You Better Watch Out, part i

From the casebook of Beverly Sweet, owner and proprietor, Beverly Sweet: Cakes for all Occasions

i

Everyone says that clearing immigration at the North Pole is a royal pain in the ass—worse than LAX, worse than Tel Aviv, even—but Mr. Kang’s connections must have pulled a few strings, because as soon as the elves see the name on my passport they just wave me through. Within thirty minutes of touchdown, I’m hailing a cab from the curb outside the international terminal. It’s dark out, even with all the airport lights, and I feel dirty and irritable from the flight. There’s a light snow falling, dusting the ground like confectioner’s sugar.

Part ii