A fictitious series of stories which will be based in some way on various ladies I know.
*****
Back in the early 90s I had found myself nearing the end of my first year of studies and not far off turning 20, very aware that summer was looming and I was going to need some money to see me through the lengthy break and into my next year. I had visions of a job in a local supermarket or fast food outlet but managed to stumble across ads for summer jobs in hotels up north for their busy season. It sounded good. Pay could have been a bit better but it was a little above minimum wage and I got free accommodation at the hotel. I applied and happily was given a role and a starting date. My hope was that there would be some similarly aged female colleagues for me to try my luck with.
On arrival it seemed my hopes around any girls my age were for the most part dashed as there were only a few younger employees and they seemed distinctly uninterested in me. I settled into the split shift working pattern - e.g. I was working a few hours in the morning, had a few hours off (usually sleeping!) then was back at work again late afternoon until late at night. My jobs were varied from waiting tables, working at reception when it got busy, to bartending. Being the young guy around the place, whenever there was any heavy lifting or baggage to be moved that generally fell to me too. The phrase "That's a job for Alan" became a well known saying amongst the generally older workforce. Work was long but it was varied but I got into the swing of it.
It instantly became apparent that the hotel was set up to accommodate coach loads of seniors - almost all women, which I wasn't at all pleased about as my experience of that age group was me and my buddies being harassed by them at every opportunity for playing football and generally hanging about. It came as a pleasant surprise to find that in holiday mode they were actually quite good fun. Sure, there were a few complainers but for the most part they were there to do their coach tour during the day and eat, drink and be merry in the evening, even breaking into some dancing in the makeshift dance floor in the bar as the evenings wore on.
After a few drinks some of them could be quite boisterous, especially the ones in larger groups - and these were also the ones that could get quite suggestive and flirtatious. Much to my surprise I actually enjoyed this, especially as I seemed to be the focus of it all.
Most of these seniors ranged from their sixties to some in their eighties in age, with the majority somewhere around the 70 mark. There were a few men tagging along but seemed to spend their evening sitting at the bar, getting a break from their wives.
One pair that did stay over for 3 nights a couple of weeks after I had started was a woman in her 70s and a more middle aged lady of about 50 - which was pretty young compared to the usual guests. On their first night they done the normal routine - had dinner which I and other wait staff served and then later on, came to the bar where, again myself and others were serving. You'd always make a point of chatting to the guests - we were instructed to - so you'd begin to get to know them by the end of the evening. Before long, many of the guests were dancing away to the corny songs they'd put on the jukebox. As had became the norm, when I'd venture out from behind the bar to collect glasses, I'd be dragged over for a dance, much in the way an elderly relative does to youngsters at a wedding. At least I had the excuse of needing to get back to work - especially if they got just a little too friendly, so after a few minutes I'd escape back behind the bar.
On the next occasion I dared venture out from behind the bar the 50ish year old woman I'd seen arrive was there - I'd earlier found out while serving dinner her name was Sue and she was here with her mother - it was a chance to spend time with her mother and also a break from home life. Sue was quite petite - maybe about 5ft 2 and of slim build. Really not all that noticeable apart from being younger than the average guest.
As I collected the empty glasses from the table Sue and her mother were sitting at, she asked me, laughing, "Are you enjoying being the focus of all the tipsy old dears attention?"
"Yes, it helps the evening pass." I replied.
Sue remarked that she'd need to help me pass some of the time later then, to which I smiled and told her, "I'll be waiting then!"
A while later I looked over from behind the bar to where they had been sitting and they'd gone. I was a little surprised but thought no more of it and got back to work.
