"Hey, Grover," said Percy as he sat down beside him. "Want to come over to my place during the summer?"

Grover hesitated. "Umm, sure... But you'll have to ask your parents, first."

Percy grit his teeth. "Parent."

"Oh, umm... Sorry."

"Yeah... It's okay. Hey, have you discovered who shot that spitball in math class that got me in trouble yet?"

"Well... that's the thing... It's a secret that I can't tell you, or Nancy Bobofit will beat me-" he quickly covered his mouth, as he realized what he said.

Percy grinned. "Thanks, man."

"Percy-"

He looked back. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I never knew my dad... he left when I was a baby," Percy answered. "I'm fine. Really."

But Percy wasn't fine. Some nights, he would pray for some kind of connection from his dad, but all he ever had was the same warm glow feeling he got when he thought of the only memory he had: A smile.