“Are you a collector?”
“Yeah, but this piece is bleached.”
The catamaran guide shakes his head while sanitizing the returned snorkels.
“Were we allowed to take souvenirs?”
“Probably not. You should see the corals in the Cahuita region of Costa Rica; that stuff sells!
“Can I buy this piece?”
“Really? What were you thinking?”
“$50 U.S.?”
“I can do that.”
Handing him the money from my pouch, I place the coral back in the water upon receiving it.
“What are you doing?”
“My part.”