Thank you for contacting Playa Gigante Resorts! Connecting to agent. . . .
You are now chatting with Elian. . . .
ELIAN: Greetings from the sunny Caribbean! I am Elian. With whom do I have the pleasure of chatting today?
BEN: Hi, Elian. I’m Ben.
ELIAN: Hola, Ben! It is a beautiful day here, Ben! Blue skies, warm breezes—it is truly a paradise!
BEN: I saw pictures. It looks amazing!
ELIAN: It’s great to see pictures, but nothing compares to experiencing the island’s many charms in person. To smell the sweet ocean air, to feel the white sand on your toes. I am seeing a parrot right now, Ben.
BEN: Oh, wow, right now?
ELIAN: Yes, she’s here. She has been coming by our outdoor lobby to greet our guests for many years. I guess you could say she’s our Playa Gigante mascot. LOL, Ben!
BEN: That’s very cool.
ELIAN: We named her Corazón, which means “heart” in Spanish. She’s so beautiful and colorful. Not unlike our island culture, you will see. Ben, are you interested in booking an all-inclusive vacation with us today?
BEN: Yes, with my family next month.
ELIAN: Ah! That is a wonderful time to be here.
BEN: Hopefully we can meet your parrot when we arrive. My kids would love that!
ELIAN: . . .
BEN: Hello?
ELIAN: In one month?
BEN: Yeah.
ELIAN: If I am honest, this might be too late, Ben.
BEN: Too late for what?
ELIAN: Corazón does not look well lately. I was wondering why she got so close to me yesterday and now again today.
BEN: Oh, that’s terrible.
ELIAN: Her color is not good. Not vibrant . . .
BEN: Elian?
ELIAN: Just one moment, Ben.
BEN: O.K.
ELIAN: . . .
BEN: Elian?
ELIAN: She has died.
BEN: Your parrot died? Just now?
ELIAN: I’m afraid so, Ben. In my arms. But please understand that this is the cycle of life on the island. I assure you that many other things are very much alive here, like our fire dancers and omelette station. What dates are you looking for, Ben?
BEN: Man, I’m so sorry, I can try this chat another day.
ELIAN: No, please, it’s O.K. Let me know the dates you’re interested in. Then I will take a brief moment to cry, and after that I will be right back with you.
BEN: Honestly, I can try again tomorrow.
ELIAN: Your dates, please, Ben?
BEN: We were thinking the end of March. The twenty-first through the twenty-sixth?
ELIAN: Great, I’m crying now for one moment.
BEN: All right.
ELIAN: . . .
BEN: Are you O.K.?
ELIAN: . . .
BEN: Elian?
ELIAN: Yes. I’m back now, Ben. You picked a popular week! But not to worry, we have two bungalows still available.
BEN: Oh, great. I feel weird even talking about this now. But I did see the bungalows on your site and was curious if they all have private plunge pools.
ELIAN: Yes, all bungalows come with their own plunge pool. Ben, can you give me a couple of minutes again?
BEN: O.K., but I actually do need to get back to work soon. Do you know how long you’ll be?
ELIAN: I don’t know—I’ve never buried a parrot before.
BEN: Oh, god. Take whatever time you need.
ELIAN: Thank you, Ben. You are a good man.
[Thirty minutes later.]
ELIAN: Ben? Are you still there?
BEN: I’m here.
ELIAN: Sorry for the delay. That was more difficult than I thought.
BEN: I understand.
ELIAN: I think I underestimated the connection I felt to Corazón. And, while I was burying her on the beach, her babies flew nearby, and I could hear them crying. Have you ever heard baby parrots cry, Ben?
BEN: No.
ELIAN: Well, you will here. There is so much fauna for you to enjoy on the property. Sorry if this is not a good selling point—it has been a difficult day.
BEN: Really, please, I’m happy just to do this another time. I’m not in a big rush to book anything.
ELIAN: No, Ben, let’s continue. I need this right now. It is what Corazón would have wanted. She watched over our resort with such pride. And she is still watching over it. I feel her. May I tell you a few things about the resort now?
BEN: O.K.
ELIAN: We offer three meals prepared by our team of chefs every day, plus unlimited alcohol. There are four bars, too, so you won’t have to go far! In fact, there’s one on the beach right near where I buried Corazón. I admit to you that I stopped to drink some glasses of rum to settle my nerves afterward. I am human, Ben. You said you’ll be travelling with two children?
BEN: Yes. They’re twelve and nine.
ELIAN: Those are wonderful ages. I have a daughter who is eight. I think this is the age when a child begins to understand the concept of death—that it is a loss that can’t be undone. She is arriving in a moment because she heard about the passing of Corazón.
