We stand in the middle of the street, Colin, Justin, Joy, Charlie, Master Mind, Suzy, and I. 

We look around. This is exactly the way London used to look in movies I grew up on, with adjustments for the decades that have passed. 

“Wow,” Justin says. 

“Look at the graffiti over there,” Charlie points to a large wall with graffiti of a man’s face with his tongue sticking out. 

Bonny’s Revenge hangs in the air just above the rooftops. Justin insisted that Colin host us in Justin’s dream, not in Colin’s. Just in case a nightmare breaks out and we need Bonny’s Revenge. 

“This is in London?” Justin asks. 

“This is Shoreditch,” Colin says. “It’s in the South of London. It’s quite expensive.” 

“Hmmm,” Justin raises an eyebrow. He gives the nod he gives when he notices something awkward, but wants to ignore it.

“My, uh, our apartment is right over there. But before we go in, I think we should dress for the meal. I think pirate clothes are not, as they say, appropriate formalwear.”

“What’s formalwear?” Charlie says.

“This is formalwear,” Colin raises his arms and he is suddenly dressed in a, I don’t really know the names for what he’s wearing. A dinner jacket? A blue tie, certainly. The pants, whatever they’re called, are fancy, too.

“Whoa,” Justin says. “How’s this?” And suddenly he’s not wearing his pirate clothes. He is wearing a sweater and jeans. “It’s the best I have.”

“May I?” Colin asks.

Justin hesitates then nods. In the blink of an eye, Justin is wearing something that’s in the style of what Colin has on. 

“Wow, that’s awkward,” Justin looks down at himself. 

“Now you, young lady?” Colin looks at Joy from toes to neck. 

“If you give me a dress, I’m going to make you wear it!”

I try very hard not to laugh.

“All right,” Colin takes a step back. “I’ll let your father deal with this, shall I?” 

Joy nods.

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt