A Dream Within A Dream
"Gosalyn!" Drake Mallard yelled angrily up the stairs. "Get down here!"
"Uh-oh," Gosalyn murmered to her friend Honker Muddlefoot as they sat on her messy bedroom floor. Slowly she stood and walked to the top of the stairs. "Yes, dad?" she asked, as sweetly as possible.
"Gosalyn, dearest," Drake said through clenched teeth. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about the kitchen, now would you?"
"The kitchen?" Gosalyn asked innocently. "Heh, heh. Gee, Dad, what about it?"
"Oh, I don't know," Drake said sarcastically. "Maybe the eggs in the toaster, the utensils down the disposal, the butter smeared across the floor, the BIKE IN THE WINDOW??!"
"Oh!" Gosalyn laughed nervously. "THAT part of the kitchen..." She kept her safe distance at the top of the stairs as Honker stood guiltily behind her.
"Gosalyn, what on earth did you do?" Drake exclaimed. He stomped up the stairs to her and picked her and Honker both up around the waists and carried them downstairs.
"Dad, we can explain!" Gosalyn cried. "Really! See, Honker and I had this great idea to, to bake you a cake, right?"
"Right!" Honker added. "B-bu-but we were--"
"But we got the idea while we were riding our bikes, so we hurried home and I tried to take a simple shortcut by--" Gosalyn continued.
"She tried to ramp the garage and--" Honker said quickly, and Gosalyn gave him a most dirty look, then stopped as her father plopped them both down on the kitchen floor. The kitchen really did look bad.
"It looks like a disaster area in here!" Drake yelled, shoving a mop at Gosalyn and a bucket at Honker. "You two have some serious cleaning to do!" Honker and Gosalyn groaned and Drake added as he left, "I want to see my face in every appliance in this kitchen by tonight! Now get to work!"
He left the room and Gosalyn whispered in relief to Honker, "Phew! At least he didn't bust me for the window!"
"Oh, yeah!" Drake said, poking his head back into the room. "And Gosalyn, you're grounded until further notice and that window is coming straight out of your allowance!"
"But--!" Gosalyn protested, but it was no use, he was already gone. Angrily she muttered under her breath as she and Honker began cleaning. Honker accepted this punishment with his usual quiet dignity. He knew they were guilty, why not face up to it? Gosalyn knew this as well, but it was harder for her to accept punishment, be it just or not.
Drake was still upset when he sat down to read his morning paper, but by the time he'd gotten half-way through he was feeling better, though somewhat sleepy. He yawned and stretched out on the sofa.
"Maybe I was too hard on Gos," he murmered to himself. "But she did break a window!" Drake shrugged. He knew his daughter; she would get over it, just as he would. He rolled over to be more comfortable, but he doubted that he would get any sleep.
Oh, well. May as well try.
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Gosalyn and Honker had been cleaning for about an hour when a familiar voice called out merrily from the kitchen door behind them, "Yoo-hoo! Anyone home?"
It was Honker's mother, Binkie Muddlefoot. Always cheerful and hopelessly suburban, Binkie strolled into the kitchen daintily and said, "Honker dear, it's time to come home now."
"Okay, Mom," Honker complied gladly, tossing his sponge down into the bucket.
"Goodness children, you look exhausted!" Binkie exclaimed. "Whatever have you been up to?" She looked around the still untidy kitchen and asked, pointing specifically to the broken window with the bicycle lodged in it, "And what happened here?"
"Oh, nothing," Honker said, and Gosalyn smiled mischievously as she examined the window more closely.
"Gee," she giggled. "Good thing I had my helmet on, huh?"
Honker grinned but Binkie frowned. "Gosalyn dear, you don't mean to tell me that you broke this window, do you?" she asked.
"Broke it?" Gosalyn snorted. "Heck, I went through it!" She added as an afterthought, "Dad sure went through the roof."
"Oh," Binkie said. "Your father was angry at you for..." she paused. "...going *through* a glass window?"
Gosalyn laughed and exclaimed, "He exploded! And Honk and I've been cleaning ever since!"
"Dear me, but you could've been hurt!" Binkie gasped, appalled.
Gosalyn shrugged and just then Drake entered the kitchen from the other room. "Gosa--" he began, then noticed his neighbor. "Oh. Hello Binkie," he said as politely as possible. "You taking Honker home?"
"I most certainly am!" Binkie snapped, glaring at Drake.
"What?" he exclaimed, looking around. "What's the matter?"
"Drake, what's this the children tell me about you losing your temper over a bicycle accident and making them clean up after you?"
"Huh?" he asked, confused, then said, "Oh, oh, you mean the bike, and the window, and..."
"Honestly, MISTER Mallard," Binkie raved on, quite worked up. "I should think you'd be more concerned for your daughter's well-being after crashing through a window then for a silly bicycle or the cost of the window!"
"But--" Drake stammered, shocked at the unpleasant tone that was so unlike his timid neighbor.
"Or perhaps you think that because Gosalyn is adopted, she's not worth quite as much as a window, or a hard day's labor!" Binkie exclaimed, clutching her son to her.
"Hey!" Gosalyn cried, offended.
"Mo-om!" Honker groaned, not understanding his mother's overreaction any more than the confused Mallards.
"Now just a minute!" Drake yelled above them all. "Gosalyn is my daughter, Binkie! How dare you bring her adoption into this?" He looked at Gosalyn, wide-eyed. "I had no idea you went *through* the window!" he exclaimed, looking concerned. "Are you--"
"Hmph!" said Binkie indignantly. "I suppose concern is easy enough to imitate!" she accused. "And I daresay, this isn't the first temper-tantrum of yours I've heard about from the innocent children, Drake!"
"Binkie, I--" Drake began again, but Binkie cut him off, heading for the door.
"I think it's best if Honker has Gosalyn over to play from now on!" she snapped, and with a slam of the door she was gone, dragging her son with her.
Drake and Gosalyn Mallard were left standing alone in the messy kitchen, and Gosalyn asked, "Dad, what on earth was all that about? I've never seen Honker's mom so worked-up before!"
"Me neither," Drake said thoughtfully. "I'm not sure what had her so angry."
Gosalyn looked up at him with wide eyes. "Did I do something wrong, Dad?" she asked quietly.
"No, Sweetie," he assured her. "You didn't do anything wrong." Drake glanced around at the kitchen then and added, "Well, except the obvious."
Gosalyn laughed and asked, "Can I finish this later, Dad? I'm really sorry."
He looked down into her eyes and saw true repentance. "Sure," he said, feeling generous. "You got the worst of it finished, and Launchpad or I will have to take care of that glass anyway." Drake smiled at his daughter sarcastically. "But you still have to pay for the broken window," he added.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Gosalyn grumbled, but she sighed with a smile and gave him a quick hug before skipping away.
***
Over the next few days, Gosalyn found herself constantly pestered by the for some reason now over-protective and overly concerned Binkie Muddlefoot. Every time she saw Gosalyn she asked her one stupid question or another.
"Gosalyn," Binkie said, motherly concern in her eyes. "How are you today, dear?"
"Fine," Gosalyn shrugged.
"That's good," Binkie smiled. "And...how's your father?"
"Fine, I guess," Gosalyn shrugged again. "Why don't you ask him?"
Binkie laughed courteously but said, "Has he, by chance, yelled at you anytime recently, dear?"
"Yelled at me?" Gosalyn asked. "No, he only yells when he's mad."
"Why, is he mad at you dear?" Binkie asked quickly, almost eagerly.
"No, not today," Gosayln told her. "I haven't done anything wrong today."
Binkie frowned as Gosalyn left her, and soon found her way to Launchpad McQuack, another duck that lived with the Mallards on Avian Way. Binkie liked Launchpad, and she trusted him. He was far too good-natured to be anything but honest. With a neighborly 'hello' she found him relaxing in a hammock in the backyard.
"Hello, Binkie," Launchpad yawned, stretching. Binkie had awakened him without warning from an otherwise pleasant afternoon nap. "Can I help you with somethin'?" he asked.
"Actually, Launchpad, yes you can," Binkie said. "I was just wondering," she tried hard to be nonchalant. "Well, you know Drake pretty well, don't you, Launchpad?"
"Drake?" Launchpad repeated, still drowsy. "Sure, I guess so; as much as anyone I'd say."
"Well," Binkie said, somewhat cautiously, "the other day I just happened to walk in on a little, shall we say, 'family dispute' between Drake and Gosalyn, and--"
"Oh, yeah," Launchpad laughed. "Those two can really go at it."
"Really?" Binkie asked, intrigued.
"Yeah," he nodded. "They yell at each other and storm away to their rooms, just furious! But then one or the other comes out and apologizes, and the whole thing blows over."
"Hmm..." Binkie mused. "So, you'd say that Drake has a fairly bad temper then?" she asked.
"I'd say they both have pretty bad tempers," Launchpad smiled. "But once their tempers cool they get along great!"
"Which one, Gosalyn or Drake," Binkie asked then, "which one would you say apologizes more often?"
"Huh?" Launchpad asked, sitting up for the first time. "I dunno. Seems to me whenever they fight they both apologize in the end."
"Hmm..." Binkie mused again, and after a litle small talk she left.
***
Drake was taking out the trash that evening when Binkie appeared out of nowhere and approached him. "Good evening, Drake," she said. She pointed to the trash. "Isn't that Gosalyn's job?"
"Evening, Binkie," he replied. "This? Oh, sometimes I suppose. It's not like she does her chores most of the time anyway."
"Oh, well, maybe you're pushing her too hard," Binkie suggested casually. "She is just a little girl after all."
"I know," Drake nodded. "But taking out the trash surely isn't 'pushing her to hard' is it? I mean, I don't exactly consider it manual labor."
"Yes, well, Gosalyn is such a..." she searched for a polite term. "....tomboy, anyway, Drake. You really should handle these more robust jobs yourself and leave her to the more feminine ones, housework and such."
Drake held back the urge to roll his eyes and smiled politely. He got the feeling that Binkie had this conversation in mind long before he ever stepped out of the garage. "Maybe so, Binkie," he smirked. "But if Gosalyn prefers the more 'masculine' chores, which she does--she hates housework!--I don't see the harm in letting her do the chores she prefers, do you?"
"Well, maybe she just needs a more feminine influence in some areas, don't you think?" Binkie smirked back.
Furious, Drake held his tongue and said only, "No, I don't think, Binkie! Good night!"
***
Later that night, Drake asked his daughter as he, she, and Launchpad sat in the living room, "Gosalyn, do you think I'm too rough on you?"
"Huh?" she asked, and Launchpad looked up.
"I mean, do you think I don't treat you right?" he rephrased.
"Well, I got the bread and water," Gosalyn shrugged, teasing him. "Occasional sunlight, what more could I--"
"No, I'm serious, Gos," he said.
She stared blankly at him for a minute, then answered, "No, Dad, I think on the whole you're pretty fair. I mean, you adopted me, right? Why...why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing," he shrugged, then added, "I love you Sweetie, you know that, right?"
"Sure, Dad," she smiled.
***
The next morning, Drake was abruptly awakened by a frightened yell. As he sat up quicky, he realized in terror that the yell was Gosalyn! Before he could move, Launchpad burst into the room, still wearing his robe and exclaimed,
"Drake! Drake! Wake up! There's some people here, I don't know who they are, but they say they've come for Gosalyn!"
"What??" Drake cried, springing up from his bed. "What fiend could've possibly traced her--"
"No, no, Drake, it's not what you might think!" Launchpad shook his head, lowering his voice a little. "It's not a villain, it's--"
"But Launchpad, who could've--" Drake began, throwing on his robe and heading towards Gosalyn's room in a confident stride.
"Dad!" Gosalyn exclaimed when she saw him coming. "Help!"
"Gosalyn, Gosalyn, calm down," he told her when he saw no villains, only a man and a woman in business suits. Who were these people? and more importantly, what were they doing with his daughter?
Drake approached the two strangers who stood before him. The woman held Gosalyn by the shoulders, gently but firmly keeping her in place, and the man stood protectively between Drake and them. Gosalyn was still in her pajamas and looked beyond terrified as Drake asked, annoyed, but calm,
"What is going on here?" He stopped in front of the man and asked, "Who are you people, and what are you doing in my house?" Angrily he watched Gosalyn struggle against the woman's grip, and he instinctively snapped, "Get your hands off her!" and reached for Gosalyn.
The woman snatched her away. "Who are you?" Drake demanded.
"They're from the orphanage!" Gosalyn shouted tearfully. "*They're taking me away!*"
"WHAT?!?" Drake exclaimed. Suddenly he felt sick. His knees went weak and his heart seemed to stop beating at all. He looked helplessly at the strangers for a few seconds that seemed like a soundless eternity. They seemed to be towering far above, glaring down menacingly at him, instead of standing apathetically before him as they were. His throat was dry and he couldn't say a word.
"Whaddya mean?" Launchpad spoke from behind him.
"Mr. Mallard," the male duck said formally. "We're from the Department of Duck Services, specifically the Child Welfare division." He flashed some sort of identification at Drake and continued without stopping. "And we've come because we have reason to believe that Gosalyn here is in need of a more stable family environment."
"What??" Drake yelled, finding his voice and his temper. "What do you mean a more stable environment? It's stable here!"
"Dad, don't let them take me back to the orphanage!" Gosalyn cried desperately.
"Calm down, Honey," Drake said again soothingly. He glared at the officals. "This is obviously some sort of mistake."
"No mistake, sir," the woman insisted. "We have a neighbor's reports of constant arguing and yelling coming from this household, and even a report of possible physical abuse."
"That's crazy!" Launchpad exclaimed. "We'd never hit Gosalyn!"
"...and the presence of another strange man in the home, as well as the absence of any sort of mother figure for a young girl..." the man went on.
"But--you knew I wasn't married when I adopted her!" Drake yelled.
"Please Mr. Mallard, we've already told you, we're not from the orphanage," the man said, raising his hands.
"We're not taking her away forever," the woman said. "Just for awhile, until we're sure that this home is good enough for her."
"I don't believe this!" Drake exclaimed, furious. "GOOD ENOUGH?"
Suddenly the woman added viscously, "But judging from this little display of temper, I'd say it's certainly not!"
Drake gasped and impulsively reached out for Gosalyn. "Dad!" she hollered as the man carried her down the stairs.
"Gosalyn!" Drake cried, running after them.
"Now Mr. Mallard, please!" the man insisted, passing Gosalyn to the woman and blocking Drake's movement.
Launchpad held Drake back and the man took Gosalyn again. "No, Drake!" Launchpad said. "You've gotta play it cool now! We'll fix it later!"
"NO!" Drake shouted, pulling against his sidekick with all his strenth, reaching frantically for his daughter. "Gosalyn! Sweetie!" Tears formed in his eyes and blurred his vision.
"Dad!" Gosalyn sobbed, struggling against the man carrying her around the waist. Suddenly she yelled in desperation, "DARKWING! Save me, DAD!"
"Gosalyn," Drake yelled again, oblivious to her slip in confidentiality.
The man carried Gosalyn outside and he and the woman got into a station wagon parked in the driveway, Drake close on their heels. Gosalyn was placed in the back seat, and she pressed her face against the glass. She bawled as Drake stood beside the car, angrily pounding the windows. "No! PLEASE!" he cried, choking.
Drake Mallard watched his daughter's weeping helplessly. "How can this be happening?" he exclaimed. "This CAN'T be happening!" He tried to stay steady as the whole world around him seemed to spin. His head throbbed, his throat closed, and he felt his heart ripping apart as she was taken away. All his work as a crime-fighter, all his strenth and bravery couldn't save the one thing he treasured most. Broken, he fell to the ground, sobbing. "Why?" he repeated, over and over again. "Why?"
Suddenly he heard Launchpad's voice. "DW?" he asked.
Drake turned to look at his friend, still crying,"Why? Why?"
"Gee, I dunno, DW," Launchpad answered. " 'Cause I'm hungry?"
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Drake opened his damp eyes, confused.
All at once he found himself inside the house instead of out on the driveway. He was laying on the sofa and Launchpad was leaning over him, a concerned look on his face.
"Huh?" Drake asked, rubbing his eyes and sitting up quickly.
"I said, 'When are we gonna eat?'" Launchpad said.
"No..." Drake looked around slowly, then sighed with relief as the realization hit him. It...it had all been a dream! He was here, Gosalyn was here and safe. The whole thing had been a horrible nightmare!
Hadn't it??
Alarmed, Drake asked abrubtly, grabbing his sidekick by his jacket, "Gosalyn? LP, where's Gosalyn?"
Launchpad shrugged. "In the kitchen cleanin' like you told her to, I guess," he said. "Why, DW? Did she--" He stopped, for Drake had jumped up off the couch, headed for the kitchen. Launchpad wondered what was wrong, but said only as he sat on the couch, "Hm...Guess this means we're not eatin'..."
"GOSALYN!" Drake exclaimed, bursting into the kitchen.
"What?!" Gosalyn jumped, startled. "What's the matter? What's wrong?" Honker started and looked up from his scrubbing at a very disheveled Drake.
Drake stopped where he stood in the doorway and stared at his daughter, who was kneeling on the floor, scrubbing away. Her unruly red hair was pulled back in its routine pigtails, but a few bothersome strands strayed and framed her cherub face. She brushed them away. Her green eyes looked up at him, the confusion and nervousness in them hiding their usual mischievious twinkle. "What is it, Dad?" she asked, secretly wondering if he'd found out about the banana pudding incident at the hospital or something. "You look a little pale."
He smiled weakly and exhaled shakily as he knelt down beside her. "Oh, Gos," he sighed, tears forming in his eyes again. "I'm fine now." He hugged her, long and hard, holding her close and tight and whispered, "As long as you're here."
"Dad, I--" Gosalyn accepted the hug, but was still puzzled.
"I love you, honey," Drake said meaningfully. "Please don't ever forget that,okay?"
"Okay, Dad," Gosalyn said softly. "I won't." She returned the hug, figuring that he must need it and added, "I love you, too."
The End
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"Yet if hope has flown away,
In a night or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream."
~Edgar Allan Poe.
~all characters copyright Disney and used w/o permission.
This story is copyright Angela McDermott, 1997. Permission given to use it,
as long as you don't alter it, don't make money from it,
and please give me credit. :)
*Dedicated to me mum and all other single parents.