‘The Squashbuckler Diaries’ are the daily tales of Joy Shelley’s Life in the Dream. The ‘Lost in Dreams’ books will tell the story of what happens to her at ages 6, 9, 12, 15, and so on. The diaries tell us what happens before, after, and between the books.

S02E140 The Power of the Dreamer, Part 2, Charlie Goes Crazy

“I-know-I-know-I-know!” Charlie tells Joy. 

They’ve just finished inventing various scrapes and gashes that Charlie makes appear on his body. He makes them appear, they laugh, it doesn’t hurt, and he makes them go away. 

“What-what-what!” Joy is speaking at twice her normal speed. 

“I’ll make myself bald!” 

Joy opens her mouth in shock. “Can you do that?” 

“I don’t know. Let’s try!” 

He closes his eyes, and suddenly his hair slowly begins to disappear. Joy yelps. 

Charlie, now completely bald, opens his eyes. “Did it work?” 

Joy can’t stop staring at his bald head. 

“Get a mirror!” she says. 

A mirror appears in his hand and he screams and laughs when he sees his face. 

“I know! I’ll give myself a beard and a moustache!” 

Charlie concentrates and suddenly he has a full beard and moustache. 

Joy falls to the deck laughing. Charlie, getting a look in the mirror, joins her. They are unable to stop laughing. 

Joy touches his beard and then laughs her rolling laughter. 

Charlie makes faces into the mirror, and they both break into laughter again. 

Joy is grabbing her stomach as her muscles begin to hurt. 

Dear dear dear. 

This is not going to stop soon. 

I have seen this in my own kids before. I have seen this with my other grandchildren. It starts off fun, but it’s uncontrollable.

I steel myself. I don’t know how, but it’s going to end badly. 

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt

S02E141 The Power of the Dreamer, Part 3, Charlie’s Growth Spurt

S02E139 The Power of the Dreamer, Part 1: Blood!