The Call from the Pool

The hotel pool has been locked since eleven. At 2:13 the night auditor answers a call from its extension and hears a child ask whether her mother is there.

pool

The phone rang at 2:13 in the morning.

According to the display, the call came from the hotel pool.

The pool had been locked since eleven.

I worked as the night auditor at the Bellweather Hotel, an aging three-story building beside the highway. It had faded carpets, brass room keys, and pipes that knocked inside the walls whenever someone took a shower.

I had accepted the job after my marriage ended. The night shift suited me. It was quiet, and no one asked personal questions.

Most nights, I balanced receipts, drank bitter coffee, and called my daughter before she went to bed. She was seven and lived with her mother in another state.

📖 Start reading The Call from the Pool free

Quick answers about The Call from the Pool

What is The Call from the Pool about?

The hotel pool has been locked since eleven. At 2:13 the night auditor answers a call from its extension and hears a child ask whether her mother is there.

Is The Call from the Pool free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.