Three to Get Ready

“They don’t have a reservation!”  The assistant manager  was flapping his hands again.  Bunter sighed–not too obviously–and glanced at Carson.   Carson nodded and with suitable demeanor headed for the backup command center.

“They are old and valued guests,” Bunter said in his inimitable voice, silky with steel underneath.   Out of the assistant manager’s sight, his hands were busy on the Override Control Panel.  “They do not expect to need reservations, and indeed we can accommodate them.”

“But–we’d have to open Section Seven!  At least!  And find staff!”

“Then open Section Seven–and Eight while you’re at it.  Staff will be obtained.”  Would the assistant manager step up, as any assistant manager should, or…

“But how?   We’re at a hundred eight percent already; there’s none to be had!”  A tear rolled down the assistant manager’s cheek.  Hysteria was not far away.

“Staff will be obtained,” Bunter said.  “And you will take a rest day.”   He touched the correct button without looking down.

“A rest day!  No, not a rest day!”   But already the Guides were close behind the assistant manager, and a touch of Soothing spray dulled the wild eyes.   He murmured “A….rest…day…would…be…nice…” as the Guides took him by the arms and led him away.  One of them tossed Bunter the man’s Key.

“I always thought it was a mistake to promote him,” Bunter muttered.   He slid the Key into his module and activated Jeeves, unlocked–but did not yet open–Sections Seven and Eight, two Auxiliary Kitchens, and activated appropriate kitchen and waitstaff.

“Assistant manager?” Jeeves asked.  “But I’m–”

“Emergency situation.  All Senior Staff available for reassignment.”   Bunter gave Jeeves a considering look.  Those In Charge insisted Jeeves had equivalent experience to himself and Carson, but the source was, after all, humorous books.   “You’re with Carson.”   And it would be good for Jeeves.  He needed taking down a little.  Or a lot.   Though he was still better than the previous assistant manager, nodding with appropriate gravitas and turning to go to his assignment.   Bunter considered, watching the numbers mount up on the display.  Was it time to call for help?   Would he himself be needed in the front of the house?  At the least he should inform Command Group.   He nodded and touched the correct button.  “Sir.  There’s a situation in the House.”

####

Stella had been seated in one of the many alcoves with her favorite drink in front her when Helen finally showed up, guided by one of the hostesses.  Helen looked worried, as she often did, and the reason was obvious.  No twins.  “I can’t see them anywhere!” Helen said.  She perched on the edge of her chair.  “No one’s seen them.”

“They slipped in with another family,” Stella said.  “Don’t worry; they’re around somewhere.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.    They were supposed to come straight here and have a fruity.   And no one’s seen them.”

Stella had argued against bringing the twins, leaving them in the care of The Author.   They would just be a  problem, they would be bored and bored twins were never a safe proposition.  But Helen had insisted.  Biggest cast party ever, they’d remember it all their lives, and anyway The Author was one of those people and might wander off to another book and forget about them.   And here they were, biggest cast party ever, and the twins loose somewhere.  Stella was willing to forget about them and enjoy herself.  That last book had not been all strawberries and cream.

####

(to be continued.)

 

 

14 thoughts on “Three to Get Ready

    1. I’d never heard that rhyme before, Nadine (so of course had to look it up). Do you know this one? – One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy

      1. Richard: I’ve read that one but never heard it from a live person. What I heard was “Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursday’s child has far to go, Friday’s child is loving and giving, Saturday’s child works hard for a living, and the child that’s born on the Sabbath day is bonnie and blithe and good and gay.” (When gay had a different meaning of course.) I was born on Wednesday, but do not feel full of woe.

    2. Richard, your poem is new to me. My Dad also taught me to count cherry stones using “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor…. “.

    3. Mine is a magpie superstition. My mother has actually taken (late in life, perhaps she hadn’t heard this before) to greeting a lone bird with “Good morning Mr. Magpie, how’s your mate?”, to avert the bad luck.

  1. You get to wonder whether the three and four refer to butlers/valets or children or something else. So do I. I did not expect those new trans-universe docking slots leading to Sayers’ mysteries, P.G. Wodehouse’s light social novels, or Fellowes’ television series. My husband suggested a fourth butler, but I think that’s too much…then the modern stuff would be equal to the older stuff. Besides, that series is ongoing now, and that just wouldn’t do. For other peoples’ universes to have departure/arrival gates at Huygens Waystation, they must be *closed* universes. So unless I find a suitable manservant in Dickens or Trollope or Surtees, I’m kind of stuck here.

  2. You could always have Margery Allingham’s Lugg “A Vulgarian in the Service of Mr campion” 😉 I expect he’d get on just fine with some of the shadier characters and do a good job of keeping them out of mischief

    1. Jazzlet: Of course! LUGG! How could I forget Lugg even for a moment. But while any service establishment would be glad to hire Carson, Bunter, Jeeves…would they hire Lugg? Perhaps he’s on an errand for Campion (who I happily invite to join the others!) and will show up…wait, I don’t think I can do his voice. I’ll have to find…um…where the heck are my Allinghams (I know I lost two to a flooded floor once.) My favorite Allingham has always been The Estate of the Beckoning Lady. Yours?

  3. Dickens, in Pickwick Papers, had Mr Pickwick looked after by Sam Weller, who even went to jail with him. Sam also was a very funny person in his own right.{or so he thought] .I am looking forward to the fourth installment, hopefully Paks will turn up and rescue the twins, I dont know how Jeeves would handle her horse though

  4. Or how about Fritz Brenner. Do not neglect the Swiss.

    Jonathan up in NH where there is still snow on the ground.

  5. Plenty of memorable menservants – Figaro! – but few with managerial experience of heading a team. Of course there are always innkeepers . . .

  6. Fritz Brenner is the superlative chef and keeper of the house for Nero Wolfe. He is a Swiss and has a collection of old pots, one of which is believed to have belonged to Julius Ceaser.

    Jonathan up in NH where it is raining.

Leave a Reply to Jonathan Schor Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.