‘The Squashbuckler Diaries’ are the daily tales of Joy Shelley’s Life in the Dream. The ‘Lost in Dreams’ books will tell the story of what happens to her at ages 6, 9, 12, 15, and so on. The diaries tell us what happens before, after, and between the books.

#338: The Villain’s Emergency

After Dragon Little and Dragon Father fought the gorillas, as I have relayed to you yesterday, they had survived by the skin of their teeth. 

But that was a feint. 

Dragon Father and Dragon Little hid atop the closest trees and observed the killer gorillas. 

As the killer gorillas left for their base, Dragon Father and Dragon Little swung from tree to tree on tree vines above the gorillas’ heads and followed them.

Once within the palace of the Gorilla King, they confronted the giant gorilla. 

“Let’s do thiiiiiiis!” 3-year-old Dragon Little shouted at him excitedly, her small sword in one hand, her laser pistol in the other. 

The Gorilla King motioned for all his minions to step back and came down to face the pirates. 

“I will deal with this,” he told his minions. 

“Let’s do thiiiiiiis!” she shouted again. 

Dragon Father whispered to her, “Joy, it’s okay. He got the point.” 

The Gorilla King crouched into a fighting position. “Let’s do this,” he said. “In three… two... “ he stood up. “Hold on. Pause on the fighting.” 

The gorilla minions looked at each other. 

“What’s the matter?” said Dragon Father.

“Are you chicken?!” Dragon Little shouted at him. 

“I have a small emergency,” said the Gorilla King. “I will pee and return to the fighting.” 

Dragon Father nodded. 

The Gorilla King turned his back to them, and walked towards the window. 

“Pee quickly!” Dragon Little shouted at him. 

The Gorilla King jumped up to stand on the ledge of the window and aimed his peeing towards the jungle below. 

“Did you pee yet?” Dragon Little interjected. 

Dragon Father sighed. “Joy, let him concentrate.” 

“Why does it take so long to peeeeee!” she shouted. 

“Quiet, little pirate,” said the Gorilla King calmly. 

“Just pee already, just pee, just pee, just pee already!” 

“It takes time to pee at my age,” said the Gorilla King. “Please wait a while.” 

“No problem,” Dragon Father said to him. “Joy… let the king pee.” 

“Pfffff,” she made a face. “Why can’t everyone just pee quickly! It’s not fair!” 

Dragon Father nodded. “You’re right. That isn’t fair.” 

The Gorilla King peed, and the fight quickly resumed. 

—Told by The Red Dragon

#339: Outside Justin’s Dream

#337: The Emergency