The Leaf at the Spine

Ages 15-18

Elazar's friend opens his sketchbook to a street of narrow houses.

Above one shop, a painted sign hangs from a curled bracket. Beneath it, a man carries a chair through the door, seat first.

Elazar runs a finger beside the bracket without touching the drawing.

"I'd swap my puzzle book for this."

His friend turns the sketchbook toward him.

Elazar takes his puzzle booklet from his bag. It has a dark green cover with a little maze around the title.

A scrap slips out onto his desk.

At the top, he has copied NINETEEN. Below it is a question about three men who all claim the same umbrella. The answer space is empty. His pencil note beside the question says 45.

He opens the booklet to its contents.

Answers 43-46.

He turns to forty-four. A thin torn stub stands against the spine. The next page is forty-seven.

Elazar closes the booklet and lays the scrap beneath it.

His friend follows one path around the cover's little maze. Then he opens the booklet to a puzzle with five drawn boxes.

"This looks good."

He puts the sketchbook beside it.

Elazar picks up the puzzle booklet. His friend holds out one hand.

Elazar starts to pass it across.

He stops and opens the booklet flat at forty-four.

"The answer leaf is missing. Forty-five and forty-six."

His friend looks at the stub. He turns to the contents, then back to the open gap.

He leaves the puzzle booklet on Elazar's desk and picks up his sketchbook.

The man with the chair disappears between its covers.

His friend tucks the sketchbook under his arm and goes to the next table.

The question about the three men and the umbrella lies unfinished beside forty-four and forty-seven.