A small group gathered around the table. While Violet began chopping the grapes in half, Ottillia began a lector on the grape salad. “There are different varieties of grape salad. We always have one type at all of our holiday gatherings at home. The favorite one is whole grapes mixed with sour cream and sprinkled with brown sugar. However, that one needs to be broiled to caramelize the sugar and then chilled. Since we don’t have the time for that, we will be making a faster but still delicious variety. As you can see, Violet is chopping the washed seedless red and green grapes in half. We like to make this recipe in the summer because it doesn’t involve using a hot oven.” Although Violet was an expert, she still had not finish chopping both bags of grapes. “Violet, please pick up the pace,” Ottillia said. “I do not want these fine guests to become bored.” “Yes, ma’am,” Violet whispered.
Twig’s felt bad for Violet who was obviously chopping as fast as she could. Would it be rude to offer to help? Maybe distracting Ottillia would help. “Excuse me, Miss Nordin,” she said timidly. “Would you please tell us what kinds of grapes you recommend.” “Excellent, question Miss?”
“People call me Twig’s.” Twig’s responded to the question. Ottillia went into a long speech about the pros and cons of different grapes in grape salad. Twig’s hadn’t realized there were so many kinds of grapes. When Ottillia finished her lecture, Violet was just chopping the last grape in half. “Perfect,” Ottillia said. “Now, in a bowl Violet will mix 8 oz of cream cheese.” She paused while Violet added it. “One small container of vanilla Greek yogurt,” pause. “1/3 cup sugar,” longer pause, “and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Once all these are added they need to be stirred together.” Violet stirred. “Now it is time to add the grapes.” Violet had just added the grapes and was about to start stirring when a commotion broke out under the card table. Pittersticks ran out from under the table with Owenbranch at his tail. Owenbranch’s harness hung empty from the leash. “Owenbranch, darling, come back at once.” Ottillia screeched. “Someone catch him please!” The two squirrels raced up the Christmas tree and back down sending a cascade of ornaments to the floor. Violet, Ottillia, and the waiters raced after the two squirrels.

Molly Brown was late to the party. In fact, she almost hadn't come at all. She wasn't sure how people would feel about her after the little adventure they had had on the cruise ship the past summer. However, she was at a bit of a loose end, and when she had received her invitation, she had realized that she really did want to see some of them again, to hear how they were doing and if everyone had fully recovered.

Shyly hesitating, she stood at the door, hearing the cheery sound of people visiting with each other. Before she could make up her mind to go in all the way, there was a sudden outcry. Molly blenched as she saw not one, but TWO squirrels racing across the room. Oh no! not squirrels again!

"Well, if you stop by again, feel free to swing by my shop." She gave a sly smile and added, "I promise that's not a sales pitch, I'd just like the opportunity to show you the place when things are normal. I promise, there is such a time."

Almost as if on cue, Miss Nordin made her announcement about about showing everyone how to make grape salad. 'Necessary dish? I've never even heard of it!' Faye was really trying hard to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it was getting harder and harder to do.

It was almost a relief when something interrupted the demonstration. Almost. Maybe it would've been, if that something hadn't been Pittersticks, with the other larger squirrel hot on his tail (err, literally)! Faye noticed that the tree reached up to the railing on the second floor, so the squirrels would likely just jump to the next level rather than come back down, so their best bet of catching them would be to go up there. She would never beat them, of course, but she raced up the stairs in hopes of at least seeing where they would go next.

Cody, meanwhile, had been trying to figure out the best way to dissuade the younger girls from going in the basement - ideally, without feeling like a babysitter. He did not want to get in trouble at a party in front of his boss. In that sense, the sudden distractions were almost a relief for him as well. When the ornaments fell off the tree, he glanced at Mel and the girls and dryly commented, "Well, I guess we get to play 'Fetch the Ornament' after all!"

Cody ran over to the tree and quickly started picking up some of the scattered ornaments. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one rolling over to a set of stairs that had been roped off. He knew he wasn't going to make it before they rolled over the edge, but - surely the staff wouldn't mind if he was rescuing one of their ornaments?

Cody dashed over to the staircase, ducked under the rope, and scurried down the stairs, catching the ornament just before it hit the bottom of the landing.

Harry Herbert ascended the basement stairs, unsure of what time it was, or even where he was going. But two things he did know- he was hungry, and regardless of the time, it was time for breakfast.
The stairs wound upwards flight after flight, but at last he came to a door and peeked out. He saw a light-filled, highly ornamented hallway, and fortunately, no one was there. But there were noises of talking in the background. He would have to keep quiet.
He tiptoed down the hall, peeking through doorways and trying to make himself invisible. There seemed to be some sort of party in progress, but there weren't too many unwatched tables of food, which he was mainly looking for. But there were plenty of guests. All kinds of guests. Harry wasn't too sure that he didn't see a squirrel or two running about...

Mel appreciated Cody's suggestion. When the squirrels started running by, her first instinct had been to growl, deep in her throat.

Why was it that wherever Pittersticks went, trouble seemed to be close behind?

She remembered all too well what happened the last time she'd chased a squirrel. With a huff, Mel went after the fallen ornaments instead. But she couldn't resist barking up at the squirrels.

"Is this the way you always behave at parties?"

Kaelin watched Cody dash down the stairs. She and Grace made eye contact, and she patted Mel softly.

"Come on, let's go," she said, quickly following the older boy. She furiously hoped her sister wouldn't deal with the squirrels again, but also knew this was the perfect chance to slip away.

~~

Maeve, contrary to popular thought, thought Pitterstick's interruption highly appropriate and entertaining, and was quite ready to laugh at the entire situation.

Mel padded after the girls and Cody.

Grace saw the squirrels run by, which brought some mixed emotions based on what had happened the last time she'd seen this sort of thing. She was more than willing to go exploring with Kaelin and Mel.

Emma had wandered back to her parents and the three of them settled back to watch the demonstration about the 'traditional necessary dish.'

Maybe there's some secret ingredient or something that would make it more interesting, Dan thought to himself. He didn't mind the salad but wasn't sure what might make it so essential.

Kaelin bounded down the steps after Cody, reaching the bottom less than a minute later. Grace and Mel followed. All stood around for a moment, letting their eyes adjust.

“So cool,” Kaelin breathed. “Mel, do you want to play now, or should we all go exploring? It looks like some of this stuff could be eons old.”

"Woah, woah, what are you doing?!" Cody demanded. "I came down here to get an ornament, that wasn't an invitation! C'mon, we need to get upstairs before we get in trouble." He thought for a moment before adding, "Besides, it looks like no one's cleaned down here in ages. There could be about a million spiders in your hair right now - who knows how many more we'd find in the basement."

Kaelin rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, you can't tell me you're more scared of a little tiny bug than it is of you," she chided. "Beside, you can't tell me you're more interested in grape salad than in poking around down here, right?"

Twig's watched the squirrels race around. It was much more entertaining watching the guests and staff try to catch the squirrels. Twig's didn't feel any inclination to help in the chase. Finally, the chase was halted when Pittersticks leaped up on the card table and skidding to a stop next to the grape salad. For whatever reason, Owenbranch did not follow him up on the table.

Ottillia scooped him up. "You naughty boy," she scolded. She picked up his harness and started fastening him in. Meanwhile Violet had resumed her post at the grape salad and was stirring it. Meanwhile Pittersticks was gesturing wildly and going on and on about the indication of being chased around. "Owenbranch, how in the world did you manage to get unbuckled?" Not being a talking squirrel Owenbranch was silent. "Oh no!" She cried. "The biggest emerald from Owenbanch's collar is missing!"

Instantly, a change came over Pittersticks. He straighten up and started caressing his whiskers. "Mademoiselle," he said in foreign accent. "Do not fear. Pittersticks is on the case. I simply must put the little gray cells to work and will discover the solution to this mystery. Either Owenbranch lost the gem in the process of getting out of his harness or," Pittersticks surveyed the room, "there is a thief among us."

"I hope it just rolled away," Ottillia said fretfully. "Daddy will not let me buy jeweled harnesses for Owenbranch if it isn't found. Owenbranch lost one last month. It is insured but it would be much better if it could be found. I'll give a reward for its safe return. No questions asked."

"So," Pittersticks said. "This is not the first time a jewel has disappeared from Owenbranch's person. Look around the room. Was anyone here also present the last time a jewel went missing?"

"I don't think so," Ottillia replied.

"Well," said Pittersticks. "There are several possibilities. I am willing to allow for one coincidence, so it is possible this is an isolated incidence. Or someone could be here in disguise. Or have a partner here. Someone easily could have released Owenbranch from his harness to create a diversion or there is an opportunist here who made use of the time when everyone else was distracted. It is of course possible that it rolled away but I think that is highly unlike."

The waiters did not think it was highly unlikely. They were eagerly searching the floor and anywhere else they could think of. Pittersticks settled himself in a chair, leaned back, and gave the appearance of thinking hard.

"You seem to be conveniently ignoring a very blatant possibility, Pittersticks." Faye pointed out, huffing as she finally made her way back down the stairs. 'Note to self - I need to get back in shape.' She glared at the squirrel sitting pretty in his chair, and she was in absolutely no mood to hold back after chasing him all the way upstairs only for him to come back down.

"You were under the table with Owenbranch while he still had the harness on. If anyone knows how he got out of it, it's you. Who's to say that you didn't unfasten it or take the emerald yourself?" She scoffed and gestured to the others in the room. "Unless you think there's anyone else in here who will vouch for your well-established character."

---

"You have heard of poisonous spiders before, right?" Cody bit his lip; he was going too far. "Look, I don't think we should be down here. Can we just get back upstairs before anything else happens? I mean, aren't your parents going to flip if they find out?"

"Moi?" Pittersticks said. "You dare to accuse me? Here, I turn the pocket inside out. You see there is no gem." He opened his mouth. "Nor is it hiding in here. I was merely having a nice talk with my fellow squirrel when he suddenly started chasing me. Oh, the indignity!"

"Ma'am?" Violet asked. "Would you like me to help in the search or finish stirring the grape salad?"

"Please finish the salad, Violet. I was going to save it for dinner but I feel we all need a snack to calm our nerves. You, there," she said to the nearest crawling waiter. "Please get some bowls and forks." The waiter jumped to his feet. "Yes, Miss Nordin. Right away Miss Nordin." He bowed and hurried off.

A few minutes later, he returned with a tray with bowls. "Good man," Ottillia said. "Wait here while Violet fills the bowls. Then you may take the bowls around to the guests. " The waiter obediently waited. Violet obediently filled the bowls. Ottillia set Owenbranch down on the ground and accepted one of the bowls. "Excellent," she proclaimed. The waiter went around offering bowls to other guests. Twig's accepted one and grabbed some cookies from the goodie table and returned to her seat.

Kaelin laughed bitterly.

"Dude, stop trying to scare us. It won't work. My parents won't care. They've been ash for a while now."