A Call at the Hotel Desk

In bold: key vocabulary. Tap any word in the text to see its definition.

It was two in the morning at the Hotel Mirador, and Elena was the only person at the front desk. The phone rang. "Good evening, reception. How can I help you?"

"Hello," said a man's voice. "This is room 208. Could you send me an extra pillow? Mine is very flat." "Of course, sir. I'll send one right away." "Thank you. Oh, and one more thing. Is it possible to have a dictionary?" "A dictionary?" said Elena. "Yes. There is a suitcase in my room, and it isn't mine."

Elena stopped writing. "I'm sorry, sir. Did you say that there is a suitcase that is not yours?" "Exactly. It's big and green, and it's in front of the bed. I've never seen it before. Somebody left it in my room." "Could you tell me your name, please?" "Mr. Patel."

Elena looked at the computer. "Mr. Patel, I'm afraid there is a small problem. You are registered in room 308. Room 208 is another guest's room, a lady who is traveling with a green suitcase." There was a long silence. "Then I'm... in the wrong room?" "It seems so, sir."

"But how did I get in?" he asked. "The key card worked!" "Maybe the door was open, and you came in without checking," said Elena. "It happens at this time of night. Don't worry. Please put the key card back in your pocket, leave the room quietly, and take the elevator to the third floor."

"Thank you very much," said Mr. Patel. "And I'm so sorry." "No problem at all, sir. Good night." Elena smiled and wrote in the night log: "Room 208. Stranger with pillow problem. Solved." Then she thought for a moment, and added: "Somebody in 208 is going to have a big surprise in the morning."