08/27/2025 Snippet, BANSHEE BEACH.

Class is in session!

…

You ever get judged by a fifteen-year old kid? There’s nothing like it.

“Hoverboards.” Catalina spat out that word like it rhymed with something dirty. Or like having it in her mouth caused her physical pain. The look she gave me didn’t even have any contempt ladled on, because there was no room because of all the pity. “I know there ain’t no waves up in Big Tinsel, but couldn’t you have sloshed around in a pool, at least?”

I looked up at her from my seat on the sand, where I was busily changing my shoes for sandals. “Hey. You asked me what I know, Catalina—”

She waggled a finger at me. “Hush the pipes a second, Gra— Shamus. The kind of simoleons you’re dropping on the table for training, you can buy a ‘Catty’ or two.”

“Gee, thanks. Whaddya gotta pay to never hear you even think ‘Gramps’ again?”

The little whippersnapper actually laughed. “More than the Castle’s gonna pay, Shamus. Even if they wanted to. They probably wanna see you gape like a fish that just found out lunch wasn’t free.”

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