Jasper shuddered. “Ugh, trick or treat, Mr. Face!” she said as she stretched a long leg, to nudge at the mouse with her foot, kick him off the porch.

But I reached out and grabbed her leg, stopped her. “No, wait,” I said.

“Why?” she said. “It’s gross.”

“Just because,” I said. “I know it seems gross, but it’s not. I don’t think so, anyway. Just wait. And watch.”

“Watch what?” she asked, staring at me, baffled. “A dead mouse?”

“You’ll see,” I said.

And then the little brown mouse slowly uncurled himself, like I knew he would. He sat up on his haunches and gave a quick shake, as if waking from a nap. He brushed his whiskers lightly with his paws, and then he peered up at each of us briefly before he scampered off the mat, across the porch, down the stairs, and into the azaleas. We followed him with our eyes until he was gone.

Jasper shook her head. “Whoa. Did you see that?”

“I know,” I said.

“How did you know that was going to happen?”

“I’ve seen it before,” I said.

Jasper’s eyes were wide. “Seriously?” she said. “That’s more than weird. That’s . . . impossible. It’s like . . . actual magic. I almost don’t believe it happened.”

“Maybe it is magic,” I said. “Or maybe he’s just a really lucky mouse. You know, it’s funny, how once you see something unbelievable happen a few times, it stops being so unbelievable.”

Jasper didn’t answer me. She just sat there for a second, holding her can of soda, and for once I couldn’t read her face. She looked thoughtful. I wondered what she was thinking, sitting like that for so long.

“What?” I said finally. “What is it?”

Jasper shook her head gently. “Nothing,” she said. “Or . . . not nothing. I just—I feel lucky. You know?”

I nodded. I smiled. “I do know,” I said. And that was true.

Jasper pushed herself up to standing. “You know what would make this day absolutely perfect?”

“Tell me.”

“Ice cream!” she said.

“Oh, indeed!” I replied. “Ice cream is the best idea!” And it was. Ice cream suddenly sounded just right. It was still hot in the sunshine. “Maybe we could share a banana split.”

“Perfect!”

Then Jasper reached down a hand to me, and I grabbed on. She pulled me up, and we ran inside to wash our hands. In no time at all, we were back on the porch, with the screen door slamming. We took off down the steps and headed for Morelli’s and a banana split to share.