Suzy and I climb the stairs and reach the roof of Justin’s apartment building in Toronto - or, rather, Planet Toronto. Bonny’s Revenge, Justin’s huge, flying wooden warship hangs just above the roof, its ramp still extended down to the roof. 

Suzy points up, “I can see Justin and Master Mind.” 

Joy and Charlie must be hidden by the railing.

The two of us go up the ramp. Joy is sitting on the deck, leaning on the railing on the opposite side. Charlie, however, is nowhere in sight. 

“Where’s Charlie?” Suzy says. 

“He’s not here!” Joy says, stomping her foot on the deck. 

I look at Justin. Justin shakes his head. “He was here. We saw him when we came in, there was a storm, then, he vanished.” 

“He woke up?” Suzy asks. 

Justin nods. “Then we waited, and a few minutes later he appeared again.” 

“And the storm!” Joy adds, still sulking. 

“And the storm and all the lightning. He looked at us, looked panicky, and tried to wake himself up by pinching himself.” 

I look at Suzy, questioningly. 

“Then he vanished,” Justin says. 

“Again!” Joy stomps her foot on the deck. 

“And he hasn’t appeared since then. We’re waiting for him.” 

“Something’s really wrong with him!” Joy jumps up. “And he doesn’t want to even see me!” 

We all look at each other. Master Mind doesn’t seem to know what this is about. Justin is confused. So am I. Joy is hurt.

I look at Suzy. She is shaking her head. “I assume seeing Toronto is out of the question?” she asks simply. 

“We’re waiting for him until he comes back!” Joy says petulantly. 

Suzy nods. “Justin, can you create some chairs for us while we wait?” 

A chair appears behind her and another appears behind me. Suzy sits down. “Thank you. Let’s wait.” 

I know that look. She knows what’s going on. She’s just not telling anyone. 

Huh. I sit down on the chair, and we all wait for Charlie. 

(To be continued…) 

—Told by Grampa Walt