The family of four was sitting around the small round table. Thirty years old Jay and Lei, along with the ten year old Gerry, were staring at the five year old Rin, as she searched for the words and shaped them into sentences slowly.
"Three men with yellow heads ran into daddy's bank. They had big guns. The fat one shot at the roof. Everyone was screaming. There were so many in the bank. Everyone sat down. The other two went to daddy's office. They took daddy's keys. Daddy was sitting with everyone else. One of the thin ones went inside. The other two were scaring everyone with the guns. After some time, the other one returned with a big bag. And the three ran away before the police came in. Daddy was hit in the head. He was hurt. There was blood. But daddy wasn't crying. Because daddy is strong. But daddy, you shouldn't go to bank today. We should all stay home."
"You saw all this in a dream?" Lei asked.
Rin nodded vigorously. "I was sleeping. Then I saw it. I think I was there too, at the bank. But I wasn't. It was a dream."
They were all quiet. Lei because she couldn't think of anything. Gerry because he didn't have to say anything. And Jay because it wouldn't be difficult to do what his darling girl asked, even if it was just a dream.
"Okay darling," Jay said, beaming at Rin. "Daddy will not go. We will all have a holiday today. We'll all stay inside, watch a movie. With popcorn and cola."
"And pizza," Rin screamed.
"No scary movie," Gerry said.
"Why?" Rin and Jay screamed in one voice.
"Scary movies are the best," Rin said.
"They make the popcorn so much tastier," Jay added.
"And they turn you two even more stupid," Gerry said.
Lei laughed as the father and daughter pouted. She could take the day off whenever. She was her boss and her sole employee. She made no rules for herself. And she agreed with Gerry. "No scary movie," she said, and that was it.
Later in the afternoon, as they were only just starting the second movie, the phone rang. It was Julie from the bank. She was Jay's assistant. And she was calling to inform Jay of an incident that happened at the bank a little while ago. Three robbers had taken the bank hostage. They got away before the police got there. There were no serious injuries, just a few minor scuffles, and very scared customers. It was a good thing Jay hadn't come. Somehow, Julie felt things would have been worse if Jay was present.
Jay rushed over to the bank. It was late when he returned. The lights in the house were on. Rin was asleep in her bed, a smile on her face. The other three stood by her side, looking. All three were thinking the same thing. They said nothing while they were in Rin's room. Only when they closed the door and returned to living room, did they open up.
"It's real," Lei said.
Jay nodded.
"She's a dreamer," Gerry said, finding the best words.