It’s a strange day. We go with Madelyn and Justin to Madelyn’s dream to have an adventure, but there they choose to play tennis. 

Joy thinks that’s boring. Master Mind and I return with her to Bonny’s Revenge in Justin’s dream, where Charlie is waiting for us. The kids agree to go to the playground in Charlie’s dream. 

We go there, the four of us, and Master Mind and I watch while they play.

The kids finish playing and sit in front of the lake and stare at it. I’m sitting on the mound behind them, but I can hear what they’re saying. 

“Joy,” Charlie says. “Are you sure you don’t dream?”

She shakes her head. “I go to sleep. I wake up. I don’t go anywhere like you do.” 

“Must be strange not to dream.” 

“I think it’s strange to dream,” Joy says. “You’re in two places at once. What’s that like?”

Charlie shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s just life.” 

They stare at the water for a while, when Charlie asks. “If you did dream, what would you dream about?” 

She thinks about that for a while. “Everyone here dreams about something different than their lives. I like my life.” 

They keep staring. “I would dream that Red is back. That I’m having adventures with her.” 

“With me, too, right?” 

“Of course!” 

Joy starts throwing small stones into the water. “You know what? I would dream that I was in Dad’s world. I’ll go to school like you. I’d meet Grampa Walt and Grandma Suzy in Toronto. I’ll live in Dad’s apartment. I’ll see you all the time there and then when you to sleep I’ll see you here.”

“That’s nice,” Charlie says. “I wish you could do that.” 

“Hmmm,” she says and throws another stone into the water. 

They just sit and stare at the water calmly for quite a few minutes. Then, suddenly, Joy says, “I’ll teach your world about dragons.” 

“Hmmm,” Charlie says. “Good idea.” 

—Told by Grampa Walt