I dock Bonny’s Revenge right next to one of the suns, with the plank as close as I could get it. I’m not doing this as good as Justin or Joy or Master Mind. But it’s close enough. Suzy and I both put on one of the jetpacks that Joy had made permanent. Just in case one of us falls here or outside the Shroom. 

Suzy’s first on the plank, and the plank begins to wobble as soon as she’s on it. 

“Oh, no, no, no!” she says and comes back. “I’m not doing this!” 

“I’ll hold your hand.”

“Get me off! Get me off!” 

She’s asking for my hand to help her get down from the plank. “It’s fine,” I try to calm her down. “I’ve done this a few times by myself. It’s safe.” 

“Safe?! Get me down, just give me a hand.” 

“Suzy, you have a jetpack.” 

“Give me a hand!” She’s completely frightened and she’s angry. I give her a hand. 

“What’s safe about this? The ocean is a million kilometers beneath us.” 

“It’s not a million,” I correct her automatically and immediately know I’ve made a mistake. 

“I’m 56 years old, Walter! Do you think I’m going to fly on a jetpack when I fall to my death?!” She’s angry. I haven’t seen her this angry in years. “Take me home! Just take me home! Amahle can wait or come to us!” 

I know when not to argue. I know well enough that anything I try to say will not end up well for me. “Let’s go home,” I say and head for the wheel. 

“What does it matter if I fall 12 kilometers or a million?” she asks me angrily. 

“A million kilometers is much better because it gives you more time to turn on the jetpack,” I say because she asked me about facts so I’m answering with facts. 

That does not turn out well for me. We go back home, arguing.

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt