Nick and Maxine told their parents, “You know the old lady who lives in the little house in the back?”

“Yes,” their parents said.

“Her name is Mrs. Noodlekugel, and she is not a witch,” Nick said.

“We never thought she was a witch,” their parents said.

“She does not hate all children,” Maxine said.

“We never thought she hated all children,” their parents said.

“Although you told us not to bother her, Maxine and I visited her anyway,” Nick said.

“We thought you would,” their parents said.

“She is nice,” Maxine said.

“We know she is nice.”

“She said we did not bother her in the least.”

“Good. We are glad.”

“Mrs. Noodlekugel says we can come tomorrow. We are going to make gingerbread mice.”

“That will be fine,” Nick and Maxine’s parents said. “You may go.”

“It will? We may?”

“Mrs. Noodlekugel is your new babysitter,” Nick and Maxine’s parents said. “When we have to be away, you are to go to the little house in the back, and Mrs. Noodlekugel will look after you.”

“You knew that when you told us not to bother her,” Nick said.

“Yes, we did.”

“Did Mike the janitor tell you we were asking about the little house in the back?”

“Maybe.”

“So, you are sneaky parents,” Maxine said.

“You are tricky,” Nick said.

“Yes, we are. Do you mind?”

“Well . . .” Nick said.

“Well . . .” Maxine said.

“Since we like Mrs. Noodlekugel, and Mr. Fuzzface and the four farsighted mice, and since we are going to learn to make gingerbread mice tomorrow, we don’t mind at all.”