Page 29 of Chasing Sunrise

“The temple with the monkeys?” Amanda asked.

“Yes. Have you been?” Marisol excitedly responded.

“Only heard of it.”

“The monkeys are holy.” The girl’s tone remained eager. “The first monkeys transformed from the head lice of Manjushri.”

“How else would they be holy?”

Kasey chuckled at Amanda’s comment, then explained, “She wants to be a veterinarian.”

“I plan to work with primates,” Marisol corrected him. “I’ve wanted to work with them since my third birthday when my dad brought me to the zoo, and I saw the workers interact with them.”

“I believe you will accomplish whatever you decide to do,” Amanda said.

“Thank you. Uncle K went last year, but wouldn’t take me along.”

“We’ve been through this. I can’t take you with me when I’m working.”

“I understand,” Marisol replied. “And I do love the pictures and videos you took of the temple monkeys and the sunrise.”

“Sunrise at Sarangkot was the best thing I experienced in Nepal.” Kasey flipped down the car visor to block the sun. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I can only describe it as spiritual.”

“Sounds amazing.” Amanda switched lanes.

“Will you help me convince Daddy, Uncle K?” Marisol grunted. “Mom is the real problem. She’s never going to let me go.”

He spun around to face his niece. “You don’t know that.”

“She’s the reason I’m in this baby seat. Do you really think she’s going to let me travel to Nepal? She says no to everything. She isn’t ever even here. Why does she have a say in what I do?”

“Because she gave you life.” He sat forward. “Always respect your mother.”

“I do. I just don’t understand why she doesn’t want me to do fun things.”

Amanda took the off-ramp and pulled into the right-hand lane behind a line of traffic entering the parking area. Signs with a bird, the same as on Kasey and Marisol’s shirts, were staked alongside the street. “What bird is that?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.

“A yellow-crowned night heron,” he explained. “The team we’re going to watch is the Herons.”

She turned into the parking lot. Kasey showed his phone to the ticket taker who scanned it. They were waved forward. Workers in bright orange vests directed traffic. Kasey showed his phone to each one they passed until they parked in a spot close to the huge stadium. She shifted the car into park. “What kind of pass is on your phone?”

“He’s very important,” Marisol offered from the back seat.

“I’m not,” Kasey argued. “I’m just acquainted with a few people.”

They exited the vehicle and walked to a private entrance. A security officer stood at the open black door. He smiled and held out a hand to Kasey. “Great to see you.”

“How are you, Hal?”

“Never better, man. The better question is, how are you? I saw the Star Breeze clip on you and Harper.”

“Hanging in. I’m escorting these two beautiful women with me today.”

Hal nodded to Marisol then pointed at Amanda’s purse. “Only see-through bags, ma’am. I have one here if you’d like to use it.” He reached inside the door.

“Thank you.” She transferred her belongings to it, and Kasey ran her purse back to the car. When he returned, they stepped inside a wide hallway painted orange and blue. The hall led to a huge room filled with people.

An older man in a Heron’s shirt hurried over. “Darling Marisol, how are you?”

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