(Ephesus West Estate, Montecito, California)

When Daniela returned to the underground floor of Emel's estate, she found the pool empty. Myrsini was nowhere to be found. Daniela sat on the chair and waited. It was several minutes before she decided to get into the inviting water without her, and enjoy a relaxing swim. It would be a great way, she surmised, to end her long day of the most interesting of revelations before settling in for the evening. As she stepped down the ladder into the clear water, she noted it was not heated as expected, and in fact, was rather cold. She realized the young girl was being brought up in a fairly rigorous way, regardless of how the trappings of her privileged life looked to an outsider. Her defensive martial arts classes and horseback riding regime sounded like a full week of physical activity, considering the forty-some-odd pool laps she reported were practiced daily.

Kicking vigorously and stroking within the roped lane to keep warm, Daniela, welcomed the refreshing water as it glided over her head and shoulders. On her second lap she looked up midway at the ladder and chair and realized she was being watched. There in a teal-green warm-up suit was the now-familiar Myrsini, seated, and holding a large, open book in her lap. Daniela stopped swimming and caught hold of the ladder.

"Don't tell me you finished those laps already, young lady," she asked the girl with glowing skin and still wet hair. It was combed back, pristinely, away from her face.

"Yeah, I did. I'm sorry I didn't wait for you. See . . . Nefeli will be testing me this evening and I have to study a bit for that."

"Testing you?" Daniela pushed her own wet hair back with her fingers while she tried to catch her breath.

"Yeah. I'm kinda behind in my reading this stuff." She tapped her fingers impatiently on the open pages.

Daniel climbed out of the pool and dried her face and shoulders with the towel she had been given. "So what's the book?

"Oh. It's just some history. I have to go over a unit before tonight."

The girl held up a glossy, paperback study book. 'World History,' the title read. 'Preparation for the SAT II Subject Test.'

"That's some pretty ambitious reading," Daniela remarked, "Especially for someone who's only . . ."

"Eleven. I know. But it's OK. It only covers the basics. It's an outline of world history, you see?"

"Still . . . . Do you even understand those events and places? And with that vocabulary?"

"Most. I keep a notebook of the ones I don't. I look them up on the Net."

Myrsini held up the glowing screen of a ubiquitous iPad she carried faithfully under the book.

"Well, it's still a lot of work, I'm sure."

"I'm OK with it. In five years I'll be taking those exams anyway."

Daniela smiled at this forward-thinking announcement.

"Besides, I enjoy history a lot. Mainly the ancient stuff. But I need to go over three units tonight . . . the section on Asian River Cultures."

"I see. So you must be a very good student."

"I don't really know if I am."

The modesty of her statement was surprising to Daniela.

"And why is that, Myrsini?"

"I don't go to school, exactly. You see, I'm home tutored."

There was a bit of pain in her voice with the term.

"Wow. So for how many years have you . . .?"

"All my life! Ok . . . I have friends who go to schools in SB. One in private and three in public . . . but . . . I get to see them in activities down the hill mostly."

An excitement returned to Myrsini's face as she mentioned Santa Barbara, down the hill.

"The city is pretty great. Girl's Softball . . . museums, parks. Plus I love the theaters down in LA . . . when we get to go. Weekends I usually have my friends up here. We go out to the riding club and follow the trails with our horses. Sometimes when it's warm we spend the whole day at the beach."

"Sounds pretty fun. Santa Barbara does has lovely beaches."

"Yeah. But all my education has come from Nefeli and Emmie. Since I was a baby. Well, except for this crabby woman now . . . who comes twice a week. She's my math tutor. See . . . they're pretty strict about my learning. And math. Well . . ."

"That's . . . understandable."

Next year they say I'll probably start real school. At least they're talking about it now. It's an all-girl private school. Up by the mission. Where Katie goes. I might start middle school with her there."

"So . . . what about . . . boys?"

A perplexed look came over Myrsini's innocent face.

"What about them? They're usually kind of silly. I don't have any friends that are boys. Sometimes I have to fight with them in matches for Tai Quan'do. They get really mad if I beat them. But they just always act stupid from what I've seen."

"Yeah. I know what you mean," Daniela responded. She then smiled whimsically.

"Nefeli says I'll have to deal with them when I get up to high school and university."

"Don't worry, Myrsini," Daniela said, nodding to her comfortingly. "When the time comes in life for guys . . . you'll be fine." A profound irony came over her as she thought about this. "Better than fine," she added.

At that moment Daniela looked up and saw Aisha walking toward them.

"Oh wait," Myrsini whispered to her quickly. "I was supposed to tell you we'll be having dinner at eight 'o clock. Up on the terrace,"

"Ok, don't worry. I'll cover for you." Daniela winked at the girl who was then looking down, studiously at her book.

Aisha reached them, seeming a little tired and out of breath.

"Myrsini? Did you remember to tell our guest about dinner in a little while?"

"Yes," chimed in Daniela. "She certainly did. Eight 'o clock, right? Thank you, Aisha. I'm looking forward to it."

The woman smiled approvingly. "In about twenty minutes, girls," she said, turning to begin the long journey back.

"You should wear something a little more beautiful tonight, Myrsini," Aisha directed sternly from the stairway.

* * *