“You know what you need, Charlie? You need to learn how to fight!” 

“Huh?” 

We’re in Justin’s dream, playing on a planet Charlie created a few months ago called Playground World. Everything in it is taken out of playgrounds or amusement parks. 

This used to be a place Charlie created in his dream, but recently Charlie has been spending all of his time here. So it became a planet and Joy made the planet permanent in Justin’s dream. 

The mood struck them today, and Joy and Charlie flew here on Bonny’s Revenge, chaperoned by Master Mind and me. 

But a few minutes in, Joy decides Charlie needs to fight. 

“I’ll show you how to throw a punch.” 

Charlie is reluctant, but she convinces him. 

“Okay. Now like this. With your thumb out, not in. Like this. Okay?”

“Uh-huh,” he says hesitantly. He’s not happy to do this. 

“Okay. Now punch me in the shoulder.” 

“I don’t want to.” 

“I’ll block it,” she says. “Do it softly.” 

It takes some convincing, but Charlie throws a half-hearted punch at Joy’s shoulder. Joy blocks it without effort. 

“Now do it hard. Really hard. I’ll block it. It won’t hurt.” 

She convinces him again, and he punches hard. She easily blocks the punch, causing him to miss her.

“Okay. Now. As hard as you can.” 

“Joy…” 

“It’s the last one! I promise! As hard as you can! I promise to block it!” 

Reluctantly, Charlie agrees. He punches as hard as he can. Joy lowers her head and before Charlie realizes what happens, he punches her in the face. 

“Joy!” I shout. 

“Young Pirate!” Master Mind shouts. 

“Aw, jeez, Joy, are you all right?” 

There’s blood coming out of Joy’s mouth as she stands up, with a huge smile .”I blocked it!” she says and opens her palm. “With my face!” A bloody tooth is in her palm, and when she smiles, she’s missing the tooth she was complaining about. 

“Joy!” Justin’s voice booms angrily behind me. I turn around. He’s flying towards us with a jetpack. “Did you get yourself punched in the face again to see the Tooth Fairy!”

“Nuh-uh,” she says, then whispers to Charlie. “Watch this. This is going to be cool!” 

—Told by Grampa Walt