It’s been just a few minutes since Joy woke up, only a few hours since we thought she might die from the arrow that went into her leg, and now she’s trying to stand. 

She is trying to get out of the hammock by putting her weight on her good leg. 

“Joy, Joy, Joy, don’t do that!” I tell her, rushing toward her.

“Joy, put yourself back in the hammock, you have to rest!” Suzy says as she also rushes towards Joy. 

“Little Pirate, being brave is illogical!” Master Mind climbs the porch stairs. 

“Shush, shush,” Joy stands on one leg. 

“Sweetheart, no!” Suzy reaches her but Joy holds out her hand with such intensity on her face that Suzy stops. 

“Joy, please sit back down!” I get to her but keep my distance. 

Master Mind reaches down to her to lift her up. 

“Do not touch me!” she orders him. 

He freezes and moves back, forced to obey. 

“I can do it,” she rests her wounded leg softly on the ground. “I’m fine.” Where the hell is Justin when you need him?

“No!” Suzy almost screams.

“Little Pirate, being brave is illogical!” 

“Joy, sit back down!” I say forcefully, like Justin would. 

Joy stares at me with such ferocity in her eyes that, honestly, frightens me. I try not to show I’m intimidated. She says calmly, “You may never talk to me like that again. No one orders me around.” 

That can’t be a kid talking. It can’t. But it is. “I’m sorry, Joy,” I say softly. “I mean that you can open your wound and lose too much blood and that’s dangerous.”  

“You’re being silly. I’m fine--Ah!” she tries to stand on her leg and bounces up. “Ow! Okay!” 

“Did the wound open?” Suzy looks down. 

“The wound is unaffected,” Master Mind says from behind.

“Hmm. Okay,” says Joy. “Hey, Magic Carpet!” 

I’d forgotten about the magic carpet! The magic carpet rises from the porch and floats in front of her. “Let me sit on you,” she tells it. “I want to go to the ship!” 

“Oh, no!” Suzy puts her hands on her cheeks. 

Where’s Justin when we need him?!

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt