Wild Arrangements

One problem is resolved just for another to immediately reveal themselves.  It was a neverending deluge of conflict resolution today and it would remain like this well into the late hours of the night like a lingering storm.  The hotel manager took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  He allowed himself a momentary reprieve before returning to the chaos swarming around that needed to be controlled.  The lobby was packed with guests and employees bustling about this way and that.  A banquet was being held tonight of such a grand scale that problems were inevitable.  One particularly troublesome problem that needed a solution quickly reemerged in his mind, retaking the spot at the top of his long list.  Scanning, his eyes found a lobby boy exiting an elevator with an empty luggage cart.

“You, yes… You!”  The manager's voice called out in an attempt to break through the din of the crowds.  Surprised, the boy nearly tripped over himself as the manager ushered him back into the elevator and selected the top floor.

“I have a task for you.  It is of the utmost importance, but you must keep it and the identity of this particular guest to yourself, understood?”

“Not really, but sure.” The boy replied, adding with genuine curiosity a question of his own, “What's with the secrecy, does it have to do with someone particularly famous?”

The manager dismissed the question with a wave of his hand as the pair quickly entered into the penthouse suite and were greeted with a certain smell that had been subtle in the hallway, but was now an inescapable presence.  It was as if they had somehow left the hotel and entered onto a farm.  And as it were when they reached the bedroom, the situation wasn't all that far off.  Atop the giant bed was a large bird that watched them with inquisitive eyes.

“Meet one of the guests of honor.  Keep an eye on it.  Oh, and it needs to be down in the ballroom in about two hours.  Good luck.”  And with that, the hotel manager pivoted and exited with haste, clearly intentionally done so as to avoid any further questions.