“I just want to state out loud that I think this is now turning into a bad idea,” said Juliana. “Isn’t there an easier way to solve this?”

“I don’t know,” said Héctor.

“Well,” she said, “have you considered that maybe the Room won’t let us steal something?”

Héctor frowned. “Actually . . . no. But it’s worth a shot to see if we can get the keys.” When Juliana raised an eyebrow at him, he added, “It’s for a good cause! Maybe the two things cancel each other out?”

“That kinda makes sense,” said Sal. “And it’s not like we’ll be stealing anything. We’re just . . . borrowing them? Right?”

“See!” said Héctor.

“I’m not sold, but . . . we can try,” said Juliana. “As long as we don’t get in trouble.”

“Then let me compromise: if the Room doesn’t let us get the keys, we’ll rethink this. Deal?”

After a moment, both Sal and Juliana nodded.

“Excellent,” said Héctor. “Then phase two of Operation Save the Library is in effect!” He rushed back into the Room and beckoned for the others to follow him.

“So, now we giving these things names?” said Juliana. “What was my mission the other day called?”

“Well, it all happened so quickly,” said Héctor. “So we didn’t get to the naming part.”

“Maybe Operation Sweaty Principal?” said Sal.

Juliana busted out laughing at that. “That’s gross, but I accept it.”

Héctor shut the door once Juliana and Sal crossed inside. “This won’t take too long,” he said. “Operation Save the Library will be a success very soon!”

He took a deep breath, hoped with all his might that this would work, and opened the door.

His heart leaped in excitement when he saw the dull gray walls of Sal’s school, illuminated by sunlight.

“Well, we’re definitely still at my school,” said Sal. “And it’s the right time!” Then they pointed. “And that’s definitely the janitor’s office.”

Another door was directly across from the Room. The coast looked clear, so Héctor darted over to it, tried the handle, and—

Locked.

He rushed back to the Room and shut the door before Juliana and Sal could leave. “Lemme try again,” he explained.

Héctor looked upward, almost like he was praying. “Room, I don’t know if you can hear me, but we need to get in that office. Cut us some slack?”

He waited a moment, then repeated himself . . . only to face the exact same results. He stomped his foot on the ground. “This has to work!” he whispered loudly.

After perhaps the fifth go at this, Juliana was frustrated. “Héctor, it’s clear the Room won’t take us inside the janitor’s office,” she said. “Can we just think of something else?”