Three months after Jasper came home with me, the shelter called again.

Warm.

Bright.

Alive.

“Hi, Jasper,” the voice said gently. “If someone’s playing this, then you’re probably being stubborn somewhere.”

Elaine covered her mouth instantly.

Jasper’s head lifted.

Not sharply.

Not startled.

Just slowly, attentively.

Like a distant sound had reached him from very far away.