~~~ Hotel ~~~

"Hello, how may I help you?" the desk clerk asked.

"Reservation for Moore," I said.

"Uh... Scott?" he asked.

"Yes..."

"Mr. Moore, I show that reservation as being cancelled two weeks ago," he replied.

"Well...", planning to ask for other options.

He guessed my intentions and preempted them, "Sir, I have no rooms. We're full. It's the holiday, sir."

"Shit! Other locations?" I asked.

"I just sent a family to the only hotel with a spare room an hour ago - they got the last one, sir."

The look on his face told me that he expected me to yell at him. I'd been in his shoes...