate, lots of nice tasty chocolate, all you have to do is open the door and it's yours".

Maribel purses her lips in anger, heavy strained breaths exhale from her nose.
"Come on MarsbarIbel you know you want it, you'll want to eat it until the zip in that tiny dress of yours pops"

Maribel clenches her fists. Jennifer joins her by the door "Come away mum and ignore them" she whispers.

They jump as a vicious kick causes the door to slam "You were fucking rude to my mother earlier you fat bitch" They didn't recognize the male voice.

"it must be one of Sadie's sons" wheezes Jennifer in terror. "I am going to call security"

They scream as the door is viciously kicked again "Respect shown is respect given, Your mother made libelous remarks to me"

"She was telling the truth", he screams pounding the door several times with his fist. Maribel feels her chest tighten in fear, she watches Jennifer as she speaks frantically with security.

Outside is the sound of a cell phone beeping "We're going to go now Jennifer Jelly and find your car, I am going to draw a picture of you to piggy's on it". This is followed by laughter and the sound of footsteps scurrying.

Three minutes later Philip and two members of his security team are in the room. "So you didn't see who they were?"

"No" gasps Jennifer "We were too terrified to look and had to stay away from the door".

Philip crunches his face in frustration "The problem is, if you didn't see them We can't kick them out".

"Oh that's just wonderful" barks Maribel "Three-star hotel with three-star security standards".

"Mam, I know it's frustrating but even if you just recognized one of the voices, I'm telling you what the police will say and I will lose my job without such evidence".

"Oh so next time, I should just open the door, let them in, let them attack us, and then you will take action".

"No no no, I will have a member of my team stand watch for the next while, I'll add security members in to monitor the wedding, please stay in here, and if anyone returns call us straight away".

"What about my car, is it safe?" Jennifer's voice trembling with fear.

"It's safe, they can't get at it".

Fifteen minutes later it's just the two of them again, they sit on the sofa in silence. The room telephone rings. Jennifer groans getting off the sofa and shuffling towards it "Hello", there is momentarily silence "You thought you could hide your car".

It is Polly, Jennifer's chest tightens yet again "Leave us alone, just leave us alone" she cries.

Polly bursts into laughter "Which would you rather Miss Piggy or Peppa Pig?"

Jennifer wipes tears from her eyes "I have powerful friends, you touch either of us or my car and you'll pay for it!"

Polly laughs even louder down the phone "You mean you have hungry friends, unfortunately for you I'm not afraid of your cowardly threats you big ball of lard, I am just going to hang up now and plan to pimp your ride".

The phone line goes dead. Jennifer's hand shakes as she struggles to call reception.

She hangs up from reception and hugs her mother "Mum, I'm sorry. I was stupid, what was I thinking coming to this. I am sorry I have put you through all of this".

"Oh darling". Maribel wipes the tears from Jennifer's eyes "Darling it's not your fault. Deep down I wanted to as well, they never excepted us. It's their fault. They remain untamed".

The phone rings again "I better get it" wheezes Jennifer, it could be a reception and my car. She shuffles towards the phone and picks it up "Hello".

From the other end, deep breathing then the drunk slurred voice of Ron "You fuckin bitch Maribel, fucking making us sell land you fucking fat bitch"

Jennifer feels the hairs rise on the back of her neck "Don't you speak about my mother like that, it's your own brother's fault, speak with him" and she hangs up.

The phone rings again, and Maribel picks it up this time "Yes!"

"Your rude daughter Marsbaribel has just been very rude to my father, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT!"

Maribel grinds her teeth in fury "You need to learn some manners" her voice echoes across the room "

"Manners" roars Joy down the phone, I'm certainly going to put manners on that big daughter of yours.

Maribel hangs up "That's it, I've had enough" and calls security.

For fifteen minutes Maribel argues down the phone with security, Jennifer watches in panic as her mother's face grows redder and redder as she argues more.

"Mum please, you will give yourself a heart attack please come down".

Then bang!!" the door slams hard as it is violently shaken "Come up quick, they are trying to get in again, screams Maribel".

They both breathe heavily. Again the sound of a cell phone beeping is followed by footsteps moving off.

One minute later Philip is back in the room "We had someone here earlier but felt the situation had calmed".

"Well it hasn't" screams Jennifer "We've had abusive and threatening calls and you are not acting on them".

"Look, I am sorry we, need to get a report from the phone company to find out what room is called you, we haven't upgraded our technology".

"Seems like this is more one-and-a-half star hotel than three" moans Maribel "I will sue, no question!"

"Mam, we are following procedures. As we told you down the phone, we will file a police report and we will get the details for the calls made to you".

"Have you not got security cameras, or is monitoring them beyond the poor service level of this so-called hotel" snaps Maribel

"We are monitoring mam but unfortunately they are only connected to the main lift areas on each floor, so the person may be using an alternative route".

Jennifer rubbed her sweaty brow with her right hand fingers "Well you're going to have to leave someone outside this door all night if that's what it takes".

"I will have members of the night shift parole up and down here frequently as a priority".
"This is not good enough" yells Maribel "If anything happens to us, YOU WILL PAY".

Philip spent twenty minutes in the room, it was now close to midnight and his shift should have finished an hour ago. He leaves the room bewildered and unsure of what to do.

"Mum let's shower and pack away our stuff and get out of here first thing in the morning!"

"Well I was hoping we could have breakfast by the pool at six thirty am. Those Nimwits won't be up that early".

"No way Mum, let's just go first thing, we can have breakfast at the Mayfair, I will be looking over my shoulder all the time".

The women shower and dress in their bedclothes. Maribel a luxury white satin dressing gown and Jennifer a two-piece light pink pyjamas.

They enter the large twin bedroom take their beds and turn off the lights. They toss and turn unable to sleep with fear, at one thirty am the phone rings, and Jennifer rummages on the bedside locker until she finds her glasses puts them on, and answers it "Hello". In the background a lot of noise, like there was a room party on "I am just back from desecrating your car-"

Jennifer cusps her free hand into a weak fist "Well repaying the damage will be like an extra mortgage you can't afford Polly"

Polly laughs "I have someone here that wants to speak with you". Jennifer can hear whispering next thing she hears the voice of Joy "I'm not forgetting our wrestling match, and I'm sure you aren't either, you probably lost a ton of weight in sweat worrying about it, I would if I were you!" and hangs up.

Jennifer shakes as she puts the receiver down, she isn't strong, if she can just survive another five hours in the room, they will leave then. Her mind races to the dangerous part leaving their room. Will Joy be waiting for her, did they find her car or be waiting there, she curses her lack of fitness, moving quickly out of the hotel is not physically possible for them.

At Three AM loud ruckus outside the room terrifies them, they hear shouting, next thing the door gets shoulder charged violently, they scream gasping for breath as their chests tighten. A male shouts "I need back up, I need back up". He is outnumbered as several voices shout abuse at him "LOCK YOURSELF INTO YOUR BEDROOM AND LOCK YOURSELVES INTO ITS ENSUITE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME IN THERE HE SCREAMS!".

Fear grips them and tightens around them like a chain, they gasp for breath as they struggle to waddle with pace into their bedroom. Their panic intensifies at the sound of wood snapping. Jennifer's hand shakes as she struggles to lock the bedroom door "Come on Jennifer" pants Maribel as she waves her into the ensuite. She just manages to lock the bedroom door as the sound of the smacking of the room door off the hallway wall as feet and rowdy drunk adults enter in. She pants hard unable to achieve a fast pace into the ensuite. "STAY IN YOUR BEDROOM AND STAY IN ITS ENSUITE" roars security continuously.

Jennifer's chest aches as she enters the ensuite and her mother locks the door. Both were saturated in sweat and frantically shallow breathing. The small Ensuite feels even smaller with both of them in it at once. They hear a loud commotion.

Eventually silence, they gasp in terror at the sound of the bedroom door unlocking and then footsteps. They stare at each other not sure what's happening. Then a knock on the ensuite door "This is security, and Police it's safe to come out now".

Jennifer trembles as she unlocks and opens the door, afraid that it is a trap. Both gasp heavily in relief at the sight of Police and security. They make their way into the main living area and are dumbstruck by the damaged room door, damaged side lights, and furniture from a rough tussle.

They are sat down on the sofa where medical personnel examine them.

"This is followed by Police taking statements from them. The night duty manager chats on his phone to the senior management team, describing the horror that will await them in the room".

Once the Police finished their statements the night manager approached them "I'm really sorry that you experienced this, we will refund you in full and we are going to give you a free weekend break here, we will transfer you to another room."

"NOT!! growls Maribel, I am not risking our safety sharing a floor with any of those animals".

With effort Jennifer rises from the sofa "No, we will leave now, please accompany us to our car".

"Can we hold off for a while?" asks Officer Martinez a well-toned girl of South American descent. "We are conducting interviews downstairs and making arrests, I don't want you to move until it's secure".

They enter into their bedroom and get dressed. Maribel puts on a better-fitting tailored corporate white dress and navy blazer. Jennifer a two-piece red business suit and a white string tie blouse. The tie strings hang untied, like a businessman who hasn't tied his tie.

They re-enter the living room, and a plate of pastries and coffee awaits them. They sit down but have no appetites. Officer Martinez is speaking with some other officers in the hallway. She calls over security and the night manager, and they whisper and occasionally stare across at Maribel and Jennifer.

After a few moments she approaches the night manager "Security and those two officers there are going to take your stuff to your car, can you give us your car keys so we have it in position". Jennifer opens her handbag and hands them over.

Officer Martinez makes a call on her cell phone and hangs up after a short moment.

The agents and security return "Okay you can go now with these. They will accompany you on a safe route to your car, and we will be in touch" She stares in contempt at their corpulent frames "I'll ask you both to move as quickly as possible".

A tall six-foot-four bald Officer named Palmer stares in horror at them "C'mon let's go, follow me". Maribel and Jennifer follow behind, with two agents behind them. He turns left down the corridor. He walks at a quick pace. Maribel and Jennifer match his pace for 4 meters but quickly tire. They puff and pant, as pain shoots from their ankles up to through their backs. Agent Palmer stops and frowns at them, their slowness causing him and the other agents frustration.

"C'mon," he whispers with a tone of annoyance. Jennifer curses her lack of fitness, the failed attempts to diet and exercise now haunting her. She feels a fearful shadow hanging over her, the shadow of her cousins, expecting them to jump out at any time.

They enter into a small service room, in it a service elevator. An Officer is already standing at it with the door open. Officer Palmer stares in disgust at the panting Maribel and Jennifer. "We'll only fit one of you in at a time". He directs Maribel into the elevator. "You go first and Officer Lee will accompany you down". Officer Lee a five foot two petite Asian female enters the elevator after Maribel. The elevator door closes.
The wait feels like an eternity for Jennifer, and worry weighs her down even more, what if something goes wrong, what if there is an ambush for her mother?

The elevator returns with Officer Lee "Get in!" demands Officer Palmer as Jennifer slowly waddles in. She can feel the stares of Agent Lee on her. She has come used to such stares and learned how to ignore them.

The elevator door opens into a large utility room with washing machines, dry cleaning, storage, and linen. Agent Lee gets out "Come this way". Agent Lee walks briskly Jennifer pants frantically unable to keep up with her. They exit the room into an undecorated hallway. Officer Lee turns around and barks "Hurry up!" at Jennifer. Jennifer can barely breathe, her chest aches. She can hear the engine of her Mercedes. Next, they open a fire door, and ahead is an open outer door and her Mercedes. Her chest heaves up and down, she is relieved to see her mother in the passenger seat.

Officer Lee opens the driver's door "Hurry Up" she demands. Jennifer can feel the back and under the armpits of her blouse already covered in sweat. She slowly makes her way around to the driver's side, relieved that the car isn't keyed. She shuffles into the driver's seat. In front of the car is a Police motor cycle and behind it is a Police Ford Crown Victoria.
Jennifer's handshakes with fear as she struggles to clasp her seat belt "Hurry up" shouts Officer Lee "We don't have all morning". Jennifer wheezes as she eventually gets the seat belt into its clasp.

"We will escort you out of the hotel and onto the highway, now go go". Officer Lee slams the car door shut and immediately the motorcade takes off.

They drive in silence. Their minds trying to comprehend the night of terror that bestowed them. At Pacific Heights in San Francisco, they pull into the five-star Pacific Coast Hotel for breakfast. They alight the car "Mom" asks Jennifer holding the tie strings of her blouse. "Can you tie this into a bow".

"Certainly Darling". Maribel carefully knots the strings into a well-structured symmetrical bow "Our Clients will be well impressed later".

Twenty-five minutes later they sit with a breakfast platter and coffee. "Darling," asks Maribel in a concerned tone "I want to ask you how you feel, are you okay, we can cancel business affairs today if needed!".

Jennifer removes her glasses, wipes her eyes, and places them back on "I was that scared little girl again needing your protection" She pauses takes some tissue from her handbag, and wipes her eyes "I have grown into a confident successful businesswoman but they! they are still the same." She pauses momentarily to reflect "I feel kinda sorry for them but same time, I can't go back there, never again!!".

She looks downwards towards her extensive chest and presses her right gently into her soft belly "I also realised I'm very week. When Joy put her arm around me in the church, all I could do was plead with her and that was useless!"

"Oh Darling, they are ruffians, a physical altercation would never work in our favour with that lot"

She places her right hand on her mother's left "I need to start looking after myself better, we both do!.What about you mum!".

Maribel flicks her left hand outwards "Darling, they never respected me!! I was never good enough for your father. Let them own their jealousy and hypocrisy. I am done with them!".