While the kids play, Joy hangs to the side. She stands next to Master Mind, half leaning on him, as she eats a slice of pizza. Suzy and I stand next to Master Mind, drinking grape juice out of paper cups.
Justin is in the kitchen, trying to help Catori.
A young girl, also eating a slice of pizza, comes up to Joy.
“Breonna,” she tells Joy.
“Joy.”
“I like what you did with the boys. That was funny.”
“Are you Charlie’s friend?”
Breonna shakes her head. “I don’t have any friends at school.”
“Mmmm,” Joy says. “I don’t go to school.”
“Is that fun?”
“I think so.”
“Like any movies?”
“Can’t see movies in the dream. Or television.”
“Woah, that sucks.”
“I have adventures. Do you have adventures?”
“School is a big enough adventure. No thank you!”
They eat in silence.
“Does Charlie have friends?” Joy asks.
“Charlie’s always alone.”
“I’m his friend.”
“You’re not in school.”
“Mmmm,” Joy is suddenly frustrated. “Wish I was. If I was there, I’d stop all the bullies that hit him once and for all.”
“Violence is not the answer.” Breonna says.
“It teaches bullies a lesson.”
“It leads to bad things. I know history and my mom’s a therapist. It leads to really bad things. Violence is never the answer.”
“Sometimes it is.”
“Never.”
“Always!”.
“Never!”
Joy looks at her from top to bottom. “I’m done with you,” she says and walks away.
Suzy looks at me. “Wow,” she tells me.
“What?” Did I miss something?
“That was bad!”
“For which one of them?” I still don’t see what big thing happened.
Suzy sighs. “Never mind, Walt. I’ll talk to Justin later.” She sighs again. “That was bad.”
(To be continued..)
—Told by Grampa Walt