He would not, Yuri explained to the class, be returning to Russia, but inspired by works he had seen in this class, he had made a memorable artists book.

Yuri was unfolding his over one-classroom-long Russian hockey players bubble card accordion book, when Griff strode into Caydance's class wearing a red tasseled hat, and bearing a sack full of Christmas cookies and Ghirardelli chocolates.

As a long line of hockey player cards unfurled across the room, Griff set to work inserting Peet's French Roast coffee into the classroom cappuccino machine. In the doorway, Natasha appeared with a tray of homemade Russian Christmas cakes.

An hour or so later, the classroom was empty except for Caydance, Griff, Yuri, Natasha and a bottle of Russian Brandy, which had miraculously appeared beside the coffee machine.

"Welcome to Huygens," Griff said to Yuri.