Chapter 23

Big Daddy escapes the chopper again by hiding behind an air conditioning unit. Once in the clear, he peers out and is delighted to see he is across the street from the theater. "He may be tiny, but there's no denying his enormous talent. Would you please welcome to the stage, Mike!" Buster introduces.

Backstage, the cast compliments Ash when the mouse passes by. "You were amazing, sis." Karla says without thinking.

"Thanks." Ash replies, smiling.

"What are you doing back here?" Rosita all but gorans at the overconfident mouse.

"Yeah, I thought you didn't want anything to do with us considering we 'sing for ourselves'." Karla adds, remembering him laughing at the idea.

"Relax, Sweethearts, just came back to show you bozos how it's really done. Now watch this." Mike takes the stage to warm applause and turns his back to the audience, like he is going to do some suspenseful reveal to the crowd. Eddie comes on stage and changes the mic's height. Once the sheep makes his way back to the wing, he starts up the music, then pulls back the curtain. Just like expected of the mouse, he over exaggerates his head turn with a concerned look on his face.


"And now the end is near
and so I face the final curtain
My friend, I say it clear."


Everyone in the wings look at the mouse in shock, not seeing this song come from such cocky lips.


"And state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I have traveled each and every highway."


Inside the nightclub, the bears are playing poker again when they hear and see Mike on the TV. One bear spits out his drink on the cards in the hand of the bear opposite him. "Boss that is him, that is Mike." The boss grips the glass cup in her paw to the extent that it shatters, before rushing out with his minions following him. Mike's girlfriend sees this and looks back at the TV in fear.


"More much more than this I did it my way.
I did it my way
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention."


Big Daddy drops down into a dressing room, and pokes his head out. He catches sight of Johnny standing next to Karla watching the mouse's performance. Big Daddy throws a pebble at them, but ends up hitting Karla on the ear. She stiffens up and looks over to see a large gorilla wearing a prison uniform. Knowing immediately who it is, she smiles and pulls Johnny's arm. Her boyfriend looks at her, wondering what she is doing. She only jerks her head off to the side, telling him to look. Johnny follows her silent order and sees his dad. Karla lets go of his arm so he can run off to his dad. They hug each other tightly.

"I'm so proud of you." Big Daddy tells his son. The moment is spoiled by the sound of a helicopter getting to close for comfort for the convict. "Uh-oh." Karla sees this and, worriedly, hops up to the two gorillas. She lightly starts nudging Big Daddy into an area of the stage where he can't be seen. The former gang leader lets her do this, only because he is in shock that the pup is helping him.

As the helicopter gets closer to Big Daddy's location, the wind from the blades blow around everyone, including Mike. "You've gotta be kidding me." He mutters under his breath.


"For what is a mouse, what has he got
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels"


Because of his small stature, Mike starts getting pulled into the air.

On the road, heading to the theater, the bears in their yellow humpee and the female mouse in Mike's red porsche race against time to make it before the cocky mouse runs away again.

Back on stage, the resistance Mike was giving, gave out and he is pulled up into the air. He grabs the mic before it's out of his reach and continues singing.


"The record shows I took the blows...."


Just when he is about to lose grip the pilot pig calls out he has lost sight of the prisoner and is terminating pursuit. With the only thing keeping Mike in the air gone, he falls down on the mic swinging over the crowd like an acrobat while the crowd cheers. The mic slows down just as Mike finishes his song.


"....and did it my way~."


"You-you helped me. Why?" Big Daddy asks.

"You escaped prison just to see your son. I thought you would want more than just a couple of seconds with him." Karla admits.

Big Daddy looks at her closely, then realizes who she looks like. His ears drop and his expression changes to completely terrified. "You were in that van last year, weren't you?" He asks, his voice also shaking.

"Yes, I am."

"I wish I could go back and change the outcome every day. Even more when the gang and I were sent to prison. I know this won't change anything, but I am sorry-" He is cut off by Karla giving him a hug. Big Daddy looks over at his son, who is smiling away. "What is this for? I am the reason you don't have your mum."

"Yes, but because of that I met Johnny and if I didn't go to see my mom that day then I wouldn't have gotten the flier for the contest, and I wouldn't have the chance to see Johnny again at the audition." She pulls back and returns to Johnny's side, who places his arm around her shoulder.

"Well, I better get back. They'll be wondering what happened to me. You'll visit me though, yeah? And you..." Big Daddy tells his son, before looking at Karla "...keep an eye on my boy for me, will ya?"

"Yeah, of course I will." Johnny answers, blushing at that last part.

"I already am. We'll see you soon." Karla gives her boyfriend a cheeky grin.

"See ya, you two." Big Daddy begins to scale the wall behind him. He turns to the couple and smiles.

"Well at least we know that both our dads accept us." Karla tells him, still having the cheeky grin.

"Oh shove off. You better get ready, you're almost next." Johnny light bumps her hip.

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