“Quickly!” Eli hisses. “He’s getting away!”

Eli:The plates were floating at the Shabbos meal…

Nellie: The candles were getting higher instead of lower…

Squizzle:  And we’re pretty sure that it’s the custodian’s fault!

When Eli thinks about it, it makes perfect sense. “How did they hire a custodian at the North Pole? Did he come here along with them?” He’s pretty sure he didn’t. Eli remembers seeing the custodian leave the night before, walking right out of the welcome house as though he was going home from work. “Where did he come from?”

“I bet he’s an international spy,” Nellie says, settling down beside him. They slipped out of the dining room during the main course and brought their plates upstairs to the big couches at the top of the staircase. “Oh! Or part of an evil organization with headquarters at the North Pole. They’re worried that our welcome house is going to bring in too many tourists, so they’re trying to scare us away.”

Eli laughs. “This isn’t a book, Nellie. There’re no such things as evil organizations, as far as I know. Except maybe the American Dental Association.” He chews on his lip.  “But we have a lot to think about. Why is the custodian doing all of this? And how? I think we need to figure out where he goes when he isn’t here.”

Nellie is still theorizing when they head back downstairs with empty plates. “Maybe he’s really a polar bear who can turn into a human. He’s trying to get more info on Squizzle so he can have a proper squirrel dinner for Melaveh Malkah.” She winks at Squizzle, who puts two tiny arms on his hips and chitters rudely.

Eli leaves them behind to get seconds. The chicken has already cooled off, but there’s more in the kitchen. “I left a tray on the hot plate,” Nachi assures him.

The chicken on the hot plate looks fresh and smells delicious. Eli’s mouth waters, and he reaches for a drumstick.

“What are you doing in here?” asks a smooth voice from behind. Eli jumps and whirls around.