The next morning, Dudley and Newton woke up at the crack of dawn.
Dudley opened his eyes to find little Amy still fast asleep.
Newton was standing just outside the cave looking at the sunrise.
Dudley gently laid Amy down on the ground, still wrapped in the blanket, then slowly strolled outside.
"You're awake, eh?" he said to Newton.
"Yes. In fact, I'd like a word with you while the child's asleep" said Newton.
"Yes?" said Dudley.
"I do not believe we're equipped to take such a fragile being under our wings. We can scarcely feed ourselves" said Newton.
"But she's helpless and has no one to care for her" said Dudley.
"So are we" said Newton.
"But we're older than Amy and it's not safe for little ones to be on their own" Dudley argued.
"Yes, that's true..."
"And at least we're not doing something illegal like we did in Whiskey Flat" said Dudley.
Newton scoffed. "That was a disgrace. Swindling those poor people and associating with that undesirable, scatterbrained outlaw."
"But we were still awarded a thousand dollars for capturing him" said Dudley.
"Which we cannot be spending all at once" finished Newton strictly.
Dudley looked back inside the cave with a worried face.
"Newton, I just can't leave her. Couldn't we at least be actors?" said Dudley.
"We are actors" said Newton.
"I meant couldn't we play the parts of two young but wise men caring for a poor helpless foundling?" said Dudley.
Newton took that into account, then looked in Amy's direction.
His expression softened when he saw her fast asleep in the cave.
Then he answered Dudley through a song.
Now look here, Dudley. You're an actor just like me
So the child is cuddly, you appear to be failing to see
That we ourselves are struggling to live a proper life
And they say a man can't have a child unless he's got a wife
"I know..." said Dudley.
Newton gave a mischievous smile before continuing.
But you and me, we
We know better
"We do?" said Dudley.
"We're touring actors running from the police, but we know better than to let them find her instead" said Newton.
He continued his song.
They say an actor gets paid for being immature
They say he's way too self-assured
They say an actor prides himself on his talent
They say he never breaks the rules, or he'll be silenced
They say he's smart, they say he's funny
They say he never feels crummy
Or preaches weddings for money
both: But you and me, we
We know better
"So you're agreeing to take Amy with us?" said Dudley.
"Let's just say I've finally given into your prying" said Newton modestly.
"But we can" said Dudley.
He sang his own verse.
They say an actor can't perform without a stage
He doesn't fight with the director
His character depends on his age
They say an actor doesn't waste his time on fans
They say an actor doesn't change his partner's plans
They say he's tired, they say he's stressed
You never see him underdressed
Or getting himself into a mess
both: But you and me, we
We know better
The two actors shook on it before heading back into the cave.
YOU ARE READING
Once Upon a Dream
FanfictionDudley Leicester and Newton Weekes go on a romantic and dramatic train journey.
