After spending no more than fifteen minutes in our house with Suzy and Charlie, Joy bursts out the door. Charlie is right behind her.

“Dad!” she yells from the entrance to my suburban apartment which is now situated on a small island in the middle of an ocean in my son’s dream. “We have to take Bonny’s Revenge out for a ride!” 

Justin looks down from the railing. “You got Master Mind fixed so fast?” 

Suzy comes out the door helping Master Mind walk. He has his top half on top of his bottom half, and it seems that his right side had been sewn together with string while the left side is still separate. 

“We’re only halfway through,” Suzy shouts up. “But the kids got so excited. Charlie’s never seen all the things in your dream and Joy can’t help showing him!” 

Joy stops and looks at Suzy, the child’s eyes wide.

Suzy opens her eyes back, surprised, feeling hostility. 

Joy continues to stare at Suzy. 

“Joy, what’s the matter?” Suzy asks in her warm voice. 

“Why would you say that? I was going to say that!” 

I can tell on her face that Suzy is surprised again. “Oh. I’m… sorry? You wanted to say that? Go ahead!” 

Joy nods to her grandmother, then shouts back at her father, “Dad! Charlie has to see the world! Master Mind can wait!” 

Justin hesitates for a second, then shouts back, “Master Mind, can you wait?” 

“I can wait,” he says in his robotic voice. “If you bring me along. I have not seen this world in four years, and even then I have only seen my world.” 

Justin nods. “Okay. Everyone climb aboard! We’re going to see the world!” 

“Yaiiiii!” Charlie shouts and jumps in excitement. 

Justin looks at me and smiles. “One step at a time, right, Dad?” 

I nod and smile.

(To be continued.) 

—Told by Grampa Walt