The Lost In Dreams Universe

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

High above the mountains of Mars, Dragon Little stood on the railing of Bonny’s Revenge holding her hang glider. Keeping her balance perfectly, she looked down. 

Dragon Father looked at her from the wooden deck, holding his own hang glider. He had an amused smile on his face. 

“Are you sure you’re okay doing this, Dad?” he asked his daughter. 

She tried to hold her hang glider correctly, but it was awkward. 

“I’ve done this maaaaany times, Joy,” she said. “Trust me.” 

She held on to it correctly. “Are you coming, slowpoke?” she said. 

Dragon Father leapt to the air to stand beside her. “Ready!” 

“Dad!” she said suddenly, looking hurt. “I can’t do that so you can’t do that! You’re Joy!” 

“Oh, sorry.” He climbed down, then climbed up one leg at a time. “Ready, Justin the Pirate!” he said. 

She took in a deep breath, then looked down. She had only done this once before and with her father’s help. But she leapt into the air and began to glide. 

There was not an ounce of fear in her. I have never yet seen her have a reason to be afraid in her father’s dream. After all, his subconscious protects her and she did not know anything else. 

Suddenly, her hang glider bent down too much and she began to spiral and fall down quickly. 

Dragon Father leapt after her. Within seconds, he was next to her as she was trying to get back control of the hang glider but unsuccessfully. 

“Joy, let me help you!” 

“Go away! I’m Justin the Pirate! I don’t need help!” she yelled at him through the wind, her tiny hands holding on to the glider. 

Dragon Father shook his head, then said, “Dad! Dad! I’ve only done this once! I’m losing control! Can you help me and hold my hand?” 

Dragon Little released a hand and reached back. “Hold my hand, Joy! You’ll be fine!” she shouted. 

Dragon Father grabbed her hand and, through little pushes and pulls, helped her stabilize her hang glider. “Thank you, Dad! That helps me a lot!” he shouted back at her through the wind. 

“I knew you could do it!” she shouted supportively at him. 

Dragon Father smiled as the two glided, hand in hand, towards the base of the Martian Space Pirates. 

Tomorrow I will tell you more of what happened on this day of opposites, Dragon Little’s fourth birthday.

—Told by The Red Dragon