Once the place was clean, we decorated. Jasper spread Mom’s old flowered tablecloth on the rickety table, and that brightened things up right away. Just beyond the back door, I set out the little solar panel and then carefully threaded the lights along the floor, snaking them through the kitchen and out into the hallway, so that they reached nearly to the tiny bathroom. Together we arranged the other things I’d brought with me on the kitchen counter—a flashlight, bug spray, candles and matches, extra batteries, and a strange assortment of foods. Jasper laughed as she pawed through the groceries I’d brought. Saltines and Nutella and several jars of pickles. A six-pack of fancy root beer in brown glass bottles, and a box of Cheerios. A packet of Oreos and three peaches. Right away she opened a jar of pickles with a satisfying pop and shoved two in her mouth. “Mmmmm, pickles,” she said. “I haven’t had a dill pickle in ages.” She licked her fingers.

“Interesting,” I said. “You went for the pickles first. I would have guessed the Oreos.”

“Nah,” she said. “You have to eat your dinner before your dessert. Right?”

“Oh, right, dinner!” I said, and pulled out my phone to check the time. I was lucky. It was only 4:50. Mom and Dad weren’t even home yet. I thought a second before texting.

Hey Mom. I got invited to dinner at a friend’s house. Can I stay? PLEASE?

It only took about two seconds to get a reply:

A playdate! How GREAT! Sure. BE HOME BY DARK!

I groaned faintly at the word playdate but didn’t say anything to Jasper. Just texted back.

THANKS!

“Sorry,” I said. “Just needed to check in with my mom. I didn’t know how late it had gotten. But she says I can stay. For dinner.”

Jasper laughed and raised the pickle jar. “Well, then,” she said, “let’s have dinner.”

Standing there, pickle in hand, I glanced around at the room, which was a different place altogether now. Cozy. A home. It gave me a little swell of joy, to see the difference I’d made. “I know you didn’t want help,” I said. “That you don’t like when people—”

Jasper rolled her eyes. “Pshhh. Please, I’m over it,” she said. “At least for now. Because look at this place . . . and also . . . in case you’ve forgotten, PICKLES. Have another!”