Kate Bradley was working at the front desk when the three girls ran by and headed towards the door. But Billie Jo stopped and went to talk to her mother.
"Mom, can I buy a bathing suit?"
"You already have a bathing suit, don't you?" Kate replied, without looking up at her.
Billie Jo sighed. "Yes, but I'd like to have a new one."
Then Uncle Joe waddled into the lobby to see what the conversation was about.
"There's nothing wrong with the one you have now," Kate explained to her oldest daughter.
"But I saw the cutest suit the other day. It comes in two parts."
Kate looked up and widened her eyes. "You mean it's a bikini?"
"Uh-huh," Billie Jo nodded.
Kate shook her head. "Forget it."
"But Mom, things are different now than they were when you were a kid."
"I'm sorry, but showing female bellybuttons in public is a big no-no," Kate said.
"Oh Mom," Billie Jo moaned.
"You heard your mother. Now scram!" Uncle Joe said, nodding his head toward the door.
The blonde girl rolled her big eyes and walked out of the Hotel.
Uncle Joe cracked a cynical smile as he watched her go. "I'm glad you were firm with her, Kate. Can you imagine that? She wants to show her navel in public. Next thing you know, she'll want to get it pierced!"
Kate winced at the thought.
Uncle Joe continued talking. "Ya know, back in my day the women dressed sensibly when they went swimming. They wore suits that covered every inch of skin that wasn't fit to see."
"Well, maybe I'm being old-fashioned but I still think I'm doing the right thing," Kate said.
"I think so," Uncle Joe quipped.
Yes, but you're an old man," Kate whispered amusingly to herself.
"I heard that, Kate!"
Kate covered her mouth to keep from laughing and gave him a playful poke in the stomach.
"Eeep! Don't do that!" Uncle Joe said, rubbing the ticklish spot on his belly that she had poked.
"And why not?" Kate asked, jokingly. She reached out and pinched him in the ribs, earning a yelp and a jump from him.
"Now cut that out!" he shouted.
"I'm sorry," Kate said, chuckling to herself.
Suddenly, Homer Bedloe walked into the Hotel, strolled up to the front desk and punched the service bell. Ding!
"Mr. Bedloe, you should have let us know you were coming!" Kate said in surprise. "That way, we could have prepared."
Uncle Joe agreed. "Yeah, like when we prepare for a tornado, or a hurricane, or an earthquake, or a really big…"
"Uncle Joe, please." Kate held up a hand to shush him. Then she turned back to face Homer. "What brings you here, Mr. Bedloe?"
"I wanted to pay you a visit. Nothing wrong with that, is there?"
But Kate wasn't buying it. "What scheme have you cooked up this time?"
"Mrs. Bradley, the only thing I cooked up today was my breakfast. Now if you'll be so kind as to hand over my key."
Kate gave him a skeptical look as she gave him the key to his room.
"How long are you staying?" Uncle Joe asked him.
"Oh, just a few days…or maybe a week."
"Well, make it a few days," Uncle Joe sneered.
"I shall stay as long as I like!" Homer retorted, cockily. With that, he picked up his briefcase and started walking up the stairs.
Kate rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Oh, what a day! First it was Billie Jo and her bikini and now it's Homer Bedloe and his who-knows-what!"
Homer stopped in the middle of the stairs. "What was that, Mrs. Bradley?"
"Hmm?" She glanced over at him.
"You said something about your daughter and a bikini?"
"Oh. Well, yes. She wanted to get one but I put my foot down."
"So…you really don't want her to have one, do you?" Homer asked, coolly.
Kate nodded.
"You really laid down the law, eh?"
"Hey, it's none of your affair, Mr. Bedloe," Uncle Joe cut in. "Now go to your room."
Homer smirked devilishly and came back downstairs. "I'll go to my room but I have an errand to run first."