Suzy turns to Joy and says, “When was the last time you took a shower, dearie?”
“A few days ago,” Joy says.
Suzy sends Justin a stare that could kill. She shakes her head.
“It’s a dream, Mom!” Justin explodes in a complaint. “I didn’t know any of this was real!”
“Well, now you do. This is no way to raise a girl. Darling,” she turns to Joy. “You have to take a shower every day.”
“Nuh-uh,” Joy says.
“Oh, yes,” Suzy says emphatically. “Charlie, you’re a dreamer like Justin, right?”
“Yuh-huh,” the boy says. He’s clearly feeling overwhelmed by everything that’s happening. So he’s staying in the background, possibly until he can play with Joy. “My mom makes me take a shower every evening.”
“Well, there you go,” Suzy tells Joy.
“But I don’t wanna,” Charlie adds an afterthought.
“Well, there you go,” Joy tells her new grandmother. “I don’t live in the real world like all of you.” She says ‘real’ with bile, like it’s poison. “I live here and I can do what I want!”
“Sweetheart, if you don’t wash every day, your private parts are going to be red, and your entire skin will itch. You have to take a shower every day.”
“I don’t have to do anything!” Joy says emphatically.
Justin shakes his head, and hides a smile. “Oh. Sorry. It was fun not being on the receiving part of that. Joy,” he turns to her. “Have you ever let your grandmother help shower you?”
“No,” she says simply.
“Well, it’s an experience. Try it.”
Joy’s expression changes. Now it looks as if the shower is inviting to her. “Just this once! And I won’t like it!”
Justin nods.
Suzy begins to lead Joy down the ramp, her hand on Joy’s back. “Justin, I’m going to need soap for kids, a shampoo and a conditioner.”
“Already there,” Justin says. “Ask Joy to touch them.”
After Joy and Suzy are in the shower, Justin begins to laugh.
“Charlie, how well do you know Joy?” he asks with a smile.
“I just met her yesterday. Pretty well.”
“Do you know what she’s going to do when she comes back out?”
Charlie thinks, then shakes his head.
“Well,” Justin leans backwards against the railing, crossing his arms. “It’s going to be worth the wait, I promise.”
(To be continued…)
—Told by Grampa Walt