Charlie and Joy are riding flying elephants today. Justin helms Bonny’s Revenge next to them, just in case. Master Mind, the dutiful chaperone, as always watches over Joy’s safety, also from Bonny’s Revenge. Suzy and I came to watch. It’s not every day you see your grandchild ride a flying elephant. 

Suzy holds my hand tightly and enjoys the view. She loves it when dreams are beautiful.

“I like playing together,” Charlie’s voice carries over pretty well. 

“Me, too!” Joy answers. 

“No one gives me a tough time because I’m playing with a girl.” 

“What’s wrong with playing with a girl?” Joy asks. 

“Nothing. But it’s not that. In school, the boys play with boys and the girls play with girls. I like playing with girls and boys. Then the boys make fun of me and the girls make fun of me. When I play with you, no one makes fun of me!” 

“I’ll punch them in the face if they do!” Joy declares and Charlie laughs.

Justin looks at me and Suzy worriedly. “Is that still a thing?” he whispers. “Aren’t we past that?” He shakes his head. “Forgot who I was talking to. How would you know?”

Suzy takes a deep breath. “Justin, I don’t know what goes on in schools today. Angela’s kids were too young for this when you created me in the Dream. But it’s not just about equality. It’s also about psychological development.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Joy’s around the third grade, right?” Suzy asks and Justin nods. “That’s about the age when most kids stop just playing around and begin to find some groups they belong to, start talking about ‘social politics’.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“They start talking about each other, comparing themselves, being mean, talking about stuff that other kids are doing, being jealous of the popular kids. Just regular group dynamics. Trying to find out who they are.” 

“Huh,” Justin crosses his arms and looks at Joy playing with Charlie on the flying elephants. “Joy doesn’t do any of that.” He purses his lips, thinking. “That’s not good for her development, right? She’s missing an important stage, right?” 

Suzy shrugs. “I don’t know. I think so.” 

Justin exhales, then says with determination. “I need to find her some girls to play with.”

(To be continued…) 

—Told by Grampa Walt