As we head back home, back to our Toronto home on the small island in the middle of the ocean in Justin’s dream - Justin helms the ship past asteroids, planets, and space cities. Joy is with Charlie and Madelyn, and they are both desperate to help her, while Master Mind is still out cold. 

I think it’s Justin who needs my attention the most. 

“How’re you doing?” I walk up to him. 

“Jesus Christ, Dad,” he says, looking forward and not at me. “She almost died. Again.”

“Yup.” 

“She still could die.” 

“Yup.” 

“It was my fault! I thought I made sure she was protected! All the arrows in her direction would’ve missed her! Except that arrow was meant for me, and I deflected it at her!” He still only looks forward. 

“Yup.” 

“And she almost died!” 

“Yuppers,” I say. 

He finally looks at me. “Yuppers?” 

“Yuppers.” 

“That’s not a word.” 

“It’s a word if I say it’s a word. Now it’s a word.”

He looks forward, now slightly calmer. “I’m going to start thinking you have a sense of humor, Dad.” 

“Perish the thought!” 

He sighs. “I can’t do this, Dad. I can’t find a way to keep her safe!” 

“Hmmmm,” I agree. 

“There isn’t a single dream that isn’t potentially life-threatening to her. And all we are is surrounded by dreams! We can’t live outside a dream! So I have to keep training her, as safely as possible. It saves her life. We’ve seen that it saves her life!” 

“Yuppers,” I agree. 

“But everything’s dangerous! There’s no way to keep her safe!” 

I look down. “I’m sorry.” 

“Were you that afraid for me when I was a kid?” 

“Well, sure. Not this afraid, but yes. There was the time you fell out of a tree and we had to stitch your head. You used to play in the street with your friends, and who knows what could happen. Sometimes you got really sick. It’s part of being a parent. You always worry.” 

“And you never stop worrying?” 

“Never.” 

“How do you handle that, Dad? How do you handle being so afraid for your kid?” 

“You just get used to it.” 

“Really?” 

“Yuppers.” 

He sighs. “Stop saying that. We’re here.” He docks Bonny’s Revenge right outside the island and turns to go to Joy. 

“By the way,” I grab his arm and he stops. “Don’t say ‘yuppers’ to your mom.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“ ‘Yuppers’ freaks her out.” 

“ ‘Yuppers’ freaks her out?” 

“Yup.” 

“The word ‘yuppers’ freaks her out?” 

“Yup.” 

“You didn’t invent it just now?” 

“Nopers.” 

Justin shakes his head. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” 

“Yuppers,” I say. “And I never will.”  

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt