The Housekeeper and the Professor

The day of the party arrives. The Professor points to the note on his jacket, proud that he “recalls” that it’s the day of the party, and the three of them set to preparing for it. The Professor surprises the narrator by skillfully ironing a tablecloth.

Before the party, the narrator discovers that the bakery forgot to include candles with the cake. Root volunteers to go and runs off before the narrator can object. As time passes, the Professor becomes increasingly worried about Root; the narrator calms the Professor’s nerves, but finally, agrees to go after Root. She finds Root looking for an open bakery, since the original bakery was closed. By the time they return, the table and cake are ruined—the Professor tried to get the cake ready, but it fell from the box, crushing one side. The narrator quickly cleans it and cuts three slices, hoping the Professor will forget about it and move on. Once everything is ready, the Professor notices Root as if for the first time and begins asking him his introductory questions.