"Mr. Bennett?" Swithin questioned over the phone.
"Speaking, " Mr. Bennett replied.
"My name's Swithin. I'm a concierge here at Willow..."
"Swithin?" Mr. Bennett interrupted. "What kind of name is Swithin?"
"It's English, sir."
"Is that your first name or your last name?"
"It's my middle name. My first name's Saint; surname McGuire."
"Let me get this straight. Your first and middle name is Saint Swithin?"
"Exactly, sir," Swithin replied.

"Brilliant! What were your parents thinking when they named you Saint Swithin?"
"It was my father's idea. He was a religious studies professor at Sonoma State. My birthday fell on July 15th—Saint Swithin's Day. So..."
"Hold a second,” Mr. Bennett interrupted again. “Today’s your birthday?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, happy birthday kid!”
“Thank you, sir,” Swithin replied graciously.
Mr. Bennett stopped speaking for a moment. "If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing at work?”
“I couldn’t find anyone to cover for me, sir.”
"That's too bad… You're not working all night, are you?"
"No. I'm off in an hour and a half."
“What are your plans for the night?”
"I'm spending the evening with my folks."
"And?" Mr. Bennett said in a tone that suggested there was more information to gain.
"Just a quite gathering, sir," Swithin replied. "Nothing major…"
"Come on!" Mr. Bennett replied disbelievingly. "You’re what? Twenty-two, twenty-three years old?"
"Twenty-three, sir."

 
"Exactly!” Mr. Bennett exclaimed as if he’d proven a point. “So give up the goods! What are you doing after you’re finished with your folks?"
"Okay!" Swithin replied obligingly. "You got me! There'll be drinks, girls, lots of nudity and a hot tub!"
"Good for you!" Mr. Bennett exclaimed. “That’s what I like to hear!”
Swithin smiled.

"Let's cut to the chase. We don't want to keep those girls waiting! As I told your supervisor earlier this evening, I have very specific requests—many of which might be difficult to fulfill. Still, I'd like for you to try your best, because there's a tasty carrot at the end of my stick."
"A tasty carrot, sir?" Swithin questioned.
"The tasty carrot to much for you? Okay. I'll break it down. If you're able to meet all the requests I'm about to make, I'll provide Willow Woods with a fifty-thousand dollar deposit."
"A deposit for what, sir?"
"A deposit towards the use of your entire facility, for one week, this time next year."
"The entire facility?"
"The entire facility!" Mr. Bennett confirmed.
Swithin remained silent for a moment. "Respectfully, sir… What would you require the one week use of our entire facility for?"
"A celebration kid! I'm the Chief Executive Officer of KitschCreations.Com, and we go public at the end of the month."
"You run an internet site?"
"Not just an internet site," Mr. Bennett replied in a tone more reminiscent of a circus ringmaster than a company CEO, "a portal into all things kitsch! Retro gifts, collectibles, post cards, movie memorabilia, nostalgic toys, inflatable furniture, beanbags, pet rocks... The weirdest and most kitsch gifts, all available within the click of a mouse."
"Wow, sir! That's big!"

"Thanks," Mr. Bennett replied without skipping a beat, "and twelve and one half months from now will mark KitschCreations.Com's first anniversary as a publicly traded company! It'd be a shame if we didn't provide an appropriate celebratory getaway for the employees. So, if all works out with the requests I'm about to make, I'm ready to make Willow Woods the location, and the ultimate beneficiary, of our first anniversary celebration."

"I’m with you, sir," Swithin said assertively. “I have a pen and paper in hand. What are your requests?"
"First and foremost I'd like to sleep in tomorrow, so see to it that I'm not disturbed."
"Not a problem," Swithin commented.
"At eleven o'clock tomorrow morning," Mr. Bennett continued, "I'd like an hour long deep tissue massage. If possible I’d like for this massage to take place in my room, and I’d like a female masseuse to perform it. I’ll be spending the afternoon at the Spa. Schedule me in for a one o’clock facial, and a three o’clock manicure. For what remains of the day, I'll be lounging along side the pool."
"All very doable sir,” Swithin remarked. "Please continue."

 
"Tomorrow evening I'd like a table for one at French Laundry. I'd like my reservation set for eight o'clock, but I’m flexible."
Swithin gagged on his saliva and started coughed.
"Are you okay kid?"
"I'm okay," Swithin replied as he cleared his throat. "Sir, with all do respect, French Laundry doesn't take next day reservations. They don't even take same month reservations. Regretfully, sir, reservations are made no earlier than two months to the calendar date."
"I understand that," Mr. Bennett replied. "Still, as I said before, try your best. That's all you can ever do, regardless of what anyone asks of you… Understand?"
There was a strong air of sincerity in Mr. Bennett's voice, a sincerity that Swithin felt warmly and was pleasantly surprised to experience. "Yes, sir," Swithin said, “I understand."

Mr. Bennett continued, "Saturday morning I'll be joined by a lady friend. Her name is Megan Stewart. Upon her arrival I'd like for her to be lead to my room. We'll be eating breakfast here at the Willow in the Wind Café."
Mr. Bennett paused for a moment.
"How’s the Café’s food?"
"Excellent, sir!" Swithin replied confidently. "I recommend the smoked salmon omelet."
"Good, then the Willow in the Wind’s Café it is. After breakfast I'd like for Megan and I to take a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley. Following that… A tour of the Rombauer Vineyards, I love their whites!”
Hastily writing away Swithin lost focus for a moment and failed to acknowledge Mr. Bennett's last request.
"Still with me kid?" Mr. Bennett asked.
"Yes sir," Swithin replied. “Hot air balloon rides take place early in the morning, the latest your balloon could wait to lift is 8:00 am. Thus, should you be interested in breakfast, you may wish to wait until your balloon ride is complete to eat.”
“How long do the rides last?”
“Approximately two hours—barring, unfavorable atmospheric conditions.”
“I’ll see to it that Megan arrives by 7:00am. We’ll eat brunch in place of breakfast. But, I want a bottle of champagne chilled and ready for us to take on our balloon ride.”

“Yes, sir, Swithin replied. “Champagne will be provided upon lift off, it’s standard. As for Rombauer Vineyards… Does a two o’clock tour work for you?”
“Yes,” Mr. Bennett replied.
“Great…” Within said as he busily wrote down the details of Mr. Bennett’s requests. “Please continue."
"What do you recommend for dinner kid?"
"Celadon, sir." Swithin replied without hesitation. "It's a cozy neighborhood restaurant here in Napa. This season their menu features a mix of Mediterranean comfort foods."
"What about the wine list?" Mr. Bennett inquired.
"They've received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence annually since 1997."
"I'm sold! Celadon for dinner. Set reservations for seven o'clock."
"Consider it done, sir."

"Early Sunday morning Megan will be heading back to San Francisco. Around seven o’clock a couple of my friends are meeting me here for breakfast. Now, I'd like to tell them to bring along their clubs for a nine o'clock tee-time at Silverado. What do you think?"
"Silverado?" Swithin replied exasperatedly, before remembering Mr. Bennett's comment regarding trying his best. "Yes, sir. Silverado. I'll try my best.
"That’s my boy!”
Mr. Bennett cleared his throat.
"Well, that just about covers my requests. I'll be checking out early Sunday evening. That won't pose a problem will it?"
"Not at all, sir."

"How soon will I know the status of my requests?" Mr. Bennett asked eagerly.
"If all works out, I'll be getting back to you within an hour."
"An hour?" Mr. Bennett questioned disbelievingly.
"Yes sir, an hour," Swithin replied. "That is, as I said, if all works out."
"In the interest of Willow Woods, let's hope that all does just that."

Swithin began to stutter out a comment, but then went silent.

Mr. Bennett waited for a moment and then said, "Good luck kid. I look forward to hearing back from you and your office."

"Thank you Mr. Bennett."

Chapter Four: Dialing for Dollars>>