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Chapter Twenty
Coughing.
I couldn't stop coughing.
I felt so sick as I stood in the middle of mine and Hannah's shared room, bent over as my body wrenched back and forth, my throat burning.
Why did I feel so ill?
Luckily, I had a handkerchief nearby, so snatched it up and held it to my mouth as I coughed my lungs up. Everything started to go dizzy, so I sat down on the bed.
What was happening to me?
The world soon stopped spinning, but I still felt quite faint, swaying back and forth without really realising.
"Amy!"
I looked up, scrunching the handkerchief up, as Hannah bounded in the room, an excited look on her face.
"C'mon, Amz, we're going to the park!" She told me.
"Is this that picnic Mrs Lovett wants to take us all on?" I asked. Hannah's excited look faded slightly.
"How come you already know?"
"Matt told me."
"Oh."
Disappointed, Hannah sat down next to me and crossed her arms.
"We're going on a picnic," She announced, nodding her head while her excited look returned. "Me, you, Matt, Toby, Mrs Lovett and Sweeners."
I giggled. "I dare you to call him 'Sweeners' to his face."
"And have my throat slit? Ha, I don't think so."
Hannah and I shared a laugh, allowing me to momentarily block that coughing fit out of my mind.
"Well, get your boots on, cos Mrs Lovett wants to go A.S.A.P."
"Why don't you get your boots on?" I muttered.
"Already have."
Hannah stuck her leg out, showing me that she did, in fact, have her boots on. I stuck my tongue out at her, tying up the laces of my left boot.
"This should be fun." She said thoughtfully.
"Really?"
"Yeah! Can you imagine Sweeners on a picnic?"
The very thought made us both giggle again, remembering that particular scene from the film.
"Somehow, I don't think that we are going to see Mrs Lovett's fantasy." I said.
"Damn," Hannah cursed. "I really wanted to see Sweeners in a bathing suit."
We both laughed loudly that time.
At the park, we managed to find a secluded area by a large tree. Mrs Lovett spread the blanket out so we could all sit together and eat. Matt and Toby wolfed their food down, eager to try out Toby's new kite, while Mrs Lovett, Hannah and I ate slowly enough to actually enjoy our food.
Sweeney didn't eat anything.
Of course, Mrs Lovett didn't notice. She just chattered on about...something.
"...which is not to say we couldn't get some nice taxidermy animals to bring a touch of gentility to the place. You know, a boar's head or two..."
She glanced at Sweeney, realising that he wasn't actually paying any attention.
"Mr T, are you listening to me?"
"Of course." Was his sullen reply.
"Then what did I just say?"
There was a brief pause.
"There must be a way to the Judge!" Sweeney hissed under his breath. Mrs Lovett rolled her eyes at Hannah and I.
"The bloody old Judge! Always harping on the bloody old Judge!" She complained. "We got a nice respectable business now, money coming in regular and since we're careful to pick and choose only strangers and such like what won't be missed, who's going to catch on?"
Then, out of the blue, Mrs Lovett leaned over and kissed Sweeney on the cheek.
Ooh Mr Todd
She kissed him again.
I'm so happy
Again.
I could
And again.
Eat you up, I really could!
You know what I'd like to do, Mr. Todd?
She kissed him again.
What I dream
And again.
If the business stays as good,
Where I'd really like to go
In a year or so
Sweeney didn't respond, which was obviously what Mrs Lovett wanted. Hannah and I exchanged glances.
Don't you wanna know? Mrs Lovett asked like a child.
"Of course." Sweeney said stiffly, staring ahead of him with a pained expression. Mrs Lovett leaned forwards, oblivious to Hannah and I sitting just behind them.
Do you really wanna know?
"Yes, I do."
Mrs Lovett, content with this answer, sat back and beamed at Hannah and I, drifting off into her little fantasy.
By the sea, Mr. Todd
That's the life I covet
By the sea, Mr. Todd
Ooh, I know you'd love it!
You and me, Mr. T
We could be alone
In a house what we'd almost own
Down by the sea
Anything you say Sweeney grumbled.
Wouldn't that be smashing?
Think how snug it'll be
Underneath our flannel
When it's just you and me
And the English Channel
In our cozy retreat,
Kept all neat and tidy,
We'll have chums over every Friday
By the sea
I frowned to myself; what if Hannah, Matt and I never got to go home? Would Mrs Lovett allow us to remain with her, or would her family simply consist of her, Sweeney and Toby?
Don't you love the weather
By the sea
We'll grow old together
By the seaside,
Hoo! Hoo!
By the beautiful sea
It'll be so quiet
That who'll come by it
Except a seagull
Hoo! Hoo!
We shouldn't try it
Though, till it's legal
For two-hoo
I knew that Mrs Lovett was now imaging her wedding, wondering if we were also included in that fantasy.
But a seaside wedding
Could be devised
Me rumpled bedding Legitimized
My eyelids'll flutter
I'll turn into butter
The moment I mutter
"I do-hoo!"
I glanced at Sweeney, noticing how utterly disgusted he looked at the prospect of what Mrs Lovett was suggesting.
By now, Toby and Matt joined us at the picnic blanket, Toby sitting next to Mrs Lovett and Matt sitting next to me.
By the sea.
Married nice and proper
By the sea
Bring along your chopper
To the seaside
Hoo! Hoo!
By the beautiful sea!
Mrs Lovett concluded by throwing her arms around Sweeney and Toby, the picture of a perfect family. But one question ran through my mind.
What about us?