Albert was in charge of tending to the boiler at the Overlood Hotel back in the ‘30s, and one night a United States Senator had his way with Albert in one of the guest rooms. He also promised Albert that he would take him back to Washington, set him up in an apartment and send him to law school. Albert had a good time even though the Senator wasn’t exactly the young man’s type. Most of the men Albert had been with up until that point were farmhands and cowboys his own age. He had never made it with one of the swells who stayed at the Overlook before, but the Senator really charmed him, and he convinced Albert that all of his dreams were about to come true.
The next day when Albert saw that the Senator was checking out of the hotel without so much as saying goodbye to him, he confronted the Senator. He was so upset that he accidentally implied right in the lobby of the Overlook, with a number of guests looking on, that he and the Senator were lovers. The Senator’s expression turned to stone and he accused Albert of lying and trying to extort money from him. He told the manager that he should fire Albert at once.
The manager herded the furious young man into his office and demanded an explanation. Albert insisted that the Senator promised to pay to further his education and improve his prospects. The manager informed Albert that the Senator could destroy the Overlook’s reputation and that he would have to let him go. He went on to say that if anyone asked about Albert, he would be forced to say that he was a blackmailer, or a homosexual prostitute or possibly both.
Albert hanged himself in room 237 moments later. 237 was the room where the Senator used Albert and tricked him into believing that he was special, that he was loved and that someone was finally going to look after him.
Model and photographer unknown.
Fictional short story by Gary Cottle.
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