Penelope loved the fountain, loved the way the water sprayed, cooling her in the hot sun, making her clothes cling as she called her joy to the heavens.

"What are you doing?" asked the man in the blue uniform.

Some sort of park official, thought the girl. "Nothing. Just enjoying the water."

"This isn't a waterpark, you know," said the man, a note of disapproval hanging from his lips like a dangling cigar, ready to drop and burn.

"So?" she asked. She kicked up a fine spray as her feet pattered against the thin layer that had built up over the cement fountain.

"So I don't know if you should be doing that," said the man. "Insurance, you know, all that sort of thing."

Penelope stepped through the cascading water, beneath its crystal arch, and jumped down next to the man. He jumped back as though she'd struck him.

"Hey! You got me wet!" he chided.

Smiling her sweetest smile, Penelope replied, "But I thought you might need to cool off too."