A 1

“Right this way.” Kate grinned at Percy. “It’s a wonderful exhibit. You won’t be disappointed. So
rare we get VIPs.”
“Uh, you mean demigods?” Frank asked.
Kate winked at him impishly and put a finger to her mouth. “So over here is the cold-water
experience, with your penguins and beluga whales and whatnot. And over there…well, those are some
fish, obviously.”
For an aquarium worker, she didn’t seem to know much or care much about the smaller fish. They
passed one huge tank full of tropical species, and when Frank pointed to a particular fish and asked
what it was, Kate said, “Oh, those are the yellow ones.”
They passed the gift shop. Frank slowed down to check out a clearance table with clothes and
toys.
“Take what you want,” Kate told him.
Frank blinked. “Really?”
“Of course! You’re a VIP!”
Frank hesitated. Then he stuffed some T-shirts in his backpack.
“Dude,” Percy said, “what are you doing?”
“She said I could,” Frank whispered. “Besides, I need more clothes. I didn’t pack for a long trip!”
He added a snow globe to his stash, which didn’t seem like clothing to Percy. Then Frank picked
up a braided cylinder about the size of a candy bar.
He squinted at it. “What is—?”
“Chinese handcuffs,” Percy said.
Frank, who was Chinese Canadian, looked offended. “How is this Chinese?”