I directed her to the marina.
She thanked me.
I hung up.
Hank wrote on the chalkboard beside the register.
SCUBA LESSONS: YES
Beneath it:
CELEBRITY INFORMATION: NO
“That should fix everything,” I said.
“Signs are powerful.”
The door opened.
A young couple entered wearing matching sunglasses and the alert expressions of people who had consumed too much vacation coffee.
The woman looked at me.
Then at a photograph on her phone.
Then back at me.
“Are you—”
“Yes. I’m the dive instructor.”
“We wanted to ask about lessons,” the man said.
“Great.”
“And maybe take a quick picture?”
“No.”
“With the shop?”
“Still no.”
The woman lowered her phone.
Captain Pancake approached and sat on the man’s shoe.
The man brightened.
“Can we take one with the dog?”
“Five dollars,” Hank said.
I turned toward him.
“You charge for pictures with him now?”
“New revenue stream.”
