“I think about that sometimes, too.”

“What? No shit. We must have eaten the same things growing up or something.”

“I doubt it,” said Barnabas.

“Hmm. I suppose you’re right. I ate a lot of seaweed.”

“With the mermaids?”

“Yeah.”

“How did you end up living with them?”

“They took me in.” Vincent hesitated. “After my father died, nobody wanted me.”

“Oh.”

“We lived in the forest, with a few other families. I guess you could call it a village. I don’t really remember too clearly, but I didn’t really feel welcome, so I left. The mermaids found me in a cave, where I’d been for a few days.”

“How old were you?”

“Six. I stayed with them for three years.” Vincent paused. “When I lived with my father, we had a pear tree.”

“I’ve never had a pear.”

“It’s been a long time since I had one.”