A man with a white beard wearing a red coat sits next to me on a sleigh, riding on a float above the crowd in New York City. And a little chocolate-colored shih-poo, wearing a head cam, sits on his lap licking his beard.

“LOOP! I FOUND YOU!”

Woof! Woof!

Loopy leaps onto my lap and snuggles up to my neck. His tail is wagging so hard it whips up and knocks my glasses crooked.

Oh, Loop.

Tears stream down my face while sweat seeps down my back.

Why is it so hot? The token isn’t hanging around my neck right now.

“Wave to the crowd, Arcade.” Zoe and Doug are sitting in front of me in the sleigh. They have peeled off their scarfs, coats, and mittens. It’s a beautiful, sunny, not windy, and definitely-not-boring, Thanksgiving Day . . . six years ago.

“Hey, Santa!” Doug cranes his neck to talk to the jolly old guy. “You think you could give me a brother named Arcade for Christmas?”

Santa chuckles. “Ho, ho, ho! What kind of name is Arcade?” He gives me a little wink and a nod. “I’ll work on it, but it sounds like you need a Manhattan Miracle.”

As soon as he says that, white stuff begins to fall.

“What in the . . . it’s too hot for snow,” Zoe says, shaking her head.

“That’s not snow, Zoe,” I answer. “That’s white glitter.”

*  *  *

The doors delivered us back to the Ramble, and we had to apologize to our friends for the sneaky departure.

WE FOUND LOOPY, I texted to Scratchy.

RADICAL!!! he texted back. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, ARCADE.

“I hope Michael Tolley forgives you for ditching him again,” I said, and I bumped Zoe as we walked through the Ramble paths back to 88th Street.

She grinned. “I have a feeling he will.”

I put my finger inside my mouth and pretended to gag.

Zoe reached over to pet Loopy. “You crazy dog! Do you know that you have 2,500 followers on Picture Post?”

Loopy just stared at Zoe, unimpressed. Then he turned and sneezed in my face!

“Aw, COME ON, man! What are you doin’?”

He’s just being Loopy. The best dog in the world.

*  *  *

My mom and dad were thrilled to see Loopy too. Mom ran to the door as soon as we came in. “Oh, you sweet little dog. We missed you so much. And what a great day to return!” She grabbed Loopy out of my arms and gave him a long snuggle.

“Food will be ready in an hour,” Dad said. “How was the parade? Did you find a good viewing spot?”

Doug laughed. “Yeah, we pretty much got the best seat in the house.”

Dad shot me a side glance. “Sounds interesting.” Then he went over to the desk in the dining room and brought out a file. “While we have a minute, I’d like to talk to you kids about something.”