Joy and Charlie approach Justin and the weight-lifting Dreamer in the barbell area.

Justin points to a barbell, “Charlie, see that barbell over there? It’s really heavy. Right?” This last one is aimed at the Dreamer. 

“Ja,” the Dreamer says, still shocked at what he had seen Justin do, adding in a German accent, “Heavy.” 

“What I want  you to do is imagine that it is super super light. But you can’t change what it looks like. It has to look like this. Do you understand?” 

Charlie nods and approaches one of the heavier barbells. He concentrates while looking at it intensely. Then he reaches down and touches it to test it. He laughs then raises it with one finger. 

The Dreamer gasps, shocked.

Justin laughs. “Strong kid, right?” he asks the Dreamer.

The Dreamer’s mouth is hanging open. He is seeing, after all, a 6-year-old kid lift the weight of two adults with one finger. 

“Now, Charlie, give it to Joy,” Justin tells him. He is in teaching mode. “Joy, when you touch it, try very hard to not make it stay. Whatever you do, don’t make it stay.” 

Joy nods. She concentrates as well, then reaches for the barbell Charlie is handing her. She touches it lightly. It doesn’t glow. 

“Good job! Good job!” Justin congratulates her. “Now take it.” 

Joy takes it, and it is just as light in her hands. 

“Ha ha!” she smiles. She spins the barbell on her finger, then throws it into the air. It lands right next to her feet with a massive crash, denting the floor. Joy gasps. Justin’s hand shoots to his mouth. “Shiiit,” he whispers, then looks at the Dreamer. “You imagined it was heavy, didn’t you?”

The Dreamer nods. “It is heavy.” 

Justin puts his hands on his head, as if he’s feeling woozy. “Anything can kill her. Anything can kill her. I keep forgetting!” 

And with a soft sound, he vanishes. The jetpack he is wearing remains behind and falls to the floor.

The Dreamer stares at the spot where Justin had been. He is overwhelmed. These are not things he is used to dreaming about, I’m sure. 

“Ah, kids,” I say. “With Justin not here, it just got less safe. Let’s get out of the dream and wait for him outside.” 

Joy nods, but says, “Just a minute.” She approaches the Dreamer. “What’s your name?”

“My name is Lukas.”

“I’m Joy,” she offers her hand. “Pirate Extraordinaire.” 

He shakes her hand. “Pirate?” 

“Can you say something for me?” Joy asks. 

“Eh?” This poor man is still not out of shock. 

“Say ‘Dragon Father’.” 

“Huh?” 

“Say ‘Dragon Father’.” 

“Dragon Father,” he says. With his thick accent, it sounds like ‘Dragon Fotteh’. 

I wonder what she’s doing. How did we get to talking about dragons with a weight-lifting stranger?

But Joy nods. “That’s what I thought. You know the Red Dragon!” 

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt