We’ve been working just on getting all the mess out of the house for what must be the last 5 hours. A zombie assault on your house is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone, I think, and then kick myself for thinking something that inane. 

Joy is exhausted. Charlie vanished, waking up, only after a few minutes. If he’d returned to sleep, he hadn’t returned to Justin’s dream.

“Take a break, everyone!” Justin says, and we all find a spot to sit and rest. 

“Darling,” Suzie sits near Justin. “What happened in your life that got you to dream such an awful dream?” 

Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that. 

Justin gives it some thought. He hadn’t thought of it, either. “I don’t want to talk about it, Mom.” 

“Why not?” 

I notice that Joy, seated at the other side of the room, is watching them intently. 

“Because. You’re my Mom. And I see you once a week, and now I see you every day when I sleep, and I need some privacy, that’s why!” 

“Have you found a woman?” 

Justin rolls his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it.” 

“Do you at least call us? I mean, call your mom and dad in the real world?” 

Joy winces at the ‘real world’ comment. 

“Mom!” 

“Well, do you?” 

“Of course I do! When I can…” he adds weakly. 

I see how uncomfortable Justin is and I’d like to save him, but I have my own line of inquiry. “Are we good there, son?” 

He looks at me, not understanding. 

“I mean, are we still alive?” 

He’s surprised. “Yeah. Of course!”

“Are we healthy?” 

“Yeah. There’s no--Everything’s good.” 

“And am I... Do you see the Altzheimer’s yet?” 

He exhales slowly and shakes his head. “No. You’re still as sharp as ever.” 

“I’m still beating you at chess?” 

“Every time,” he says sadly. 

I nod. Good. I’m glad he’s okay, that ‘real’ me.

“But Justin,” Suzy says, “do you have a girlfriend now?” 

“Mom!!!” he shouts.

—Told by Grampa Walt