"So, you're a musician?"

"Yes. I feel like some time up here would be a good chance for me to practice."

Valerie Richards sat politely across from Mr. Stuart Ullman, the manager of the Overlook Hotel. She smiled at him.

"Well, you seem perfectly qualified. However, there's one more thing."

"Yes?" Valerie asked, raising her eyebrows.

"We're putting someone else on the job with you." Valerie opened her mouth, but shut it. "Mr. Jack Torrance and his wife and son."

"Well, that's alright! Easier to distribute the work, right?" Valerie grinned. Mr. Ullman nodded, laughing a bit.

"Not to mention that it can be a bit difficult to spend five months in solitude. Being with new people might help lessen the feeling of, for lack of a better term, 'cabin fever'." Mr. Ullman stood, extending his arm to the door. "Are you ready for a tour? Hopefully Mr. Torrance and his family will arrive soon, but in the meantime, Mr. Dick Hallorann will show you through the kitchen."

Valerie nodded, standing up as well. "Thank you so much, Mr. Ullman." She shook his hand vigorously, smiling widely at him. She walked out the door, soon meeting with who she assumed to be Dick Hallorann.

"Hello, sir! My name's Valerie." She shook his hand, firmly grasping his hand.

"You have a fantastic handshake!" Dick commented, grinning. "I'm impressed." Valerie laughed, walking alongside Dick. "Well, anyways, here's the kitchen."

Valerie gazed at the kitchen, marveling at its size. "Wow, Dick, I don't think I've ever seen a kitchen this big!" she said loudly, examining a colander the size of a beach ball.

"Yes, it sure is a lot to take in. And it's a pain to work in, too," Dick quipped, garnering a snort from Valerie. "There are a couple storage rooms with canned food and the like right here," Dick said, gesturing to two doors on the back wall, "and that's about it." Valerie followed Dick out of the kitchen and down a hallway to the lobby.

Valerie chatted with Dick for a couple minutes; just small talk. After a while, Mr. Ullman walked out of his office and into the lobby, heading for the door. He greeted a man who looked to be in his thirties. He was accompanied by a woman and a young boy. "I guess those are the Torrances," Valerie mused.

She walked up to them as Mr. Ullman shook the man's hand. "Oh, Valerie!" Mr. Ullman looked at Valerie as she smiled warmly at the family. "This is Valerie Richards. She'll be staying the winter with you."

"I'm Jack," the man spoke. Valerie couldn't help but notice that he had a certain ease to his voice and his smile, as if he didn't have a care in the world. "This is my wife, Wendy, and my son Danny."

Valerie brushed a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jack, Wendy." She shook both their hands; Jack raised his eyebrows and grinned at her tight grip on his hand, while Wendy recoiled. "And hello, Danny!" She crouched down to his height, putting out her hand. Danny shook it, but he didn't smile at her.

Mr. Ullman cleared his throat. "Well, I should show you all to your rooms. Danny, would you like to stay with Mr. Hallorann?" Danny nodded, eyeing Valerie as he walked towards Dick. "Come with me." Jack, Wendy, and Valerie followed Mr. Ullman into the elevator.

They stopped at the third floor. Mr. Ullman walked them to the caretaker suite. "you can stay in the room next door, Valerie," he said kindly. Valerie nodded, watching from the doorway as Jack and Wendy examined their room.

As they rode the elevator down, Valerie crossed her arms over her chest. The silence was practically suffocating her. "So, what do you think of the place so far?" she asked Jack and Wendy, cracking a grin.

"It seems like a charming place," Jack responded, smiling. "I think I'll like it here."

"It's definitely confusing to get around!" Wendy added. Valerie laughed under her breath.

"I agree completely." By now, the elevator had stopped. They walked toward the hotel entrance, where Danny was already standing with Dick.

"So, you'll all be back next week. It was nice meeting you all!" Mr. Ullman said, waving goodbye as the four walked out of the hotel. Valerie looked back at Dick for one last moment and noticed him sending Danny a worried look. She waved at him, grinning, and he looked up suddenly. He waved back.

Valerie walked to her car, starting the engine. "We'll see you later!" She jumped when Jack called to her from his own car.

"Definitely! See you all next week!" She drove away from the hotel with a feeling that the next seven months would be very pleasant.

ok wow! it's been a while since i've written anything but here i am :) i have a lot of ideas for this so i'm going to do my best to stick with it!