“Well, uh,” Suzy says as none of us have anything to add to the mystery of the broken mirror. “Let’s, uh…” 

“You know what,” I say. “Let’s leave it till someone comes.” 

“I’ll go get the broom,” Suzy says. 

I know I should volunteer to sweep the floor instead of her, but, like always, I don’t feel like it, and she’s always done it. 

“By my evil maker,” Master Mind says, staring at the pieces. “I have just organized the pieces in my mind.” Suzy walks in with a broom and a dustpan as Master Mind finishes his thought, “There is a piece missing.” 

“A piece of glass?” she asks. 

“A piece of the mirror,” he answers. “This big,” he shows us with his hands the length of about 15 centimeters. 

“Are you sure?” 

“Alert! Alert! Dizziness anticipated! Hyperventilation anticipated! Dizziness achieved! Loss of balance anticipated! Hyperventilation achieved!” 

“Master Mind, Master Mind!” I try to put my hand on his robotic back. “You’re not breathing, how can you hyperventilate!” 

“Your observation is correct, and yet hyperventilation achieved! Dizziness achieved! Loss of balance imminent!” 

“You’re just having a panic attack, Master Mind!” Suzy says while taking a step back. 

“Panic attack achieved! Loss of balance imminent! Alert! Alert! No, I am stronger than this! Search for bravery matrix in progress! Bravery located! Panic attack now under attack by bravery! I will save the Young Pirate! I will save the Young Pirate!” His voice suddenly slows down, “Calmness achieved. Bravery achieved. Hatred of weakness achieved.” 

I am shaken by what I have seen. It is both absurd and frightening. Master Mind is real, standing in front of me, a giant killer who had saved Joy’s life dozens of times now, and he had just broken down to pieces in front of me. 

“Good, good,” I pat his back. “Good.” 

“There is no avenue to discovery of further clues,” he says. “We must wait for the Dreamers and the Pirate in particular. I will now go guard the Little Pirate with greater vigilance.” 

“Okay. Do that,” Suzy tells him as he walks out. 

I sigh and shake my head. “Every so often I keep getting reminded. There’s always more dangers. There’s always something unexpected and unknown. What are the chances she survives even to her teenage years?” 

Suzy shakes her head. “What are the chances?” 

“Not high,” I frown. “Not high.” 

(To be continued…) 

—Told by Grampa Walt