A group of children ran through the hotel's lobby, ducking and dodging between the staff and guests. The guests laughed while the staff sighed in annoyance. It was the third morning of the week that the children were being disruptive. There are three more days to go in their week-long stay at the hotel.
The children ran through the restaurant and into the kitchen. They knew not to get in the way of the kitchen staff and waited off to the side.
"What would you all like for breakfast this morning?" The head chef asked as he approached them.
The children turned to the youngest. It was her birthday, and their parents had allowed them to stay at one of the family's hotels for the week.
"Your grilled ham and cheese special." The youngest said cheerily.
The others all agreed, and the chef promised to deliver their meal to the private dining table on the balcony. The children sat quietly and watched as the staff set their table.
The wind picked up but was reduced to a gentle breeze by the trees planted in the courtyard. The crash of the waves on the shore and the cool of the early morning temped the children. They watched the waves and the sand with excitement.
"Hey, how about—" the oldest began.
"Yeah!" The others said knowingly.
The children burst into laughter at their shared thoughts and began planning what they would do on the beach. They were lost in imagining ridiculous things happening to the people below when the chef delivered their breakfast. Despite eating the same sandwiches for breakfast all week, they had not gotten tired of the taste. How could they? The hotel's dishes were better than their cook's, and their parents weren't around.
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