A black cat dashes across the busy highway. I slam on the brakes.

A siren chirps.

In my broken rear-view mirror, I see the fractured image of a police car. I pull over and the officer approaches my window.

I’m let off with a warning. Must be my lucky day.

Pontius Paiva protects himself every Friday the 13th by eating cereal with mini marshmallows shaped like items commonly associated with good fortune. See more from this superstitious scribbler at pontiuspaiva.com.