Something changes in Justin as soon as he is able to absorb that Joy can see into the dark dream while no one else can.

His back straightens. His voice becomes like that of a military commander, when he says, “Joy. Tell me what you see.”

She nods. “We’re at a beach. The woman is over there sitting on a beach chair.” Joy changes, as well. She isn’t the child asking her father for something she cadn’t have for the thousandth time. She is the adventurer I’d heard about. She’s giving a report of the hostile environment. “She has a beautiful dog sitting next to her. There are a few other people who came for the beach. And, I think, oh!”

“What?”

“A couple of penguins just came out of the water.”

“Monster penguins?”

[Click on the title to read the entire diary entry!]