All right. This is just too weird for me. And I am woozy from having slept so much and having lost so much blood. 

“So what did the doctor do?” I ask. I know I’m in a dream, but being in a hospital, being treated by a doctor, makes me feel safer. 

Suddenly, Justin just appears in front of my eyes. “Dad, Dad, are you okay?” 

“Shooting fairies!” I hear Joy yell. And finally I see her. She’s sitting on one of the chairs, below my eyesight as I’m lying down, my face up. She is so worked up. 

“Hey, buddy,” Justin takes Luis in his arms. “Sandra, who’s the girl?” 

Joy jumps to her feet. “You! Say that to me again and I’ll make you permanent and then kill you!” 

I notice now that Justin is slightly fuller and not as tall as usual. And he did appear out of nowhere.

Master Mind steps in front of Joy and pushes her back gently. “You should not kill this dreamer’s husband, Little Pirate. We have discussed this in the past.” 

Joy turns her back and pouts. “What if I kill him when I don’t make him permanent? How about that?” 

“Why is the girl angry?” Luis asks. 

“I don’t know,” Justin lowers him to the ground. “Why don’t you go and ask her? Maybe she wants to play.” 

Luis takes a step towards Joy and she takes three steps back. “Don’t get close to me! I will never touch you!” 

Sandra takes Luis’ hands. “All right, then. Walt is going to be fine, everyone. He just needs a lot of rest and to come back to look at the wound in a few days. Plus, the doctor left instructions about how to dress the wound.” 

“I remember those perfectly, Pirate Father. I will take care of you,” Master Mind says.

“Thank goodness,” Suzy sighs.

Sandra takes Suzy’s hand and squeezes. “I’m with you, Suzy. We could have really lost him. Here we are, one, big happy family… and a girl and… a robot.” 

I’ve given this time, but things are happening too fast and I can’t follow. I’m about to ask again what’s going on, when Justin walks into the room. Another Justin. 

“Everybody, why are you in Sandra’s… dream?” he stops when seeing himself next to Sandra. “Oh, shooting fairies,” he says. 

(To be continued…)  

—Told by Grampa Walt