Island Blues Read Free Page B

almost impossible for anyone to book their own rooms without going through her. And her customer service stinks! You know Sabrina, I’ve started a new religion based on the joyous rewards of providing good customer service. What happened to a nice smile delivered along with your cheeseburger? Why can’t—”
    â€œLook, old woman, I don’t want to hear anything more about your religion of the month—” Bill Large cut in.
    â€œVicki Carroway doesn’t care what groups she books,” Sondra Lane said loudly over their squabbling. “Like the ‘Maximum Security Prison Reunion’ group last month. And she’ll tell people almost anything to get them to reserve a room or cottage. Then they’re disappointed when they get here and don’t have an Olympic-sized pool or their own golf course. They can’t sue, because they sign these iron-clad contracts.” Sondra shook her head, her hair swishing like a length of midnight blue silk. “And it’s not like we can complain to her boss, because she’s the president and owner of Paradise Vacations. Every time we try to pass an ordinance to stop her, she’s one step ahead of us.”
    â€œShe’s bringing money onto the island, people, are you forgetting that?” Bill asked with disgust. “Don’t you think that’s more important than a couple of whining tourists?”
    â€œSome things are more important than money, Mr. Large.” Mary was frosty with a chill nip of scorn. “You may be happy with a dung heap in your front yard if someone paid you to store it there, but the rest of us—”
    â€œI’ve seen your front yard, Mary, and while the sixty-seven Airstream certainly adds a touch of elegance to your flower bed and your urinal birdbath personifies class—”
    â€œWhy, you—”
    â€œPlease.” Hill clasped his hands over his ears. “Please stop.”
    â€œI still don’t understand what this all has to do with me.” Sabrina knew she sounded plaintive, but she couldn’t help it. She was as unhappy as the next islander by the influx of disgruntled vacationers, but what did the town council expect
her
to do?
    â€œWhy, Sabrina,” Sondra said in surprise, making Sabrina feel like a dimwit, “we need someone to listen to their complaints and try to make things right. We need an ombudsman to act as a non-biased mediator between the visitors and the islanders.”
    â€œBut I’ve never heard of an island having its own ombudsman. Isn’t there supposed to be someone responsible for these type of complaints, like, like…the Better Business Bureau or the Visitors Bureau?”
    â€œWe don’t have either of one of those. The only thing we have is a welcome center.” Sondra looked uncomfortable.
    â€œComico Island has a welcome center?”
    â€œWe’re getting off subject, dear.” Nettie’s tiny cinnamon eyes were earnest. “We really we need an ombudsman.”
    â€œBefore it’s too late!” Mary stood and began pacing in the space between Sabrina and the council members. Sabrina noticed that Hill flinched every time Mary got too close to him.
    â€œIf our tourists continue to leave unhappy, before too long no one will come back. Sure we may not always like the tourists, but we darn sure need their money.” Mary avoided looking at Bill Large as she said this. “If they all stop coming, none of us will be able to afford to live here. We need to make sure they leave happy, and that’s your job, Sabrina.”
    â€œBut Vicki realizes this as well, doesn’t she? If all of the people she books leave unhappy, soon she will be out of business.”
    â€œAnd then she’ll move on to the next place,” Sondra said grimly. “She’s done it time and time again. She’ll make as much money here as she can, and then move on, leaving us with her mess. I