Inside, Hank stood behind the counter with silver glitter in his beard.
Captain Pancake wore a shell necklace and an expression of deep resignation.
“What happened to you?” I asked.
Hank looked toward the children.
“Craft table.”
That explained everything.
“Where’s Gina?”
“Food poisoning.”
Gina usually handled birthday parties because she enjoyed children, crafts, and chaos.
I enjoyed two of those things under controlled conditions.
Hank pointed toward the back.
“Eight mermaids. One parent. Thirty minutes until pool games.”
“Why is there only one parent?”
“She went for ice.”
“Is she coming back?”
Hank’s silence was not reassuring.
A little girl entered carrying a plastic tiara.
She looked at Annie.
Then at Annie’s white T-shirt and denim shorts.
“You’re not dressed.”
Annie blinked.
“For what?”
The child held out the tiara.
Annie looked at me.
I looked at Hank.
Hank wiped glitter from his beard.
“You brought help.”
“I brought a guest.”
“Same number of arms.”
Annie accepted the tiara.
