Sunday, June 15, 2008

Bradley Apologizing to My Kids

I was dancing as a stripper in Syracuse, New York. My boss, Al Baker, had told me that I could work at this burlesk theater all summer to save on traveling expenses; since my kids would be out of their boarding schools for the summer.

The place all of the dancers stayed was the Hilton Hotel. It was not like the fancy Hilton Hotels. This hotel was an older one - like out of the early 1900's.

I was really happy, telling everyone my kids would be here all summer long. The manager, Bradley, wasted no time telling me that the hotel allowed "no kids". I wasted no time telling Bradley that I did not care what the hotel rules were. My kids would be staying at this hotel with me for the summer.

I left to go to Tennessee and Kentucky to get my children from their boarding schools. When we arrived back at the hotel, Bradley was at the desk. I introduced my kids to him. My son John, only six years old, shook his hand - manners he had learned from military school. Bradley once again told me - "no kids allowed". I once again told him they were staying. We walked to our room.

Bradley finally gave up. I really did not know why. I did know that we were going to stay. He would have had to call the police to get us out.

The kids had been there for about a month. Bradley told me he needed to tell me something. He said he wanted to apologize for telling me that my kids could not stay at the hotel. He told me they could stay there as long as I wanted. He said they were the most well-behaved kids he had ever seen in his life. I said, "I know. Now you are going to apologize to my kids". He said, "Oh! No! I told you. That's enough!" I told him that that was not enough and that he would apologize to them.

I brought my kids down from the room. I told them Bradley had something to tell them. He said, "No, I don't!" We just stood there. I said, "Tell them, Bradley!" Finally, after about fifteen minutes or so he gave in. He apologized to my kids and told them how good they were and that they could stay here as long as they wanted. I guess he finally gave in because he knew we would stand there until he did.

I always appreciated his verbal acknowledgement reagarding my kids behavior. I always respect a person who is big enough to say, "I was wrong".

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