Hi friend! I’m glad to be here, talking to you on this sunny and beautiful Friday. Life has been busy and fun, and I am really happy to report that everything is good on my side, hope things are the same on yours.
Okay, okay, here’s the thing, have you watched Superhost (2021)? No? Please don’t tell me it’s because you’ve never heard of it. Okay, no matter, that’s what I’m here for. So, please get comfortable on your chair, your couch, or wherever it is you are reading and resting at the moment, try to slow down by taking a few deep breaths (I know how stressful it can be when spending soooo much time online… inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds, repeat twice), and simply try to enjoy this moment while learning about our hostess, Rebecca, even if just for a little bit.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Rebecca has the nicest of smiles which goes perfectly with her big, bright eyes. To see her looking at you like that is to witness a gentle gift from life, something rarely experienced; the gift of someone with both her guard down, and a rabid eagerness to accommodate you, to make you feel at home.
She goes by BettyLou52 in the all-popular vacation home sharing rental app where, if you are lucky, can book a night within the next few months. Her Castle Rock, Colorado home rental is a luxury cabin in the woods, secluded for absolute peace and privacy, a place so perfect that the occasional low water pressure and the at-times spotty cell service are the only minor snags you could encounter in this, your quiet lodging experience.
Rebecca takes pride in the beauty of her cabin—the floor-to-ceiling windows are breathtaking—even though she does not reside in it due to her already having a smaller place nearby. You see, she inherited the property from her dad (her stepmom got the other home in South Carolina), so instead of leaving the place empty she rents it to lucky visitors.
Among the many things that Rebecca enjoys doing for her guests are being available 24/7 in case of emergencies, making sure that any complaint that arises gets resolved immediately, providing state-of-the-art security with camera surveillance and alarm systems, preparing a surprise full breakfast (fresh coffee, eggs, pancakes, the works), and a fun little prank at the end of the visit to make it an unforgettable one.
You could say that Rebecca is a bit weird and eccentric as a person, and a little extreme as a hostess, after all, her goal is to make sure her guests have the best time at her rental. And yes, granted, she can be overbearing due to her constantly asking to be given a great review on the app but that’s okay because it’s Rebecca and we like her and she is a sweetheart and yes of course she deserves five stars yes all the stars all of them yes! (deep breaths)
Currently, Claire and Teddy are Rebecca’s guests and, coincidentally, are vloggers who review vacation rentals for their channel called Superhost. Prior to booking, they asked for permission to film both her and the property and naturally she said yes, which was odd as it almost gave the impression she desperately did not want to be on camera, not even for a second…
Oh, Claire and Teddy.
Claire was in charge of the channel and, sure, Teddy helped and worked really hard on it not only because he loved her, but because he had fun spending time with her. They were in a relationship and living together, albeit being helped at the moment by Teddy’s parents. You see, the reason why Claire was so uptight and neurotic about the channel was due to the recent unfavorable metrics; they were rapidly losing subscribers which translated into less views which meant less money, and the one thing Claire would not tolerate was to continue mooching money off Teddy’s parents. They needed their own place. They needed one more hit to make that happen. They needed another video just like “The Bitch From Draper.” Claire was sure of it.
Teddy had reservations about producing another clickbait video à la Draper because it could hurt people (again). The whole thing was wrong, but he would go for it if it meant making Claire happy.
Claire and Teddy could not be more different. She was bossy, mean, and way too serious off screen, but would become the total opposite when filming… it was actually unnerving watching her flip between personas. He was patient, sweet, and likable, but would become ten times more playful when being asked to perform for the camera. Teddy’s goal for this trip was to surprise Claire with a ring and a marriage proposal. Claire’s was to get those numbers up.
Claire had good instincts for sensational content so whenever she perceived it, she went for it. Here’s when she decided to get our beloved Rebecca involved in the middle of it and exploit her personality for clicks. Poor thing, she was innocently minding her own business, being the same little old quirky hostess as ever.
Except, it was all a lie.
[Rebecca did not have a place to live nearby; she slept in the cabin’s basement. The cabin was not under her name, and the real owner was not her dad either, but Betty and Lou; both dead and disposed of somewhere in the woods along with their cat. You see, Rebecca believed her hosts had been the nicest people she had ever met and, during her booked stay over the entire Holiday month, they really made her feel like she was part of their family… she couldn’t just leave… but, as expected, Lou got upset about it, changed the access code and kicked her out; when Rebecca was on her way out, just as she was walking away, Lou said something stupid to her and she just, well, snapped.]
Teddy and Claire got freaked out by some of Rebecca’s behavior so they agreed to cut short their stay, however, as they were driving away—mind you, in their car, yes, inside, both of them, safely driving away already—they were stopped by Rebecca who told them she had a great last surprise for their video. Teddy said no, but Claire being Claire said yes.
“We need to get more footage of her. Look at her. She is harmless. Teddy, this video is going to be huge.” -Claire
So, they got out of the car, took their camera with them, and followed Rebecca into the woods where a huge (big!) surprise was waiting for them. What happened next involved a third person, some tape, rope, a burlap sack, a knife… and a whole lotta acting!
Yes, that was a lie also.
Rebecca was just pranking them, teaching them a lesson. No biggie. It was all fun and games, right? Wrong! Claire and Teddy were in shock and relieved and happy it was not real, yet, their curiosity about Betty and Lou, as well as not knowing when to let it go (count your losses and leave!), would cause Rebecca to snap, again.
“Boy, you weren’t kidding about these two. Can’t leave well enough alone. [pause] I am sorry about this. [stabbing] You guys, you were so close. Why couldn’t you just stop? What am I gonna do with her? Now what am I gonna do!?” -Rebecca
And so, our visit with Rebecca abruptly ends here. But please do not be sad, if you ever miss her contagious charm and energy, you are more than welcome to come back and pay us a visit.
In Love and Fear,
—Marath
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