Summary

Hassan’s room at Le Saule Pleureur was at the top of the house down the hall from Mallory’s quarters. Not only was it small, but it was a flight of stairs and a hallway away from a bathroom. It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. When Hassan first arrived, his room was filled with old musty items, including Christmas decorations and several cedar hangers. It was the attic. Hassan wondered about what he had done. He was tempted to grab his bag and run back across the street.

But, then he spotted an old cook book with yellowed pages that Madame had left for him. Inside there was a handwritten note from her welcoming him to Le Saule Pleureur. She wrote that she was looking forward to having him as a student in her kitchen. As it turned...