“Do you think that riot in Rattwater was our fault?”

“No, Tally, it was a-”

“Sorry, I cannot hear you for the life of me! What did you say?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing! Don’t worry about it, Tally!”

They were backstage at the Wooden Club, waiting in the wings for their turn on stage. It was being taken up at that moment by the opener, Dirttooth Treeroot and the Gnomeland Nationals, whom Rodney had managed to get on for the last leg of the tour. It isn’t every day you get to play in the capital, especially since Bring Me the Bugs had been banned from almost all of them, so he wanted to make it special. And this capitol still loved them, unlike the others. The crowd let them know it too, to the detriment of poor Dirttooth.

“Hey, I got a plan for tonight!” Rodney was sitting on the wooden stairs leading up to the stage, elbows on knees. Tallywhack joined him.

“What’s that?”

“We could fit a writing session into the schedule when back at the inn, if you’re willing. Not one of the new writing sessions, a real one. Like the good old days.”

“Yeah, that sounds great. That sounds really great right about now. Have you talked to the others about it yet?”

“Not yet. Seems like something you’d bring up with them. Call it your idea.”

“Rod,” Tallywhack said, turning to him, “it sounds great and all, it really does, but they won’t do it. You know they won’t.”

“Isn’t it worth a shot? If there’s a chance you guys could do it again, get that lightning in a bottle. That would be something, huh?”

“You know I agree with you.”

“I know.”

“So, why are you making it harder for me?”

“What’re you talking about, Tally?”

“I can’t make them be a band again. If they wanted to, they would’ve done it already.”

“Oh, c’mon! It’s not that big of a deal! I’m sure they’ll go with it. Think of what there is to gain here, man! A whole new era of the Bugs, the critical comeback of the century! Don’t you want that like I want that?”

“Of course. But it’s not gonna happen.”

“Why not?” It was Squawky. She was standing at the foot of the stairs.

“What?” Tallywhack said, trying to evade the subject. He twisted his body awkwardly toward the stage.

“Why wouldn’t we want to be a band?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Squawky.”

“I think we both know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t-” He sighed.

T-Bone walked in from the dressing room hallway, covering his ears.

“Why don’t we ask the other two about this?” Squawky asked.

“Ask the other two about what?” T-Bone yelled.

“About the fact that Tallywhack wants to leave the band!”

“I didn’t say that. You know I didn’t-”

“You meant it! That’s all that matters!”

“Could we all calm down, please?” Rodney asked, standing up.

“I didn’t say! Sorry, Rod. I didn’t say I wanted to leave the band.”

“Didn’t say,” she said. “Didn’t say it isn’t enough. What did it for you?”

“What?”

“What made you want to quit?”

“Maybe you should take it easy on him, Squawky,” T-Bone said.

“Why should I? He’s leaving, isn’t he?”

“I’m not leaving.”

“See? He’s not leaving,” Rodney said. “He’s not leaving at all, so we can all take it down a notch.”

“I don’t want to fight! I never wanted to fight!” Squawky said, spreading her wings and spinning in frustration.

“Me neither,” Tallywhack said. He walked to her with a hand outstretched but she pushed it away. She yelled:

“This conversation isn’t over!”

“Oh, man, it isn’t?” Tallywhack asked, hanging his head.

“We should’ve gotten rid of you instead of Smirfur!” she said, ruffling her wing.

“Maybe I am thinking of leaving,” he said, verbing his noun.

“Wait a minute, no you’re not!” Rodney said. “Tally! Tally! She didn’t mean it.” Tallywhack was already halfway down the hallway. He heard a set of footsteps behind him.

“Rod, c’mon man.”

“Tally,” Rodney said, gasping for breath. “I know how-”

“I heard what she said.” Tallywhack leaned against the wall. “You heard what she said.”

“I know, I know, but Tally!” he said desperately. “They need you! You know that, don’t you?”

“I’m not sure I do.”

“They do! I do!”

“This isn’t about you, Rod. It has nothing to do with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you’re not the problem here.”

“Oh, alright. Thank you.”

“Of course.” Tallywhack pushed off the wall and hopped up to hug him.

“I’m gonna miss you, hare.”

“Miss me?” Tallywhack broke the hug and tilted his head looking at him.

“Yeah, when you leave, I mean.”

“You’re coming with me, Rod. You’re still my manager, aren’t you?”

Rodney smirked.