PARENTHOOD
Chapter Thirty Two David looked at his reflection in the mirror as he brushed the hair from his eyes and sighed. His stomach was doing flips as he looked at the piece of paper and closed his eyes. His drama teacher didn't think a seven year old should tackle such a long soliloquy as the one he was going to perform for the Shakespeare festival but he knew the soliloquy forward and backwards. "That's because you've seen Hamlet over twenty times," he said then laughed, placing the piece of paper on the table. Walking to the door, he opened the door while he looked out into the hallway and saw some of his friends walking by. Most of them had gone on stage already and the others were getting ready to do their scenes or speeches and he walked out of the dressing room, heading for the stage. He was barefoot and was wearing jeans, a belt and a red t-shirt. He also had a small cloth tied around the palm of his hand and he looked at his teacher. Professor Liken looked at him as she frowned and folded her arms over her chest. "What are you wearing?" she asked and he looked at his clothing. "I am going to do the soliloquy from the two thousand and eight production of Hamlet," he said and she nodded. Peeking out from behind the curtain, David looked at the front row when he saw most of his family sitting in the seats but three chairs were empty and he frowned. "River, where are Mommy and Daddy?" he thought as he set up a privacy block and felt her mind coming closer. "They're coming, Bump, don't worry," River thought and sent love and comfort into his mind. Sighing, he moved the curtain back when he looked at Professor Liken and she gently patted his shoulder. The curtain came up as the lights went low and the stage was set up as a castle throne room. The walls looked like they were made of stone as shields with family crests hung on the walls, torches sat in iron holders, two suits of armor stood on either side of the stage, a table with a pot of flowers sat to the left with two chairs on either end of the table and three thrones sat at the back of the stage. The floor was black and highly polished as the tiles mirrored the flickering light of the candles and a chandelier hung over the stage. Quietly, David walked onstage as he looked seriously at the audience then blinked when he saw Adam, Marion and his godfather, David, sitting in the empty seats and David was filming him. "Surprise!" Adam thought as David stood straighter and headed for the center of the stage. He didn't mind that the floor was cold as he closed his eyes for a few seconds then opened them and placed his hands behind his back. "To be or not to be...that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of trouble and by opposing...end them? To die...to sleep no more...and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep...to sleep, perchance to dream, aye, there's the rub. For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come. When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause, there's the respect. That makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time? The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, the pangs of despised love, the law's delay, the insolence of office and the spurns that patient merit of the unworthy takes when he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life, but that the dread of something after death? The undiscover'd country from whose bourn no traveler returned, puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all. And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought and enterprises of great pith and moment with this regard their currents turn awry. And lose the name of action," David said then looked offstage and sighed. "Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons, be all my sins remember'd!" The audience clapped as he bowed and David gave him a wink. Smiling, David walked offstage as Professor Liken looked at him. He stopped in front of her as she placed her hands on his shoulders and smiled. "That was perfect!" she said as he nodded then walked to the dressing room and opened the door. Closing the door, he stood against the door then slid to the floor and placed his back of his head against the door. "Whew," he sighed when he got up then walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. David blushed when he walked outside the Doctor's house and saw his family applauding, whistling and cheering. "BRAVO! BRAVO!" Alan and Adam shouted as David did a little bow and walked to Marion, who wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug. "Make 'em stop," David whispered as he blushed and she kissed the top of his head. "Ok, knock it off, you two," she said as Alan and Adam nodded and David sighed, placing his head against her chest. "You did a great job." "I was really scared," he whispered and she kissed the top of his head. "I bet," she said when David walked closer and Little David looked at him. "Blimey, I'm impressed. You did that speech better than I did," he teased and Little David beamed. "Nah, you're still the best Hamlet," Little David said, toeing the ground with his sneaker. "If you say so," David said with a shrug of his shoulder and Little David giggled. "Now, I hate to say this, but I have to go." "Do you have to?" he asked. "I'm afraid so," he said, sighing. "When are you leaving?" "In a few minutes," David said and Little David let go of him. "Can I go with Daddy?" Little David asked as he looked at Marion and she nodded. A few minutes later the soft ground sound filled the air as the TARDIS dematerialized and pieces of paper swirled around in a small circle. After dropping David off at his house, Adam moved around the console as he set the coordinates and pulled the main lever. Little David sat on the jump seat while he picked at the arm of the jump seat and Adam felt his hearts hurting. He knew that Little David wanted David to stay as much as he did but they both know that he couldn't stay and Adam sighed, looking at the screen. "Where are we going?" David asked. "Oh, I thought we'd go somewhere special, seeing how well you did with your performance," Adam said when the TARDIS landed and he walked to the jump seat, holding his hand out. "Come on, there's someone I think you should meet." "Who are you talking about, Daddy?" David asked as he got up and took Adam's hand. Walking to the door, Adam opened the doors and they walked outside. Letting go of David's hand, Adam locked the doors then took David's hand and they walked down the cobble stone street. "Where are we?" "We're in London," Adam said while they walked along and David looked around. Going around a corner, Adam smiled when he stopped and David looked at the building in front of them. "Daddy, that's the Globe Theatre," he said and Adam nodded. "And we're right in time to see the rehearsal of the new play that's going to be performed tonight," he said as they walked inside and headed toward the stage. Standing on the stage was someone Adam only saw in his brother's mind as he smiled and the man turned around, looking at him. "Ah, Doctor, is that you?" William Shakespeare asked as he walked down the steps and Adam smiled. "No, sorry, I'm his brother, Adam," he said as Shakespeare smiled and Adam smiled back. "My word, you look just like him," he said then looked at David. "And who is this fine lad?" "This is my son, David." "Well, hello, Master David!" Shakespeare said and they shook hands. "Now, what can I do for?" "Oh, we were just passing by and I was wondering if we could watch the rehearsal." "Considering your brother saved my life, I would be honored," Shakespeare said with a slight bow and Adam nodded. Taking a seat in the front row, Adam held David close to his side as the actors came on the stage and David looked up at him. "What play are they doing, Daddy?" he asked and Adam smiled. "Hamlet," Adam said as David gasped then grinned and snuggled closer to Adam, placing his head against his arm.
Back Home Doctor Who Main Page Next