Colin stands there in the street as Hugh talks to Joy and Charlie about the documentary he’s shooting right now.
Justin stands very close to Colin. “Whatever happens, there’s no need for monsters,” he tells him. “No monsters. No monsters.”
“No monsters,” Colin whispers.
“Everything’s okay,” Justin says. “You can see that, right?”
“Everything is okay,” Colin says.
“You wanted us to meet. And we’re meeting and everything’s okay. Right?”
Colin’s body is very tense. He is not calm and still seems to be fighting deep fear.
“Nothing’s going to happen with monsters,” Justin says. “Besides, look at this. Hugh is here, in the dream, because you wanted him here.”
Colin looks at Justin.
“Hugh wasn’t just walking down the street. You’re the one who has him charming Joy and Charlie, right? That’s you doing it.”
Understanding seems to sink in with Colin.
“And everything’s all right. Look, the kids are charmed and loving him. I’m charmed by him. Dad, are you charmed?”
“I’m charmed,” I say.
“Mom, are you charmed?”
“Oh, completely,” she says. I look at her, realizing how attractive she finds Hugh.
“Oh, don’t be silly,” she nudges me.
“See?” Justin says. “And I’m charmed. He looks really great. There’s no problem. No one here has any problem. Right?”
Colin nods slowly.
Suddenly, Charlie jumps to his feet. “I’m going home!” Charlie’s giant condor appears on the road in the middle of the street.
“Charlie?” Hugh gets to his feet as well. “Did I say something to offend you?”
“I never want to see you ever ever ever again!”
Hugh looks shocked. He opens his mouth to speak when Joy’s finger appears in front of his face. “It sounded like you didn’t say anything bad but I don’t know anything! I’m with Charlie!”
“What did I do?”
“Charlie, can I come with you?”
Charlie is already sitting atop the condor, legs straddling its neck. He waves for her to come on and she jumps on the huge condor’s back.
Master Mind runs to the rope hanging from Bonny’s Revenge. He will chase them in the ship and guard them. And probably bring them the jetpacks they forgot to take to get to Charlie’s dream.
Hugh looks at Colin and me. “I didn’t say anything!”
(To be continued…)
—Told by Grampa Walt