After The Titanic

The Story

IN POSEIDON'S PALACE

Poseidon, Amphitrite, and Triton are all eating together.

"See," says Amphitrite, "isn't it nice to eat as a family?"

Poseidon swallows what he has in his mouth.

"Yes, dear. Very nice."

When behind Poseidon, an iris message appears.

"Dad?"

"Yes, Triton?"

Triton chuckles.

"Look behind you."

Poseidon turns around to see Percy.

"Oh, Percy! What a sur-. Are you crying?"

"PERSEUS JACKSON!" the immortals hear, "IF YOU ARE THIS UPSET ABOUT THE SHIP, WE CAN WATCH SOMETHING ELSE!"

"BUT IT SUNK!" cries the demi-god son of Poseidon when Annabeth appears.

"Hello, Annabeth," says the god of the sea, trying not to laugh.

"Oh, hello, Lord Poseidon."

Her eyes widen as she realizes what she just said.

"Lord Poseidon! I am very sorry about him."

The sea god chuckles.

"But, Annabeth!" wines Percy.

"IT WAS AN ICEBERG! HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!"

"HE COULD HAVE SAVED THEM!"

"Percy," Annabeth says, eerily calm, "if you do this, you will get an hour long lecture about architecture."

Percy's eyes widen.

"You wouldn't!"

"I would."

"Annabeth, what is happening?" Poseidon inquires.

She sighs. "I let him watch Titanic and told him the ship actually sunk."

"THEY WERE IN LOVE!"

"IT'S HISTORICAL FICTION! Now, go!"

"Do what?"

"DO HOMEWORK!"

"IT'S SUMMER!"

"THAT'S IT! TIMEOUT!"

"Not timeout!"

"You heard me."

Percy's face falls as he walks away.

"I am very sorry, Lord Poseidon. I should have stuck with disney movies."

"Just one question."

"Yes?"

"What is timeout?"

"Well, it's some-"

"I know what it is for little kids, but for Percy."

"Oh. He has to go to his room and he isn't allowed to talk to me for ten minutes unless there is an emergency. And no affection for the rest of the day."

Annabeth cuts the connection.

Amphitrite gives Poseidon a pointed look.

"What?"

"This is why you don't have affairs with mortals."

"Really? It was 19 years ago. He is 18."

"Timeout."

"WHAT!"

"You heard the rules. Go to your room for ten minutes and no me for 24 hours."

Poseidon sulks off to his room.