Interesting Is Better Than Boring

Percy wasn't sure what Penelope did but he was shocked to find his mother working on a Sudoku puzzle when he got home from school that night. She looked tired and sickly but her eyes were clearer than he had seen in ages. 

"Hey, Perce. How was school?" she asked wearily. 

It was the first time she had asked him the mundane question he heard a million times growing up since his father's death. He was so stunned that it took him a moment to compose himself enough to answer. 

"It was interesting."

That was the simple way of putting it. Today had been pretty crazy between getting access to the equipment he needed and finding out he had known Dr. Reese online far longer than he had in person. 

Percy noticed his mother's rainbow nails a moment later and instantly knew that Penelope must have been the one who did them. Had getting her to snap out of it really been as simple as getting a home manicure? Impossible!