Authors note: This is an area I don't usually dive into, but in this case i just couldn't resist when the idea hit me. There will of course need to be a couple additional chapters, but it was getting far too long to keep going. Expect a second chapter soon. M.
All characters in this story are of legal age.
*****
Like most kids graduating high school my daughters and her friends wanted a senior trip. They started planning a ski trip to Colorado as a group of about eight girls. I wasn't against the idea until she tossed out that she intended me to fly them to Colorado for a long weekend. Don't get me wrong, I love my daughters to pieces, but sometimes they can be a bit selfish. This time it was expecting me to take time out of my planned Christmas break as a charter pilot to fly them to a ski resort. When I informed her that the two flights there and back would cost almost a thousand dollars in aviation fuel, they insisted that I just stay there for the three days. "It'll only cost you food because we already are paying for the rooms!" they insisted. I'd argued, but my stepdaughter Jenny played the mom card knowing damn well that there was little I'd refuse Emily. As much as I tried to get out of it, my wife finally insisted I go, and I acquiesced. Things took a bit of a southern turn only days before we were to leave, the lady planning to go as chaperone backing out, along with her daughter. Because there had to be at least one responsible adult, I was drafted. As much as I argued with my wife over it, it looked like I was stuck.
The day came, I filed the appropriate flight plans, and we were off, winging it to a ski lodge like a bunch of jet setters. My daughter Olivia, my stepdaughter Jenny and their best friends Mandy and Donna weren't a huge load for my ten seat Turboprop, and not quite the load that was originally planned. The group had grown three smaller over concerns there would be a lack of parental supervision. After the three hour flight and another hour to prep my plane for three days of cold storage, we called an Uber and headed to the lodge.
"Reservation for Williams?" I asked the young woman behind the counter.
"Yes sir. Williams, Arnold. One room double queen."
"That can't be right. It should have been two adjoining rooms. I made the reservation myself."
"No, it says one room."
"Check again," I said as I dug out my phone. It took a few moments but I soon had the confirmation e-mail pulled up."
"Don't worry Dad!" Jenny said quickly. "It'll Be Fine! We only need one room."
"It'd be completely inappropriate for me to share the room, especially with your friends along," I said quietly.
"Here it is sir," the young lady interjected.
"That's better," I nodded.
"No sir. It says here in the notes that adjoining rooms were originally requested, but a Miss Long, called and cancelled the second room."
"She did what?"
"It says right here. Jenny Long called and cancelled the second adjoining room."
"Jesus Jenny!" I said turning to look at my stepdaughter.
"Well, with half the girls dropping out we couldn't afford both rooms anymore."
"Well. Un-cancel it," I said to the young woman with a scowl, before looking back at my stepdaughter angrily.
"I'm sorry sir. We're completely booked this weekend. There isn't another room to give you."
"Okay. This isn't going to happen then. We'll just fly back home tonight."
"Oh Dad! Don't be such a prude!" my daughter said testily. "It's just a room. We're all adults. Besides, it's already dark. We wouldn't get home till like two am. We might as well stay the night."
"You're just barely adults!" I shot back.
"Oh Daddy. Come on. Don't spoil the whole trip!" Jenny begged.
"Really?" I asked, looking at the small group.
"Really!" my daughter Olivia answered firmly. "I told you he'd have a fit," she said to Jenny.
"What about you Mandy? Donna?"
"We don't mind if you don't mind rooming with four girls. I mean you'll never get in the bathroom!" Mandy answered with a giggle.
"Yeah. Come on Mister Williams. It'll be alright. I mean we're already here and all," Donna chimed in.
"Fine. We'll stay." I agreed reluctantly after several long minutes of debating with myself. "As long as Mandy's and Donna's parents agree. I don't want to be accused of anything when we get home!"
"Not a problem. I'll call my mom right now!" Mandy said quickly. She stepped aside and made the phone call bringing the phone to me after a few minutes.
"Yes Mrs. Ames," I said as she handed me the phone.
"Mister Williams. I just wanted to be sure I understood. Mandy said something about one room being canceled?"
"Apparently my daughter decided to save some money and canceled the second room."
"Oh goodness. So you'll be sharing the room with the girls?" she asked, sounding anything but upset.
"At least for tonight. We can fly home tomorrow morning if that's alright."
"I thought one of the other moms was going to chaperone."
"Apparently that changed and I got stuck with it."
"I don't envy you that task. Trying to ride herd on four teenage girls," she said with a chuckle. "You've already spent the gas to get there. I'm sure Mandy won't be a bother. She's had to share rooms with her brothers before, so she should be able to handle it. The question is will you be able to handle it?"