Reb Nissan probably won’t even mention the mysterious box, I thought. Most likely it just held breakable stuff, like Batya said. But still, it’s important to make a lonely, old neighbor feel welcome. So we set out once again, the chocolate balls and I, and Tatty, who came along so I wouldn’t go alone.

We had just stepped out the door when I was called back. “Bentzi! Telephone for you!”

It was Yoel. “Bentzi, did you see the new neighbors yet? Are they mysterious too, like the man with the box? Will there be a new mission for the secret club?”

“Ummm… well… maybe there is something odd going on. They have a boy our age, his name is Asher. I went to welcome him and even brought him a treat, but he barely spoke to me!”

“Maybe he’s just shy?”

“Could be. And my sister thinks he’s tired from the move. But maybe he’s hiding a deep, dark secret? Even when I asked him to join our secret club he refused, and—”

“You mean you asked him to join without consulting us first?!” Yoel sounded hurt.

“It’s my club, I started it!”

“So what if you started it? Now it belongs to all of us equally.”

I wanted to say, “It does not! I’m the leader!” but held back. [Good for you! Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you’re the leader and get to decide for everyone! Batya]

Instead I said, “Okay, but look, he lives right here in my building, he might see us having meetings and going out on missions, and feel left out. I had to offer him membership in the club [I agree with you there. Batya]. But he refused my offer, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”

“Oh, all right. And what about your other neighbor, the one with the mysterious box?”

“I’m on my way to visit him right now, with my father. I’ll call you back if I have anything to report.” (Excerpted from Mishpacha Jr., Issue 738)