Justin stands up and bends his head, since he is taller than the tunnel. “Joy, let’s just get out of here.” 

“We have to save the baby. Right, Charlie?” she looks for help from her friend. 

Charlie hesitates, though.

Justin reaches out with his hand. “Joy, it’s just a dream. The baby will disappear in a few minutes. I don’t want to let you touch it or suddenly we’ll have a real baby that we can’t get rid of.” 

Joy looks like she’s going to cry again. “And what’s the matter with that?” 

Justin looks exhausted all of the sudden. But when he speaks, he keeps his voice calm. “I’ll tell you what’s the matter with it as we go out.” 

Joy doesn’t move towards the exit. But I notice that she also doesn’t move towards the dream. 

She looks up at Justin, the only father she knows, and says, “I’m just like that baby!” 

Justin is horrified. “You are nothing like that baby!” 

“You found me in your dream! You raised me every day! You thought I wasn’t real!” 

Justin is shaking his head wildly. “You’re real! That’s a dream!” 

“You thought I was a dream!” 

“I only thought you were a dream when I realized I was dreaming! And, you know what, you’re not a dream! You stay when I wake up! Doesn’t she?” he looks at me. I nod. “Doesn’t she?” he looks at Master Mind, who nods. “Doesn’t she?” he looks at Charlie. Charlie nods. “Doesn’t she?” he looks at Madelyn, who is watching intently. Then he waves dismissively, “You don’t know.” He looks at Joy again. “Don’t you?” 

Joy nods. 

“You know I don’t remember anything about what happened. But I remember one thing because I think about it every day when I see you. The first thing I saw about you were your eyes. I could see who you were. I can see who you are. I knew that you were real and I know that you’re real. And that’s the difference!” 

Joy looks down. He puts an arm around her shoulder and begins to lead the way out. “What a tough day you’ve had, Joy. I think we should just go do something fun. Like the trampoline stairs, maybe.” She shrugs. “Or fight some pirates.” She shrugs. “Or maybe you just want to play with Charlie back in my dream?” 

“Maybe,” she says almost inaudibly. 

We all head out. I look back and realize that Madelyn isn’t here.

Charlie’s the only one behind me. “Did Madelyn wake up?” 

He shakes his head silently and I understand what it means. She went into this dream by herself. Charlie didn’t want to say that outloud.

He runs to Joy and asks, “Want to play in the playground?” 

“Maybe.” 

—Told by Grampa Walt