A Good Night for Ghosts

Dipper. “But I’ll tell you this: you’ll never,
ever
get me back in that shop again.”
    Everyone laughed. Even Happy looked happy. “Hey, Dipper, how’d you get so good on that horn?” he asked, grinning.
    “I practiced for two years at the Waif’s Home,” said Dipper. “That’s how.”
    “You got to blow that horn while we sing!” said Big Nose Sidney. “Come with us now! We really do have an important gig tonight on a riverboat!”
    “A riverboat?” Jack and Annie said together. They looked at each other. Their research book said that Louis Armstrong developed his musical talents performing on riverboats!
    “That’s right,” said Little Mack.
    “Oh, wow, Dipper, you have to go with them!” said Annie.
    “Yeah, man!” said Jack.
    But Dipper just shook his head. “Sorry, folks, but I can’t play tonight. I have to get up early in the morning to haul coal.”
    “Aww, Dipper,” said Little Mack.
    “Aww, Dipper,” said Jack.
    “Don’t y’all worry about me,” said Dipper. “Have a good time on the boat, fellas. Hang on to that smile, Happy.”
    “I’ll try,” said Happy.
    “See you later,” said Big Nose Sidney.
    “So long to y’all, too,” Little Mack said to Jack and Annie.
    “Bye,” said Jack.
    “Good luck on your gig,” said Annie. The three boys waved and took off.
    Dipper looked after them for a long moment. Then he turned to Jack and Annie.
    “Here’s your horn back,” he said. “Thanks for letting me play it.” He handed the trumpet to Annie.
    “Do you want to keep it?” she said.
    “No, thanks. I have my own horn back at my house, a cornet they gave me at the Waif’s Home,” said Dipper. “Someday when I’m grown, maybe I’ll bring it out again.”
    “I think you should have gone with the fellas,Dipper,” said Jack, “to share your musical gifts—”
    “I know, I know,” said Dipper, “to share my musical gifts with the world.” He shook his head as if he were shaking off the thought. Then he beamed a big smile at Jack and Annie. “Hey! Weren’t we talking about dessert a little while back? That’s a gig I can get behind and still get some sleep. Come on!”
    As Dipper led Jack and Annie down the rain-slicked street, the wet sidewalks glistened like silver. Life had returned to the French Quarter. Horses and mules splashed through puddles. Streetlamps burned brightly outside dance halls and restaurants. Waiters carried tables and chairs back outside.
    When Dipper, Jack, and Annie came to Jackson Square, they found kids playing music again. A band was playing a song Jack knew: “When the Saints Go Marching In.” A few people in costumes were wandering about.
    Dipper led Jack and Annie to the back door ofthe River Café. “The cook here is a friend of mine. So don’t worry about the waiters,” he said with a wink. “Be back in a minute.” He slipped into the café kitchen.
    As Jack and Annie waited for Dipper, they could hear the jazzy music coming from the square:
    Oh, when the saints go marching in
,
Oh, when the saints go marching in
.
    “Teddy was right. I love New Orleans,” said Annie.
    “Me too,” said Jack. “But how are we ever going to accomplish our mission for Merlin? Dipper seems like he’s never going to change his mind about making music.”
    “I know,” said Annie. “In fact, I was just thinking that we might have to do something really drastic.”
    “What’s that?” said Jack.
    “Show him our research book,” said Annie.
    “Whoa!” said Jack. “Do you really think—”
    Before Jack could finish, Dipper came back outside. “Mmm-mmm! Talk about something good!” he said. He clutched a greasy napkin filled with freshly made doughnuts. “Follow me.”
    As Jack and Annie followed Dipper to the river, Jack’s mind was racing.
Should
they show Dipper the research book? It would prove they’d come from the future. What would Dipper say? What would he think?
It’s too weird
, Jack thought.
    “Let’s just try talking to him first,” Jack whispered to Annie. She nodded.
    Dipper led them to a bench near the water. Jack and Annie sat on the wet wood on either side of him. Dipper unwrapped the doughnuts and handed one to Jack and one to Annie and kept one for himself.
    “Careful,” Dipper said. “The sugar will get all over y’all.”
    Jack lifted the warm, sticky doughnut to his mouth and took a big bite. Powdered sugar, flour,butter, vanilla—all melted in his mouth. It was mighty good.
    Nobody