The Tooth Fairy flies over to look at Master Mind. Half his size, her wings keep her afloat so that her eyes are at the same level as his. I look at them, and it hits me that this is my life. A life inside a dream. A life in which everything is crazy, where reality shifts, where impossible creatures exist. This is my life, even as my ‘real self’ is back in Toronto living my actual life. This is a life I can never leave. I will never be back to the waking world.
“O-ho!” The Tooth Fairy says loudly. “They brought in some real muscle!”
“I assure you, Tooth Fairy,” Master Mind says drily, “My strength is not derived from muscles.”
“Oooh, touchy are we? What a big heart you have there, Mister Big Heart!” she points at his paper heart, visible within his open chest cavity. “I do wonder… Are you here for magic? Shall I turn you into a real boy?”
Suddenly, there is complete silence. No one is breathing. Joy stares at Master Mind, shocked. Justin can’t take his eyes off the Tooth Fairy. Even though he’s created her, he seems bewildered by what she says.
“I am real. And I am not a boy, nor do I want to be.”
“Oh, silly Mister Big Heart,” she says cheerily. “I mean, shall I turn you human? With a beating heart, a sense of humor, and a body that has no weapons? Or do you want to remain a killer robot?”
Joy is wide-eyed. Now I see that so is Charlie. And Justin. And Suzy.
Master Mind does not speak. Then, finally, “Your offer is 98.245% tempting. I do wonder what it would be like to be… a real boy. A human. To not stand out. To be the same as the Pirate or the Little Pirate.”
“Very well, then,” the Tooth Fairy begins to wave her wand.
“But I will decline it,” Master Mind says. “My wishes are second to my main directive. I wish to protect the Little Pirate in this hostile environment. If you take away my staggering array of weapons, my spectacular brain, and my imposing body I will not be able to protect her. My wish to explore what it would be like to be human is secondary.”
Joy runs at Master Mind and hugs him.
Justin exhales.
The Tooth Fairy nods and smiles. “Well, then,” she booms. “Let us prepare for our last game!”
(To be continued…)
—Told by Grampa Walt