Apparently Suzy and I don’t sleep while we’re in the dream. Neither of us is tired. Neither of us thinks it’s really strange.
I have enough of the scientist in me to notice that and to think it’s strange that I don’t think it’s strange. But I also notice that I don’t really care.
Joy has been asleep in Justin’s childhood room for a few hours now, as Suzy and I sit on the porch and look out at the ocean and the two suns.
Suddenly, Joy emerges from the door, looking like she’s mostly asleep.
I stand up immediately, as Suzy asks, “Dearie, is everything okay?”
Joy doesn’t stop. She walks forward, and begins to climb the ramp.
“Joy, is everything okay?” I ask as we both scramble behind her up the ramp.
She walks faster than us. By the time we’re on the deck, I can see the door to her cabin closing.
I lead the way, now, walking slowly. I open the door just a bit and peek in.
Joy is in her cot in her cabin, already asleep.
I put a finger to my lips, telling Suzy to be quiet, and clear the way.
She peeks in and sees what I saw.
She nods and closes the door.
“She is a pirate,” a voice behind us says.
It’s Master Mind. He is leaning on the railing, his top half and bottom half still only sewn together on his right side.
“You will not be able to domesticate her,” he says simply.
“We’ll see,” Suzy says.
“That,” he says, “is a certainty.”
—Told by Grampa Walt