The Adventures of Chippy & Friends: Travel Agent

My buddy Merry got an entry level job as a travel agent with “Chipmunk Travel” a magazine devoted to luxury vacation spots that cater to critters. The magazine also has its own travel agency. On his first day at the job, as travel agent, his co-workers decided to have some fun at his expense. The agency has a rather hard to please VIP client. In fact of the last five trips this client booked through the agency, she was completely unsatisfied with every last one. Not even the senior travel agents wanted to deal with her. So, they stuck her on the new guy.

Merry started by reading up on the client’s file. The agency had booked luxury vacations in various tropical paradises for this client. The client complained the ocean water was too hot, the sand blistered her skin, and the sun was too strong. According Merry, no one at the agency bothered to look up her species on Wikipedia (a rookie mistake as far as he was concerned!). According to her bio she was a harp seal. Harp seals are native to the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans (think frigid ocean temperatures, ice bergs, and double digit below zero air temperatures.)

Merry gave it some thought and booked her a vacation on Salisbury Beach State Reservation in the middle of January. This beach is located at the mouth of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts. Average day time temps are in the 20s to 30s. The beach is generally deserted in the middle of the winter accept for a few hardy dog walkers. The best part is there is no gate admission charge in January. This would be a 100% free vacation.

Merry made arrangements to meet Harpie at the beach. She decided to swim down from the arctic and take the scenic coastal route. Harpie found the above freezing temps to her liking. There was a coating of snow on the beach to roll around in and have winter fun. The sand was perfect for a massage. She couldn’t thank Merry enough for arranging the perfect “tropical” vacation!