“But what did he say to you?” 

It’s been a day since we last saw Colin and Hugh, and Justin is trying to ask Charlie what made him run away yesterday. 

Charlie keeps ignoring Justin’s questions as Joy and Charlie play with toys on the deck of Bonny’s Revenge. 

“Charlie,” Justin pleads for the seventh time. “What happened? What did he say?” 

Charlie looks up finally. “He said ‘poop’.” 

“Huh? He said ‘poop’?”

“He said ‘poop’. I didn’t like it.” Charlie returns his attention to  the game with Joy.

“Charlie,” Justin tries again. “I don’t think he said ‘poop’. And even if he’d said it, why would you leave when he said it?” 

Charlie looks at Justin and says angrily, “He’s a bully!” 

“Hugh is a bully?” Justin is incredulous again. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a nicer person.” He looks at Suzy. “Except mom and her friends. And people on the.. I mean who isn’t Canadian.” I smile at that. “He didn’t seem to be bullying you, Charlie.” 

“He was!” 

“He wasn’t!” 

“He was!” 

“How did he bully you?” 

“You’re not my Dad!” Charlie explodes at him. 

Justin freezes. 

Joy looks up. “His dad’s dead,” she says simply. 

Justin nods. “I know that, Joy. I know. Don’t just spit that out whenever you feel like it. People are sensitive about that. Charlie, I didn’t mean to–” 

Charlie shrugs and returns to the game. 

“I just…I feel responsible for you because this isn’t your dream. You go with Joy to other dreams, you get exposed to violence and nightmares and…I feel I should be responsible for you when you’re here.”

Charlie shrugs again. 

“His dad’s ghost tried to kill us.” Joy says matter-of-factly again.

“I know that!” 

Justin then sighs and looks away. “All right. I give up. I’m not your Dad.” 

He looks at me. I shake my head. He sighs. 

—Told by Grampa Walt