At first Duckworth brushed it off as morning drowsiness. He had been sleepy in the mornings before- this was nothing new to him. So he went about his day, scrubbing and dusting, picking up Beakly's slack. But as morning packed its bags and let afternoon take its place, Duckworth only felt more run down. He considered that perhaps that maybe he was getting sick, or even his old age was finally catching up with him.

But the butler was not going to let a little weariness slow him down. After all, it was Scrooge's birthday.

And Duckworth was not about to throw his boss a sub-par party. Not on his watch.

Scrooge jerked awake, his body cold with sweat, his heart racing. "Duckworth?" he whispered softly, panicking when he didn't see the ghostly butler.

"I'm here," came the gentle reply from behind. Scrooge realized he was facing the wall- he must have rolled over in his sleep. The pekin sat up and turned around in a swift, smooth movement. Duckworth lay beside him, wide awake, his transculent eyes watching in worry. "Are you alright, sir?"

"Yes," Scrooge murmured, lying back down on his side, this time facing Duckworth. "I take it ghosts don't need sleep?"

A small grin of amusement worked its way across the butler's lips. The sight caused Scrooge's heart to warm and twist at the same time. The dam started to crack as familiar feelings of guilt and grief began to build up once more. But the walls he had put up were strong, and they were sealed back up quickly.

Unfortunately, not quickly enough.

Duckworth's smile was replaced by concern. "Sir... are you sure you're alright?"

Scrooge was quiet for a moment as he considered carefully how to respond. "Why didn't ye tell me? That ye were dyin'... why didn't ye... say anything?"

Duckworth's gaze softened. He had just opened his mouth to reply when a banging on the bedroom door interrupted.

"Uncle Scrooooge‼" Huey's voice called. "Louie set fire to the tapestries again!"

The fire was easily put out with the help of a fire extinguisher or two, and Louie's "Louie Inc. Firefighter Program" got put on hold indefinitely. Duckworth briefly considered having a talk with the young lad himself about his business. But this in itself was put on hold too when Dewey insisted that Duckworth should be his next special guest on "Dewey Dew Night."

And apparently they had to film the "episode" immediately.

So Duckworth found himself sitting on a small, wooden chair (that would likely have been very uncomfortable if he were still able to feel objects), staring at an audience consisting of lamps with faces drawn on their shades- all the while mildly concerned for Dewey's sanity. A camera sat in the center of the front row seats that Dewey had set up for "the audience," its red light silently blinking intermittently.

"Dewey here! Welcome back, crazy fans and snobby critics alike to Dewey Dew Night! Today we have a special guest in our midst!" Dewey excitedly gestured to Duckworth, who offered the camera a tiny, uncertain smile. "A real live ghost!"

"Technically, that statement is inaccurate," Duckworth pointed out immediately. "I cannot be a ghost and alive at the same time."

"It's a figure of speech- lighten up," Dewey told him, not phased in the slightest. In fact, if anything, he seemed even more excited. "Alive or not," the ten year-old duckling explained enthusiastically to the camera and "the audience," "he's still a real ghost! Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mister, uh... Mister... hey, what is your first name, Duckworth?"

Duckworth's gaze averted from the camera as he mumbled something inaudible. If a ghost could blush, he would no doubt be cherry red by now.

"Sorry, I didn't hear what you said. Could you speak a bit louder?"

"Bartholomew," Duckworth answered. "My first name is Bartholomew." Dewey struggled to contain his laughter, and failed miserably as he nearly choked on his own spit giggling hysterically. Duckworth could only shake his head and wonder how Scrooge hadn't gone completely bonkers his first day with these kids. Donald and Della were one thing. Duckworth and Scrooge were able to handle those two with relatively ease.

Though many a day passed by since where the canine butler could only wonder if the dynamic duo was partly responsible for his hair loss.