Moments after Joy - Joy, my newest granddaughter! My newest, 6-year-old granddaughter! My newest, 6-year-old adventurer granddaughter that can pilot a flying pirate ship and that survived at least two huge battles to the death with actual villains just on the day I met her!

Oh, it’s going to take time to get used to that. 

In any case, moments after Joy lands Bonny’s Revenge on the shore of the small island where Suzy’s and mine’s suburban apartment is, moments after we took the two parts of Master Mind to the house so Suzy (Grandma Suzy) and Joy can put him back together - moments after that, I watch Justin on the deck of his ship looking worried and pacing back and forth. 

“Son, what’s the matter?”

His face is worried and his voice is full of concern, when he says, “I want to do something for Joy. But I’m afraid of something Red said.”

“Who’s Red?” 

“Red - I mean, the Red Dragon. She warned us about this a few years ago and we didn’t understand. I’m afraid that… Yeah. She warned us back when I couldn’t bring Mary back. That’s why she warned us.” 

“Son, what are you talking about?” 

“Dad. Joy was just a baby, and Mary took care of her. Now that I understand how things work, I have no doubt Joy made Mary stay by touching her and Mary took care of her when I was awake. Joy would never have survived without it.” 

“Okay.” 

“And then one day, in the middle of battle, Mary was killed.” 

“Okay.” 

“And I couldn’t bring her back. Not that day and not since. I brought Red to talk to Joy, and Red said that if Joy loves someone, then if that someone dies, he dies forever. I… I didn’t understand what that meant at the time but I think I do now. I don’t know how I knew it, I don’t know how I made Red say that, but I understand now… If Joy touches someone and they die… I can’t bring them back. And now… General Hawk is dead. And I wish I could bring him back.” 

I am not following all the details. There’s so much history that I know nothing about. But my son needs me. I do my best to follow and help. 

Before I find anything to say, he shakes his head. “Hell, let’s just do it. I’m going to bring him back!” 

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt