Comedy of Erinn by Celia Bonaduce Page A

a time. Clearly, the man could skip a few days at the gym to no ill effect. He was obviously a fanatic.
    And what did he mean, she had a “snarcastic” attitude? This was some urban hybrid of “snarky” and “sarcastic” that was supposed to send her reeling. If she hadn’t been so annoyed, she might have even admired the compound.
    Erinn stepped up to the desk, ready to resume her battle for the eastern-facing room. Susan smiled at her brightly. Erinn was always suspicious of bright smiles under these sorts of circumstances. They usually meant “Hi, I’m not going to be in the least bit helpful.” Erinn decided to be firm.
    â€œI know it’s an unusual request, but I get up early and I like to rise with the sun,” she said. “I do my best work then. It’s important.”
    â€œI understand!” Susan said, furrowing her brow and looking at her computer screen. “Well, it looks like your co-workers chose most of the lower floors, but I can give you an eastern-facing room on the sixth floor, or I have one western facing room on the second floor. Which would you like?”
    Erinn let out a sigh. Why did it always go like this? She had asked for an eastern-facing room on a lower floor, and now the hotel was trying to convince her they would be doing her a favor by honoring one of the requests.
    â€œAll right, I’ll take the sixth floor,” Erinn said.
    In her peripheral vision, she saw the bellhop grabbing the camera equipment. She wheeled on him.
    â€œThat’s all right,” she said, taking the heaviest bag from him. “This is very delicate equipment.... I’ll carry it myself.”
    â€œIt’s six floors and you have four very heavy bags, ma’am.”
    â€œI realize that,” Erinn said, knowing full well where this conversation was headed. “I’ll just take the cart into the elevator and I promise I will return it to the lobby immediately—with a tip.”
    â€œThat’s just it, ma’am. There is no elevator.”
    Erinn felt as if she had suddenly grown roots and was anchored to the spot. She had booked a hotel with no elevator for two production teams, each one hauling almost seventy pounds of equipment. She caught Susan’s eye. No wonder all her co-workers chose the lower levels! Erinn shook herself from her spot and handed the heavy bag back to the bellhop. The two of them divvied up the bags and started the long, hard climb to the sixth floor. After the third floor, Erinn stopped to catch her breath. She flattened herself against the wall when she saw Carlos in the hallway. He didn’t notice her, but he had stopped and was attempting some back and shoulder exercises.
    If her teammates didn’t need a gym when they got here . . . they’d certainly need one by the time they left.
    Finally, Erinn and the bellhop stumbled into her room. She fished a twenty-dollar bill out of her bag. Her per diem really didn’t allow for such extravagances, but Erinn felt it was her duty to make it up to all the staff, who were now going to be hauling equipment around for the next several weeks. Erinn remembered from her traveling days that word of a huge tip would get around. Well, at least in India. Philadelphia was still a wild card. The sweating bellhop took the tip, gasped out a “Thank you,” and staggered from the room.

CHAPTER 9
    E rinn looked around. Well, even with no gym or elevator, the hotel made good on décor. Through sheer force of will, she had negotiated mini-suites for every member of the crew (something she hoped they’d remember when condemning her for the hotel’s shortcomings). Erinn was surprised to see that the colonial feel of the exterior and lobby didn’t extend to room décor. The suite was tastefully appointed in sleek, modern furniture and bright colors. Erinn felt sure that she would be completely comfortable in the place for the next three