41
" Fred, you next," the plump woman said. " I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. " Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?" " Sorry, George, dear." " Only joking, I am Fred," said the boy and off he went. "
45
" So it's true what they say about warlocks, then?" true?" . " You can't be rude to everyone who talks to me." Alec made a wide, sweeping gesture. " And why not? Cramping your style, am I? I mean, maybe you were hoping to flirt with werewolf boy here. He's pretty attractive, if you like the messy-haired, broad-shouldered, chiseled-good-looks type." " Hey, now," said Jordan mildly. Magnus put his head in his hands. into?" " Mermaids," said Magnus into his fingers. " They always smell like seaweed." ," Alec said savagely, and kicking back his chair, he got up from the table and stalked off into the crowd. "
47
" Hermes smiled. " I knew a boy once ... oh, younger than you by far. A mere baby, really." Hermes ignored them. " One night, when this boy's mother wasn't watching, he sneaked out of their cave and stole some cattle that belonged to Apollo." " Did he get blasted to tiny pieces?" I asked." Hmm ... no. Actually, everything turned out quite well. To make up for his theft, the boy gave Apollo an instrument he'd invented-a lyre. Apollo was so enchanted with the music that he forgot all about being angry." So what's the moral?" " The moral?" Hermes asked. " Goodness, you act like it's a fable. It's a true story. Does truth have a moral?" " Um ..." " How about this: stealing is not always bad?" " I don't think my mom would like that moral." , suggested George. Martha demanded.." I've got it," Hermes said. " Young people don't always do what they're told, but if they can pull it off and do something wonderful, sometimes they escape punishment. How's that? "
