Justin stands in front of me. One second he wasn’t there, and now he is. 

I should be shocked or surprised, but I’ve learned that I’m not. It’s just part of the dream, and I’m just part of the dream. 

After all, I helped him defeat a monster. I also strangled Justin to death, just to help him get Joy back when she ran away from his dream. This is my new life. 

However, I don’t think Justin gets that this is a new life yet. 

As soon as he appears, Joy runs to him and hugs him. 

He’s obviously relieved. “Joy, Joy, Joy... “ he hugs her, throws her in the air, and puts her back down. “Thank god. Never ever ever run away, right?”

She nods. 

He raises his eyes and sees me and Suzy. 

“Oh,” he says, and it’s clear he’s not happy. “You two. Always here, right?” 

“Careful, son,” I say, motioning with my eyes to Suzy. 

“Yeah, yeah. It’s so great and everything. Joy will finally have a family. But… every day… with Mom and Dad…” he exhales, as if imagining something rough.

He looks down and sideways. His eyes rest on the broken villain. 

“Master Mind!” he says. “Here, too. Right. We have to fix you up.” 

“I am still a fierce killing machine in two parts, Pirate, but becoming one again would be most welcome.” 

“We’ll do that,” Justin says quickly with the force of a born leader. This is not the way he is in real life, but I like it and I find myself accepting that easily. 

“Oh,” Justin tucks his hands under his armpits. He’s clearly uncomfortable. “Joy and I like going on adventures, but we can’t take you two…” he gestures at Suzy and me with his face. 

“That’s what I told them!” Joy says, “When we met the Martian Space Pirates.” 

Justin takes in a huge breath of air quickly. “The Martian Space Pirates? You met them?” 

He looks down, his face worried. “Oh, boy. This is a dangerous place.” 

“Dad, Dad, I ran away!” 

“You did?” he smiles at her and holds both of her cheeks. “What a great adventurer you are, Joy! You’re amazing!” 

Joy beams, clearly happy. I notice that her shadow is dancing a happy dance. Strangely, I don’t find that strange. 

“Oh, Joy,” he is still looking into her eyes. “You have to go to school. You have to learn how to read and write and… whatever people learn in school.” He stands up and points at Suzy and me, “And you guys can never go on adventure with us! And you,” he points to Master Mind, “have to guard her whenever I’m not there.” 

“It would be my honor to protect her from others and from myself, Pirate.” Master Mind says. 

“Uh… Yeah…” 

Justin starts walking back and forth, taking one step this way, turning around, walking one step back, and repeating that process. “So what do we do first? So many changes? What to do? What to do? I know!” 

He stops and points at Suzy and I. “Joy, Mom--I mean, Grandma Suzy,” he takes a second to absorb having said that. “First priority is Master Mind. To protect Joy when I’m not here. Grandma Suzy, can you teach Joy to sew the way you taught me? And then you can sew Master Mind up?” 

“Sew up a robot?” Suzy says. 

“It’ll work. I promise. Look, he has a paper heart.” 

“Okay. Sure!” Suzy is excited. “Joy, you want to do that with me?” 

“Yuh huh!” 

“Okay, me, I gotta think about how we go forward from here. Joy? Take us back to your grandparents’ home?” 

“Aye aye, Pirate!” She salutes and runs to the wheel. 

Joy takes us home. It is amazing that a six-year-old granddaughter of mine can pilot this flying war vessel. But she can. And she’s good at it. 

We go home. To our old new home. But the day’s events are not over. 

(To be continued.)

—Told by Grampa Walt