Are We There Yet?. David Levithan

Чтение книги онлайн.

      IT IS POURING NOW. COLD AND RAINY AND GREY.

      Elijah can’t see much through the clouds and mist. Still, he’s thrilled by the approach – thrilled by the wackiness of it all. Because – he’s realising this now – Venice is a totally wacky city. A loony idea that’s held its ground for hundreds of years. Elijah has to respect that.

      The buildings are right on the water. Elijah can’t believe it. Sure, he’s seen Venice in the movies – Portrait of a Room with a View of the Wings of the Lady Dove. But he’d always assumed that they picked the best places to show. Now Elijah sees the whole city is like that. The buildings line the canals like long sentences – each house a word, each window a letter, each gap a punctuation. The rain cannot diminish this.

      Elijah walks to the front of the taxi and stands with the driver. The boat moves at a walking pace. It leaves a wider canal – Elijah can’t help but think of it as an avenue – and takes a series of narrow turns.

      Finally, they arrive at the proper dock. The driver points the way, and Danny and Elijah soon find themselves manoeuvring their suitcases through the alleys of Venice. The Gritti is smaller than Danny had pictured. He looks at its entrance suspiciously, while Elijah – unburdened by expectation – is more excited.

      An elaborately dressed bellman glides forward and gathers their bags. Danny, momentarily confused, resists. It is only after Elijah says thank you that the suitcases are relinquished and the steps towards the registration desk are taken.

      “May I help you?” an unmistakably European man asks from behind the counter. He wears an Armani smile. Elijah is impressed.

      “Yes,” Danny starts, leaning on the desktop. “The name is Silver. A room for two. Originally the room was under my parents’ names, but they should have switched it to mine. Danny Silver. We need a room with two beds. On the canal side.”

      “If that’s possible,” Elijah adds. Danny swats him away.

      The manager’s smile doesn’t falter. He opens a ledger and types a few keys on his computer. A temporary concern crosses his brow, but it is soon resolved.

      “Yes, Silver,” he says to Danny. “We have a room – a beautiful room. Two beds. That is what you requested in March. One room for Daniel and Elijah Silver.”

      Elijah thinks this sounds great. But Danny doesn’t look happy.

      “Wait a sec—” he says. “What do you mean, March? The initial reservation should have been for Rachel and Arthur Silver, not for Daniel and Elijah.”

      The manager checks the ledger again.

      “We have no record of a change,” he tells Danny. “Is this a problem?”

      Danny shakes his head severely. “You see,” he says to the man behind the desk, “my parents made me think this had been their vacation. But now you’re saying that it was our vacation all along.”

      “Which is great,” Elijah assures the still-confused manager. “It’s just a surprise. For him especially.”

      “I see,” the hotel manager intones, nodding solemnly. After the paperwork is completed, he produces a pair of golden keys. Elijah says thank you. Danny continues to shake his head and mutters his way to the elevator. The hotel manager smiles a little wider as he hands the keys to Elijah. Beneath his coutured appearance, his sympathy is palpable.

      Elijah says thank you again.