‘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.

#321: Joy’s Fourth Birthday, Part 3: Joy the Father

Bonny’s Revenge arrived at Mars. 

“Look, Joy, over there!” Dragon Little told Dragon Father. She was now playing as Dragon Father, and he, apparently, as Dragon Little. 

“That’s the base of the Martian Space Pirates!” Dragon Father said. His headache was mostly gone now, and he seemed to be willing to play along with his daughter on this adventure. 

In front of them, mountains appeared out of a mist. Dragon Father had created them - his subconscious did, at least. 

“Very good, Joy! Very good!” Dragon Little told her father. “You’re getting really good at this!” 

Dragon Father smiled and covered his mouth with his hand. 

“Now here’s the plan, Joy!” Dragon Little said with authority. “We’re going to use hand gliders to enter their base without them knowing. Got it?” 

“You mean hang gliders, Joy?” 

I’m Dad, you’re Joy!” she said with anger. Then, more relaxed, she said, “No, I mean hand gliders, not hang gliders. Joy, listen to me and learn!” 

Dragon Father smiled again and said nothing. 

Next to Dragon Little, two hang gliders appeared. I am a Dragon who has never seen the waking world and who has never been in a dream with hand gliders or hang gliders, so I do not which ist the right phrase. I will go with the way Dragon Father says it until I know better, and if they are called ‘hand gliders’ and not ‘hang gliders’ you will have to forgive me. 

“Great!” Dragon Little said. “Let’s arm up!”

They went to the weapons cabinet. “This one is for me,” Dragon Little took two of her father’s big swords. “That’s for you,” she pointed to her small cabinet with a knife and a small laser pistol.”  

“Are you sure?” 

“Of course I’m sure, I’m Justin the Pirate!” She tried to hold both swords at the same time and they would not stay upright. They would repeatedly fall to the deck. 

“You know what?” she said. “This time, just on this adventure, I’ll use your weapons and you’ll use mine.” 

“Sounds good.” 

“Just this time!” 

“Got it.” 

“All right,” she took the smaller hang glider. “Ready to beat the bad guys?” 

He took his. “Ready!” he smiled. 

Tomorrow I will tell you what happened next. 

—Told by The Red Dragon

#322: Joy’s Fourth Birthday, Part 4: Managing Fear

#320: Joy’s fourth Birthday, Part 2: Joy the Leader