Winning BIG, a little love story for all ages Read online

  WINNING BIG ...

  a little love story for all ages

  by

  Judith Keim

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Wild Quail Publishing

  Dedication

  Foreword

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The Happy End

  CHAPTER ONE

  About the Author

  BOOKS BY JUDITH KEIM

  CHILDREN’S BOOKS BY J. S. KEIM

  Wild Quail Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, public or private institutions, corporations, towns, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others.

  Wild Quail Publishing

  PO Box 171332

  Boise, ID 83717-1332

  ISBN# 978-0-9964350-8-6

  Copyright ©2015 Judith Keim

  All rights reserved

  Dedication

  This author believes love is essential for all creatures, big and small, and that true love fulfills us and comforts us in a way unlike any other. The story told here is to be shared with others of all sizes, shapes, colors and backgrounds in the hopes that they, too, find happiness and love.

  Foreword

  Hotels are fascinating places. Interesting people come and go, and a variety of hotel staff members assist them with a number of happy occasions. For a writer, it is a place of stories—real and imagined. My husband’s entire career has been associated with hotels. At the time this story was written, my husband and I and our dachshund, Winston, were living at a seaside resort for two years while he worked on a project there.

  As famous people and others came and went, I watched them and made up stories about them, as all writers are wont to do. And then, for fun, I imagined what it would be like if a whole different group—a population of mice—existed behind the hotel walls. No hotel would permit this, of course, which made it even more fun to write about it. I imagined what their lives might be like. Surely they would know love, mystery, and excitement like human guests. And so it began ...

  Here is Theodore and Lila’s story—a celebration of romance and happy endings.

  Early readers have said of it: “Every kind of delight;” “Charming;” “The perfect little gift for the holidays and special occasions;” “A book that really does win big!”

  Enjoy!

  CHAPTER ONE

  Standing beside the entrance to the glitzy beachside hotel in Florida, Theodore straightened his coat, doffed his hat, and took a deep bow. “Welcome to The Winston, sir.”

  The man’s huge brown shoes marched by Theodore’s furry body without missing a step. Theodore shot a disappointed look at his grandfather, who nodded his gray mouse head.

  “It’s all right, son. This hotel is as much ours as anyone else’s, and you did the right thing by greeting him properly. That’s what I’ve been doing for years. Now, it’s your turn.”

  Theodore ran a paw over his whiskers and took a deep breath. It was an honor to be selected as the doorman representing the mice in the building. The demanding, human guests arriving here weren’t always aware of the smaller guests accompanying them, but each needed to be given a suitable welcome.

  It was true, though, that if any mouse was ever discovered in the people’s part of the hotel, they would all be eliminated. That was a scary thought for Theodore, who had to do his job discreetly.

  A white, stretch limo pulled up to the hotel’s entrance.

  “Here she comes. Zanna Loverly,” prompted Grandfather. “She deserves extra-special attention, not only as a movie star, but because she’s such a nice human.”

  A short, curvy woman with long, blond hair stepped out of the car and waved to everyone. Her bright-red lips curved pleasantly as people stopped what they were doing and stared. A young girl rushed over to her and asked for an autograph. Zanna cheerfully complied before she turned and walked toward the front door.

  Theodore doffed his hat and took a deep bow. “Welcome to The Winston, Ma’am.”

  Grandfather coughed and shook his head. “Never call a movie star Ma’am, no matter how old she is. They like Miss much better.”

  In awe, Theodore stared up, up, up at the well-known starlet’s face. As she strode inside, Zanna’s silver heels tapped the entrance’s marble floor in a loud staccato. The sweet smell of flowers followed her.

  Grandfather nudged Theodore. “Here comes the one I’ve been waiting for. Her name is Lila. She goes everywhere with Zanna. ”

  Theodore straightened, prepared to bow.

  A white mouse wearing a pink boa and a sparkly pink dress jumped out of the limousine, scampered toward the bushes, then sashayed toward the mouse’s entrance.

  “Welcome to The Winston,” said Theodore, mesmerized by the prettiest mouse he’d ever seen. Her eyes were the palest pink, her tiny nose a shade darker. She arched her tail in a perky pose and stopped, looking him over ever so closely.

  “I-I hope you have a lovely stay,” stammered Theodore. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you. Anything at all.”

  “Humph.” Her nostrils flared the tiniest bit. She lifted her nose. Without a backward glance, she walked behind the bushes alongside the hotel’s main entrance and into the special revolving door for mice. Theodore watched as she kept pace with the door’s circular movement by doing a delicate tip-toed dance.

  “Ahhh,” sighed Theodore. His heart pounded in his chest. She was ... lovely, he thought, caressing the word in his mind.

  “Never, never, do that,” grumped Grandfather, jarring Theodore out of his trance. “You acted like you wanted to date her. She’s a guest. You’re just the doorman. Understand?” He glared at Theodore. “Now get that dreamy expression off your face.”

  Theodore blinked. “But she’s the most beautiful mouse I’ve ever seen.”

  Grandfather shook a paw at him. “There are a lot of beautiful creatures here at The Winston. You’re going to see many of them. However, a good doorman remembers his place and is always a gentleman.” He stopped talking as several pairs of scruffy sneakers raced by.

  “Wel ...” Before Theodore could squeak out the rest of his greeting, the sneakers disappeared from view with several noisy slaps on the pavement.

  “Don’t worry about them.” Grandfather clapped Theodore’s shoulder. “They’re kids out of control and without any manners.” He let out a laugh that wasn’t altogether merry. “Oh, yes. Your life is about to change forever with this job.”

  Theodore’s brow creased with worry. No matter how hard the work was, he had to succeed. After his father’s untimely death, he was in charge of the family. His mother was counting on him to provide a safe place for her and his thirteen siblings and to make sure they had plenty to eat. Workin
g as the doorman at The Winston would ensure that.

  A long, black limousine glided up to the front entrance. The driver stopped the car, got out, and ran around to the back door, which he opened with a flourish.

  Waiting to see who would appear, Theodore held his breath.

  Long tan legs above a pair of red, spike-heeled shoes emerged from the limo. The dark-haired woman who stepped onto the sidewalk was as beautiful as Zanna Loverly, but a frown marred her brow. When someone started to approach her, she waved them away.

  A small, white, fluffy dog leaped out of the car, looked around and yapped.

  “The dog! Get the dog!” the glamorous woman ordered the driver. “Here, Fifi!”

  The dog ignored her mistress and headed right for Theodore, a murderous look in her eye.

  Theodore froze with shock.

  Grandfather grabbed Theodore’s arm and jerked him inside the mouse entrance. From behind the glass of the tiny revolving door, Theodore shrank from the dog’s ferocious scowl as she showed her teeth and barked.

  The driver picked up the dog and handed her over to her mistress. Safe for the moment, Theodore’s body still trembled as he observed the woman rain a number of kisses on the dangerous little dog.

  Beside him, Grandfather clucked his tongue. “Pampered dogs like that can be a nuisance. We must be alert to them.”

  “Who is that lady?”

  Grandfather’s lip curled. “Simone Skinner. She’s Zanna Loverly’s arch enemy. I wonder why they’re here together. It can’t be good.”

  Another black limousine pulled up out front. Theodore checked to make sure the dog was safely in the lobby before hurrying outside to ensure any small guests would be properly greeted.

  Two gentlemen exited the car. One was a short, heavy-set man whose gray hair formed a long, curly fringe around his head. The other was a movie star Theodore recognized. With his muscular body, bad boy reputation, and easy smile, Rocky Strong was everyone’s favorite hero. Theodore’s mother was a big fan.

  “Who’s the guy with Rocky?” Theodore asked.

  Grandfather shook his head with disgust. “A big-wig producer by the name of Samuel Horner. He comes here quite often. He’s a real cheapskate. Word is he doesn’t leave the maid a tip, and whenever he eats in his fancy suite, he doesn’t leave any scraps for the rest of us.”

  The driver and the bellman struggled with luggage as the men headed indoors. During the commotion, a gray mouse wearing a bright red bandana around his head swaggered toward the mouse entrance of the hotel.

  Theodore gave his grandfather a questioning look.

  “His name’s Bandit. He travels with Rocky.”

  “Yo! How’s it going?” Bandit said, holding up a fist to be bumped.

  Not sure how to respond, Theodore doffed his hat. “Welcome to The Winston.”

  Bandit blinked. “Huh? Are you for real?”

  Theodore pulled himself up as tall as he could, but he was no match for Bandit’s height. “I’m the new doorman. I’m just doing my job.”

  “Well, little guy. I best go inside. I understand Lila is here.”

  Theodore could feel the blood leave his furry face. Was Bandit Lila’s boyfriend?

  Grandfather nudged him. “Here’s another one.”

  A mouse as wide as he was tall approached, munching on a piece of particularly rotten cheese.

  “Maurice. Mr. Horner’s traveling companion,” prompted Grandfather.

  “Welcome to The Winston,” Theodore said, forgetting to doff his hat as he stared at Maurice’s round stomach. Too busy munching on his cheese to acknowledge Theodore, the mouse named Maurice made his way inside the hotel.

  “No matter how rude our esteemed guests may behave,” said Grandfather, “the doorman never expresses his disapproval.”

  Theodore nodded. He was discovering that being a doorman at a fancy hotel was no easy task. He spent the rest of the morning bowing and greeting guests of all shapes, sizes, and types.

  When another limousine pulled up to the front entrance, the woman inside stepped onto the pavement before the doorman could reach the car door to help her. She stood there, cigarette in hand, tapping the toe of her strappy shoe against the cement beneath her feet.

  “Well, where is he?” she said in a loud, grating voice. She pushed her sunglasses atop her bleached hair and glanced around impatiently.

  Mr. Horner rushed through the front doorway. “Juliet, my dear. So glad you could make it. I think you’re going to be happy you came here.”

  “I’d better be,” she warned him. “I didn’t make this trip just to please you.”

  Listening to this exchange, Theodore was very sure he wouldn’t call this starlet Ma’am. She wouldn’t like it at all.

  As Juliet and Mr. Horner entered the hotel, Theodore turned to see a brown mouse race toward him, carrying a bunch of notebooks. Behind her big, round glasses, her eyes glared at him.

  “Can’t you see I need help?” she said.

  Theodore’s welcome stuck inside his throat. He hurried to her side. “I’ll get a bellman to help you with your things.”

  “Yes, that would be a good idea,” she snapped. “So glad you thought of it.”

  Theodore found someone inside to help with the new guest’s belongings and, shaking his head at the way she was scolding the bellman, he returned to his post. Since coming to live and work at The Winston Hotel, he’d quickly learned all kinds of guests came there. Some easy. Some not.

  By noon, Theodore was exhausted from smiling, nodding, bowing, and greeting the guests.

  Grandfather gave him a pat on the back. “You can go to lunch now. I’ll take over.”

  His stomach growling with hunger, Theodore hurried through the mouse’s entrance into the hotel. Following a carefully planned trail through the structure of the building, he made his way to the mice’s cafeteria. Since no mice were ever allowed in the people’s part of the hotel, they had established a hotel of their own behind the interior walls of the building.

  Located behind the hotel’s kitchen, the cafeteria served a whole variety of mice workers—maids, engineers, office staff, security people, even wait staff. Sitting in a cordoned-off area away from the staff, the small guests of the hotel ate there as well. Unlike the tables and benches in the staff area, hotel mouse guests sat at tables covered in crisp white linen. Candles placed next to colorful flowers in crystal vases flickered atop the round tables. Staff and guests were able to watch the chef and his team work behind a glass partition lining one wall of the cafeteria as they prepared bits and pieces of food that had been gathered.

  Theodore took his place in the food line and stared at the juicy, colorful remnants of a beach party the hotel staff had thrown for their guests last night. His mouth watered. By the looks of it, the party had been quite an affair—pieces of cheese, shrimp, beef, chicken, and various side dishes were spread out alongside leafy leftovers from salad. He could hardly wait to dig in.

  The squeaks and murmurings in the cafeteria suddenly stopped.

  “There she is,” someone said in a hushed voice.

  Lila swished into the room, all but dancing on her toes as she made her way to the back corner.

  Theodore’s heart pounded. Though he knew he shouldn’t, he lifted a paw and waved at her.

  She glanced at him and turned away, then took a seat at a table for two.

  Bandit appeared next. The digits or “fingers” of his paw formed a V as he waved to the crowd, every much a hero as Rocky Strong. He strolled over to Lila’s table and took a seat opposite her.

  Watching from a distance, Theodore’s stomach churned. He’d been so proud to be the new doorman, but now he realized it wasn’t good enough. Not for Lila.

  “Hello, son!”

  Theodore forgot all about impressing Lila as he turned to face his mother. She was the reason he’d fought hard for the job of doorman. With too many children to care for on her own, she couldn’t manage without his help.

  H
is mother’s lips spread into a wide smile. She gave him a quick hug. “You look so handsome in that uniform. I’m proud of you, Theodore.”

  Theodore nodded absently. His gaze swung to the table in the corner. Lila and Bandit were laughing over something she’d said.

  His mother noticed him watching Lila and frowned. “Don’t be thinking foolish things. You’ll only get hurt.”

  Theodore sighed and tugged at the collar of the uniform he’d once thought so wonderful. Somehow he’d earn Lila’s admiration. He just didn’t know how.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Lying in bed that night, Theodore thought back to his first day on the job. Grandfather had said working at the hotel would change his life. It already had. Seeing one little white mouse called Lila had added a new dimension to what he now thought of as a boring existence.

  One of his little brothers crept up to him. “Can I come into bed with you, Theodore? I had one of my bad dreams.”

  Theodore nodded. “Sure. I’ll keep you safe.” After his father’s horrible death in the alley outside the hotel, he’d had to put aside all dreams for himself. His family needed him now.

  “Will you tell me a story?”

  Theodore looked down at his brother. “Sure. One time, a beautiful white mouse came to the hotel. She was like a princess. Know what I mean?”

  The little mousekin nodded.

  Theodore was so busy telling a tale about a hero just like him who saved that beautiful mouse from a very big, very dangerous cat that he didn’t realize his brother was already fast asleep.

  When Theodore awoke the next morning, he discovered not one brother, but two mousekins huddled beside him. Careful not to wake them, Theodore climbed out of bed and got dressed. He checked the clock on the wall. He’d have just enough time to go to the cafeteria, grab a bite to eat, and bring food to his mother, brothers, and sisters before beginning another day as doorman.

  The sun had barely risen in the sky when Theodore hurried into the employees’ cafeteria. At the sound of quiet sobbing, Theodore turned. Lila was sitting at a table in the corner all alone, her face in her paws, her shoulders shaking.