Some of the new moles

"And the guys? Well, they're relieved to have me back in the fold, so to speak. I'll let them tell you about some other new recruits later in the week."

Ironically, without knowing what Jeff was up to last week, we hosted a Mole Fair (a job fair for moles) at the Stilleto Falls Galleria mall.

This year's turnout: underwhelming

We didn't get as many applicants as we might have liked. I think the prevailing mindset of "snitches get stitches" has probably had an effect. That would be okay, since quality is often preferable to quantity anyway. But many of the applicants who did show up insisted on doing so as their "super hero" identities. For this, I blame the popularity of movies like "The Avengers" and "Wonder Woman." That's fine, I guess, but running around in an attention-grabbing rubber suit is not the best way to do the job of a mole. Here are some of the candidates who showed up and that we hired, reluctantly, on a conditional basis:

ANGRY SUN

Claimed abilities: Furiously angry, very heated
Presumed actual abilities: Annoyed (annoying), uncomfortably sweaty
Where we'll probably use him/her: To infiltrate groups that complain about the weather

PINK ZEUS

Claimed abilities: "I...am...a...GOD!"
Presumed actual abilities: Burpees; Also, apparently popular with cheerleaders
Where we'll probably use him/her: To infiltrate hot yoga studios

STANFORD STUDENT

Claimed abilities: Irreverence, playful-yet-sarcastically-biting lack of respect for authority
Presumed actual abilities: Kinda funny, under the right circumstances
Where we'll probably use him/her: To infiltrate any groups of villains with roots at Cal or Iowa

ARTIE CHOKE

Claimed abilities: Delicious, in spite of appearance

Presumed actual abilities: Doubtful

Where we'll probably use him/her: Salad bars and other places where people eat things they hate

KING BABY

Claimed abilities: Weird, not clearly understood icon of Mardi Gras

Presumed actual abilities: Weird, not clearly understood

Where we'll probably use him/her: To infiltrate giant cakes

LUMPY LIGHTNING

Claimed abilities: "I'm strong and fast, bro!"

Presumed actual abilities: Acne, blurred vision, cataracts or glaucoma, easy bruising, difficulty sleeping, high blood pressure, increased appetite, weight gain, increased growth of body hair, etc.

Where we'll probably use him/her: Gyms, where "supplements" are easier to obtain than treadmills.