A well planned airport was a true modern marvel to Jake. He had spent enough time in every type that he could always tell how good an experience was going to be simply from how the flight attendant said their goodbyes when he exited the plane. Sadly, another lesson he learned was LAX was never a good place to be. The monstrosity that was the Los Angeles International Airport was a congested, disorganized, eyesore of a view. Sadly it was also one of the airports Jake had to spend the most time in.

Leaving the exit checkpoint behind him he tucked his passport into his jacket pocket and walked past the food court. He leaned against a post and hailed a taxi while letting out a long stressed out sigh. The flight from New York was a long one and had taxed his energy levels. As a cab pulled up and he started to load himself into the back he checked his watch. “Let’s make it home then work.” He said with a lighter tone. He wasn’t due to show up till 4 so he had time to clean himself up. “First impressions in this city are everything.” 

Twenty minutes later he was stuck in traffic and his eyes continued to dart to his watch. “I see I was being an optimistic.” He said with a heavy tone. Jake then gave the address to the studio where the cast was meeting for the scripts first read through. There was a small bed and breakfast nearby and he knew the owner. A shower and a clean pair of clothes was still an option. Another twenty minutes and he was barely out of the cab and in the shower. 

Now dressed it what could be described as his uniform of sorts he was showered and shaved. He thanked his old friends, a nice elderly couple who had been running the B and B since before Jake was born. The large room in the main floor had pictures of all the famous people they had housed in the past. It’s distance from the studio and the privacy granted by the well kept garden made it a popular place for celebrities even today. 

“Thanks. I owe you for this one Henry.” Jake said as he saw the couple in the kitchen. They seemed to be cleaning up after a lunch. Jake was happy to see several seats at the table had been occupied meaning they had a nearly full booking. “Seems you have some guests. Sorry to intrude.” He added as he started to collect his bag and leave. He was stopped by Mary who had a look that Jake was all too familiar with. 

“Young man if you think you are getting that shower for free you have another thing coming.” Her tone was that of a mother about to start a guilt trip. “You will leave your bags here and join us for dinner. I won’t here a word of protest. You haven’t come to see us in almost two months and you promised to suffer through more of Henry’s stories and my cooking.” Mary then firmly set Jake's bags back down and gave him a look that would make a dictator uneasy. “Besides I am sure you are here for that big movie they are starting and as it happens several of our guests are involved in it as well.”

Jake was never one to argue at an opportunity for a home cooked meal. Especially when it came to Mary’s cooking. He gave a chagrinned look and nodded. “I’ll be here for dinner Mary. Can’t promise that any of your famous tenets will be able to join us though. They often have more than a few groups bidding for their attention.” He then paused as Mary straightened his collar out of habit. “Alright now you are just making me self conscious.” He added as Henry told Mary to stop and the two started to cheerfully bicker. 

Jake walked the long dead-end street back to the main road and then crossed the street to the studio complex. He flashed his access badge to the guard at the gate and then hailed a small golf cart to drive him to the building on the east corner. Looking again at his watch with a happy smile he walked into the room a good 20 minutes early. A table with some food and drinks could be seen laid out along a wall with another table holding a large collection of name tags. A minute of looking and Jake found his and firmly slapped it on his old travel shirt.