‘What’s the answer?’ said Evan.

‘It’ll work,’ I said. ‘I’m sure it will.’

‘What?’ demanded Evan.

‘Are you listening, Meteor?’ I said. ‘I want nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and twenty-four leaves to fall from the trees in this forest – and each fallen leaf counts as a wish gone. OK?’

OK, the voice of the Meteor said inside my head.

All around us, yellow leaves, detached by the breeze, fell, swirling and twirling and twisting to the ground.

Evan drew in his breath. He looked at me and grinned. ‘Oh, neat. Nice. Sweet.’

‘Yeah, it was pretty good, wasn’t it?’

I’d saved my sanity! I could live a normal life again!

Normal, but better than before.

Everyone in my family was happy. Maeve with Stefan Bumgarner and Dad with his new job and Mum with her art exhibition, and Ben with his nit-free scalp, magic helicopter and new-found reading ability.

Evan had his dad back in tip-top health.

And as for me, I still had a million quid stashed on top of the wardrobe.

‘Just one thing though,’ Evan said. ‘You wished for nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and twenty-four leaves to fall. I thought it was eight hundred and twenty-five?’

‘Oh, yeah, I’m keeping one wish in reserve,’ I said. ‘For an emergency.’