**Diary Entry**
“Get out of here, you filthy old man!” they shouted after him, shoving him out of the hotel. Only later did they realise who he truly wasbut by then, it was too late.
Young receptionist Emilyimpeccably dressed, neat as a pinblinked in surprise at the man in his sixties standing at the front desk. His clothes were worn, his scent unmistakably unpleasant, yet he smiled kindly and asked, “Miss, could you book me a suite, please?”
His blue eyes glinted with something vaguely familiar, like shed seen that look somewhere before. But before she could place it, irritation took over. Lifting her chin, she reached for the panic button.
“Im sorry, but we dont accommodate *your sort*,” she said coldly.
“My *sort*? Are there special rules for guests here?”
He looked offended. Not a beggar, certainlybut his appearance was, to put it mildly, lacking. There was a lingering odour about him, something like fish left out too long. And he had the nerve to ask for a *suite*?
Emily scoffed, surveying him with disdain. He couldnt afford even the cheapest room here.
“Please dont waste my time. Id like a shower and a rest. Im exhausted.”
“Ive made myself clearyoure not welcome here. Try another hotel. Besides, were fully booked.” She muttered under her breath, “*Dirty old man, thinking he deserves a suite*”
Johnathan Blackwood knew for a fact that one suite was always kept vacant. He opened his mouth to argue, but security grabbed his arms, twisted them roughly, and shoved him onto the pavement outside. They exchanged smirks, chucklingsome old codger trying to relive his glory days, clearly out of touch.
“Granddad, you couldnt even pay for economy! Scram before we count your bones for you!”
*Granddad?* He was only sixty! If it werent for this blasted fishing trip, hed show them who was past it. He wanted to teach them a lesson, but a brawl would risk police involvementand that was the last thing he needed. So he bit his tongue, silently vowing that if he ever owned this hotel, every last one of them would be sacked.
His attempts to return failed. They threatened to call the police, so he trudged to a park bench, muttering curses. How had this happened? Hed only meant to relaxspend a quiet afternoon fishing. Instead, the fish barely bit, just small fry he tossed back. Then the rain came, and on his way home, he slipped near the bank, knee-deep in muddy water. By the time he hauled himself out, his clothes were ruined, and his keys were gone.
His daughter, Charlotte, was away on business, so no one could let him in. Hed meant to surprise hervisit while she was homebut shed just left for a trip. If hed known, hed have come later. Hed even taken leave just to spend time with her.
“Dad, Im so sorry to leave you like this. Ill be back soon, alright? Promise you wont mope?” She kissed his temple.
“Mope? Ill go fishing! Thats why I came, isnt it?” He grinned.
“I thought you came just to see *me*,” she pouted, then laughedshe knew he was joking.
He hadnt checked his phones battery. Hadnt imagined this mess. A hotel seemed the logical place to wait for Charlottes return. Yet here he was, barred even from entering. Since when did appearances dictate service? He wasnt drunk, wasnt a vagrantjust a man fresh from fishing. So he smelled a bit? Was that reason enough to treat him like trash?
His phone was dead. No friends or family nearby. A locksmith wouldnt helpthe house was in Charlottes name. He exhaled, staring at the blank screen.
“Well, *granddad*, what now?” He smirked wryly. No one had ever called him that before. Granddad? He was in his prime!
A woman sat beside himmiddle-aged, well-kept, kind-facedand offered him a warm pasty. He accepted gratefully, stomach growling.
“Youve been here all day. Whats wrong?”
He told her everythingthe fishing, the rain, the lost keys, the hotels rejection.
“Doubt Ill find them now. Probably sank in the river. Never thought Id end up like this. All because people judge by appearances.”
She nodded. She ran a bakery nearby and had noticed him sitting alone, ignored by passersby.
“I could tell you werent some drunk,” she said gently. “You dont give off that impression.”
“Good Lord, no,” he chuckled. “Health matters, especially at my age. But today, I was called an old man and thrown out. Forgive meMargaret, was it? May I borrow your phone? Need to find somewhere to stay. Dont want to bother Charlotte this late.”
“Youre welcome at mine. I can see youre decent, just unlucky. Its small, but theres a spare room. Clean up, rest, call your daughter in the morning.”
“Really? Im beyond grateful. Ill repay your kindness.”
For the first time that day, someone had shown him compassion. He silently vowed to return the favour.
After closing the bakery, Margaret led him home. Shed seen enough in lifepeople walking past others in need. Once, shed been in trouble herself, saved only by a strangers kindness. Helping him was a risk, but since her husbands death, she had no family left. Only the belief that goodness was never wasted.
After a hot shower and fresh clothes, Johnathan ate heartily. The cottage was modest but warm. Accustomed to luxury, hed never felt happier. Hed resigned himself to a night outdoorsnow here he was, safe.
“Youve a good heart. Thank you for helping me,” he said before bed.
Morning came. Margaret handed him her phone, and Charlotte was furious when she heard what happened. She stormed to the hotel.
“We couldnt host someone like *that*,” Emily defended, playing victim. “You shouldve seen him!”
“Like a man who needed help? He wasnt drunk or dangerous! Every one of you will write a resignationeffective immediately. Staff should be professional *and* humane. This hotel belongs to my father, and I wont tolerate this.”
The staff exchanged confused glanceswhy apologise to some “pathetic old man”? Then Johnathan appeared: clean, composed, assured. Emily gaspednow she recognised him from business magazines. Her face paled. Too late.
Security grovelled, promising to make amends, but Charlotte was unmoved. None of them kept their jobs.
“Dad, Im so sorry they treated you like this. Ill hire a manager who actually respects people.”
Emily begged for mercy, but the moment was lost. No amount of regret could fix it.
When Johnathan suggested Margaret as the new manager, Charlotte agreed instantly. He explained the hotel was hershe was just her father, denied entry. Shed fallen in love with the city during university and stayed. Hed supported her, gifting the hotel as her start in business. Hed never visiteduntil now.
Charlotte dreamed of a place where everyone was welcome. Margaret embraced the idea, proposing partnerships with budget hotelsredirect guests who couldnt afford luxury rather than eject them. She even offered bakery breakfasts and staff training in kindness.
Charlotte knew shed found the right person.
After a few days with her, Johnathan returned home. He laughed recounting the ordeal, but bitterness lingered. That fearof being alone against the cold and indifferencestuck with him.
He thought often of Charlotteand Margaret. Theyd spent only a day together, yet something warm had sparked. Hed loved his late wife deeply, but life moved on. The thought of growing old alone gnawed at him.
Finally, he made a decision: handed his business to a trusted partner, sold his flat, and bought a new onenear Charlotte and Margaret. The latter beamed at the news. Theyd see each other more now.
Though neither rushed into labels, he invited her to the theatre that weekend. She accepted with a smile.
Charlotte watched, amused. Shed noticed the spark between them long ago. And she was truly happyher father was smiling properly again.
