Three scientists, Papaia, Banani, Ravioli, and their assistant Igor, who were supposed to attend the famous dark matter conference, miss their flight and end up on the other side of the world. Arriving at the wrong airport, they book a hotel for the night, but it’s not exactly what they expected\u2026 meaning, it\u2019s awful.
After a terrible night, they even get stuck in the elevato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re at the reception.
The clerk is passing the time doing crossword puzzles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clerk scratches his head, staring at the grid with a puzzled expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: Seven down\u2026 “Used to repair elevators”… Broom? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, that doesn\u2019t fit. Tape? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026Yes, but it\u2019s missing a couple of letters. Impossible, it\u2019s duct tape, everyone knows that! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can they mess up the grid like this? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bah\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He grabs the pen decisively and starts filling in the remaining empty boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: There we go, problem solved. It must be a printing error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clerk stares at the grid with a triumphant look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: Thirty-two across… “Used to fix store signs” … Tape! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, it\u2019s obvious! These people have no creativity, always the same answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He grabs the pen and writes with confidence, matching the letters to the ones from “seven down.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: Ah, look at that! It matches perfectly with the one from before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026See? It was a printing error! I knew it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He continues reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: Twelve down… “Found often in hotels”… Ah! This one’s too easy! “Carpentry”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
… No! It\u2019s three letters… What else could it be? Definitely not “breakfast”… <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You know what? I\u2019ll divide the word into three: \u201cCarp\u2026 entry\u2026 ry\u201d, so I have more options to cross it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He rubs his hands together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: Heh, heh! I\u2019m really good at this game!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clock alarm rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: Ah, perfect! How quickly time passes when you\u2019re working hard!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He walks to the door and sees the out-of-service sign fallen on the floor. He stops to pick it up and puts it back in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clerk: This sign saves the hotel a lot of money. Think about how much electricity we save when all the guests take the stairs! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026Ha, ha! But now it\u2019s time for a coffee break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clerk leaves and heads to the bar for a couple of hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clerk\u2019s uncle sees him walking away and comments: “My nephew is a genius of low-cost hospitality!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do the guests save electricity by using the stairs, but with all the effort they put in, no one will ever ask to enter the broom closet, with that “gym” sign on it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026 Anyway, even if one of the guests did open that door, he could always reply: ‘You want to do some exercise, huh? Well\u2026 sweep the stairs!\u2019”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n