Rainforest Resort

a short short story

This resort is nothing like the brochure described. The glossy photos in the brochure had depicted a utopian atmosphere of men and women and children and monkeys and birds frolicking in the rainforest. There is no foliage to be seen other than a few scrawny banana trees bearing little fruit. My "luxury room" is a hut made from plywood with a tarpaper roof. The majestic river that was promised in the photos is nothing more than a muddy creek. The children are all gathered there at the creek in shorts and swimsuits building castles from mud or wading in the shallow water to cool off the best they can. The men and women are gathered under a pavilion near the creek enjoying music and drinks and sandwiches pulled from coolers. I travelled halfway across the world for this so maybe I should give it a chance and let loose and enjoy myself like everyone else seems to be doing. I am a little hungry and I could use a drink about now. I do see a bird flying high in the sky. It's not the macaw I expected but it does have a beak and wings. And a cute guy wearing cargo pants and a Panama hat is eyeballing me from the shade of the pavilion. I pretend not to notice but I think this could end up being an enjoyable vacation after all.