Buster's P.O.V

I rode my bike up to Les Calmars to meet up with Eddie to tell him my new idea. When I arrive, I grab my tin lunchbox and hand the bike off to the valet. I start to walk away but turn back around, "Take care of her, will you? She may look rusty but she is a classic." Walking inside, I spot Eddie sitting at a two person table in front of the fame squid-filled tank. "Ok listen, we both know that my theater's been through some pretty rough times lately. But as the saying goes, 'for every cloud, a silver lining.' We've got–"

"Upp, upp, upp. Hold on right there, Buster. My dad- he heard I was gonna see you today and he was all like 'Eddie, you tell that koala I am not funding anymore of those shows. And that's final.' Those were his words." Eddie cuts me off.

"But your dad's right. 'Those shows' were part of the problem! War of Attrition, Rosie Takes a Bow!- I mean nobody wants to see that stuff anymore/ So what do you do?"

"Quit?"

"No! I give 'em a show they cannot resist. Which is gonna be–" A waiter clears his throat and takes out a pen and pad, ready to take our order. "Just one more minute, sil vous plait?" He checks his watch and leaves while groaning. "...Merci!"

"Don't speak French, they speak English here." Eddie whispers loudly over the table.

"Now my next show is gonna be-drum roll please," I tap the table with my first finger. "a singing competition!"

"A singing competition? Who wants to see another one of those?" Eddie asks, confused.

"Everyone! J-Just think- your neighbor, the, the grocery store manager." I see a waiter slowly walk past the table. "That, that, the chicken right there," Said chicken realizes I am talking about them and quickly walks away. "everyone in this city gets a shot at being a star live on my stage."

"Buster, this is a terrible idea."

"Oh, oh, it's not. Real talent from real life, now that's what audiences want and I'm gonna give it to them!" I pound my fist on the table, catapulting my spoon across the room. I hear a splash behind me and see Eddie's scared expression.

"C-Can we please just get outta here?" He asks.

"Don't you wanna eat?" I question.

Eddie points to the menu. "Yeah, but we can't afford any of this."

"Yes, I know. And that's why I brought sandwiches." I tell him like it is the most normal thing in the world as I pull out my lunch box and toss a sandwich to Eddie.

"Uh......that's not allowed. Ugh." He comments before holding out the sandwiches like it's going to bite him.

"What, you don't like peanut butter and jelly?" I ask while fingering through the sandwiches like files in a filing cabinet. 

"Okay look, I got cream cheese, I got banan-aaaaa!" I yell as our waiter picks me up by the scruff and throws me out of the revolving entry door and onto the street.

Eddie arrives by my side and hands me my jacket and messenger bag. "You ok?"

"Yep never better." I reply half-heartedly before heading back to the theater.

"Miss Crawly?" I call out through the speaker in my office.

"Hello?" She questions. I see the fan blowing behind her, the strength is shown by how much her scaly skin is flapping around. "Eh.....Who is it?"

"It's me." I clear my throat. "Your boss, Mr. Moon?"

"Oh, hello, Mr. Moon." She realizes.

"There we go. Now, I need you to add the following information to our publicity fliers.."

"Yes, sir..."

"...The winner of the singing contest will receive a grand prize of Nine hundred and thirty-five dollars...Hmmm...Gonna need more than that....Just a second." I grab the money box and place it and some items around my office in a prop treasure chest and close the lid. "Eh, there... There! One thousand dollars. You got that?"

"Uh, 1,000 dollars."

"Print 'em up on every sheet of paper we have left. And let's spread the word right away. Okay?"

"Yesh, oh yes sir." She replies. I walk over to the window and take a deep breath, looking out at the city below. I pat the window sill, like a sea caption at the wheel.

"Ah, the winds of change." A little wood and paint crumbles under my paw. "Yep, when this show's a hit, I'm gonna get you a fresh coat of paint." After a few moments, I open the door to Miss Crawly's office. "How we doing with those fliers Miss Crawly?" She turns from the printer with arms full of the fliers.

"Oh yes, sir, we're all good to go here." Sadly she steps into the path of the fan. All the fliers are blown from the pile and out the window.

"Miss. Crawly! No!! No, no no no no!--" I rush over to the window but miss the last flier by a claw length.

"Oopsie daisy." Miss. Crawly comments, her voice shaking a bit.

"Eh, well, I guess that's one way to spread the word."

Third Person's P.O.V

The fliers soar through the city's skyline. All over the city, people pick up the fliers, the breeze helping them along. At the subway station, the porcupine's rock and roll couple stand hand and hand waiting for the train. Fliers swoop in along with the train. The female pulls one of the fliers off her boyfriend's back quills. Hey Lance, look at this." He ignores her and steps on the subway. She reads the flier and waves at him. He finally realizes that she isn't behind him.

"Ash, babe! Hey!" As she reads it, Ash's face lights up and more of the fliers swirl around her.

In another part of the city, Johnny the gorilla closes the steel shutters of the garage to hide from the cops. An orange flier creeps in underneath and Johnny notices. He reads it and quickly slips it into his jacket pocket.

In the neighborhood with the family of elephants, Meena hums as she waters some flowers. Her mom and grandpa tap her on the shoulder with their trunks. When the young girl turns around, her mom holds up the flier. "Meena." She slowly takes off the headphones and looks between the paper and her family.

Back at the subway station, a dog dressed as a nun reads the flier before tossing it over her shoulder. The flier hits the cocky mouse who is still playing the sax. "Hey, hey, hey! Whaddya think ya-!" He yells, pointing at the flier before cutting himself off when he sees the prize money.

A lone flier is carried on the breeze out of town and lands so delicately on top of Sue's head stone right in front of Karla. "A singing competition?! In Moon Theater?! That place is still open?"

The wind blows around her.

"What? No, Mom."

The wind blows across her face, mimicking a slap.

"But Mom, I can't do it. I haven't sang since you left."

The wind blows directly into her face.

"Are you sure I can do it?" She looks at her mother's grave.

The wind blows another flier to lean up against the stone.

"I guess I could try. But it's not for the money, I'm doing this for you, Mom. What do you suggest I even sing?"

A wind chime from another gravesite rings out a tune that Karla knows well.

"Really Mom? You know what that song means."

The wind howls and circles around the pup.

"Ok Mom. I'll sing that song."

That evening in Rosita's apartment, the mother pig is wearily washing dishes left by her children. She talks boardly into the receiving end of the phone. Uh huh....yeah." Her attention is brought to a flier that stuck itself against the glass of the window in front of her. As it slides down the pane, she tilts her head to follow it. The words 'singing contest' reveal itself to her. She is so distracted by the idea that her phone slips from her shoulder, into the sink and her face lights up. Outside, more fliers are still flying around.

Karla's P.O.V

"Hi Dad." I greet, when I open the door. There is no answer and the light to the guest bedroom is on again. 'Not again.' I place my bag on the couch and head to the back of the house. "Dad, you aren't still staring at that corkboard again, are you?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Yea, sorry Kiddo. I just haven't gotten any leads on that truck. There is no rhyme or reason to the sightings."

"Dad, you can't keep going on like this. You're screwing up your health. Mom wouldn't want you to spend every waking moment trying to find the driver. Nothing we do will bring her back." I tell him.

He looks at me. "You think I don't know that! I know she's gone, but catching the one who caused it will ease my mind". He yells. I lean back at his tone.

"Dad, they'll get caught in due time. Don't try to rush it." I inform, placing my paw on his shoulder. "Maybe, this will make you feel better." I hand him the flier. "Wouldn't you know it, it showed up on Mom's tombstone."

"A singing competition? I thought you gave up singing."

"I did but Mom convinced me to audition."

"Kiddo, I appreciate you wanting to get back out there and sing, but we don't need the grand prize."

"Who said I'm doing it for the money. I know both of you haven't liked me not singing since Mom died. I see this as fate. I was meant to do this."

"Want me to come with you Kiddo?"

"No, that's ok. I'll tell you the results after I get home tomorrow."

"Alright, night Kiddo."

"Night Dad."

~The next day~

Buster's P.O.V

I sleepily reach out to my alarm clock. I yawn and try to sit up only to hit my head on the ceiling. "Owww." I groan. I do my daily routine and lay back in bed. "Let's go to work." I push my paws against the ceiling to open the drawer at my desk. I pops my head up,crawl into the chair and spin the chair to the highest position. "And cue the crazy old lizard."

Miss Crawly scuttles through the door. "Good morning, Mr. Moon." She says as she comes around the desk.

"Indeed it is, Miss. Crawly. Top of the morning to you." I greet.

"I made you some coffee." She hands me an empty mug.

"You did? Where is it?"

"Oh, I got a little thirsty on the way up here." I shake my head a little bit with a sad smile. "Shall I go open the doors now?"

"The doors?" I question, looking up from the coffee mug.

"Well you've gotta lotta animals waiting in line to audition Mr. Moon." She explains.

"I do?" I rush to the window and pull one of the blinds down to see a long line of animals. I drop the mug in shock. "Holy moly- I really do." I pull back after seeing a news van pull up and call my friend. "I swear to you Eddie, this is no joke! Look, just get down here and see for yourself. I gotta go!" I hang up and turn to Miss Crawly. "Ha haa! This is it Miss. Crawly! Get your scaly tail downstairs and throw those doors open wide!" I wave my paws up at the end for emphasis.

Miss Crawly does just that holding a bullhorn to address the crowd. "Okay, uh, one at a time, please! Calm down!" I stand behind her, awestruck at the scene in front of me.

Karla's P.O.V

I wake up early and do my daily routine. I pick an outfit that Mom loved so much. "Bye Dad." I tell him at the doorway to his 'cave'.

"You already heading out?" He asks.

"It's like nine in the morning. Please tell me you didn't stay up all night again." He gives me a sheepish grin. "Dad! Don't make yourself sick staring at the board. Mom wouldn't want you to do this and neither do I." He takes a look at the investigation board, then back at me.

"You're right. As much as I don't like it, you're right."

"Just get some sleep, please." I tell him as we hug.

"Ok Kiddo." I head to the front door, grabbing my bag off the couch when I pass by. I kick my heels, making the wheels flip out from the bottom of my shoes. I skate around everyone, to get to the theater.

"Hey kid, watch it!" Animals yell.

"Sorry," I say, partly apologetic. I skid to a stop when I see the end of the line in front of me. "Holy crap." I comment, seeing how far away I am from the doors. 'Looks like this will take all day. Better text Dad.'

Gonna b l8 don't w8 up, & get some sleep 'zzz'

Buster's P.O.V

I sit at one of the front row seats with a desk to write down the reviews. Miss Crawly lets in the first group of singers and then sits next to me. A tank of bright pink prawns is pushed onto the stage. "Whenever you are ready."

"Got me lookin' so crazy right now,
your love's got me lookin'
so crazy right now,
got me hoping you'll page me right now,
your love's got me hoping you'll...."

I groove along, delighted and Miss Crawly notes my response on her list.

"Ra-ra-ah aha ha!
Ro-ma rum-ma ma!
Ga-ga ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance!"

Miss Crawly and I stare at the Scandinavian pig in front of us wide eyed and in shock.

"Jump! Might as well jump!"

Rosita's P.O.V

I stand by the door handing my little piglets their lunches as they head off to school. "Bye Iggy, bye Perry, bye Carla, bye Gail, bye Rory, bye Micky, bye Moe, bye Nelson, bye Hannah, bye Tess, bye Casper. Phew!" I slam the door with a look of exhaustion on my face. I take one last look at the flier before I grab my bag and race out the door, towards the theater.

Buster's P.O.V

Miss Crawly brings in the next section of singers from the line.

"Baa-baay! I compare you to a kiss from a rose."

Five red pandas skip onto the stage with a pink radio.

"L.U.C.K! L.U.C.K!"

After shooing the girls away, a quartet of turtles dressed as barbers sing acapella.

"I love my shoes
I love me shoes."

I look disinterested, but see out of the corner of my eye Miss. Crawly's eyes light up.

"Come my lady, come, come, my lady,
You're my butterfly, sugar, baby."

Third Person's P.O.V

Outside the theater, a lively news reporter dog goes down the line,interviewing some of the contestants. One of them being a hippo. The camera points at him while an enthusiastic crowd waves behind him.

"....And let's hear from a few more of the folks in line. What about you, sir?"

"Well Bob, I'm a lab technician for a lead pharmaceutical company, but I was born with a gift, and that gift is to sing."

Buster's P.O.V

"Plav da shree, lou ku pah,
av du sah.Soo-da-li dwee-daht,
soo-da-li doo-ton plah-blah!"

I look at the hippo playing the piano in front of me in shock. Miss Crawly and I share a look

Three teen female rabbits swish their tails back and forth.

Oh my gosh.
Look at her butt.
Oh my gosh.
Look at her butt."

I can't help but be intrigued. Next, Miss Crawly and I are almost blown away by the volume of the porcupine rockers.

"I live my life by myself!
Can't stand the things that you say!"

The song apparently is over but the female pushes her bandmate out of the way and holds out the last note.

"Not listening anyway!
Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah!"

Her bandmate scowls but I look at her, impressed. A llama sits on a stool with an acoustic guitar and starts to play, but she keeps stopping to tune the string. Every strum is more off tune than the last. Luckily, our next audition consists of three young parrots.

"Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolly lolly lolly. Lollipop.
Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolly lolly lolly. Lollipop."

Johnny's P.O.V

I look into the training room to my dad who is boxing with a speed bag. "Oi, Dad. Just going out." He pauses to answer.

"Well don't be long, I got the gang comin' over." I head outside and hop on my skateboard to get away from the gang's headquarters as fast as possible.

Third Person's P.O.V

"And what about you Miss?" The news anchor asks, holding up the mic to Karla.

"Well I wasn't originally going to audition, but after visiting my mom, she convinced me to come out here." People in the crowd all gush at the comment. Karla holds her charm as she adds, "I don't care about the prize money, I just want to make my Momma proud of me."

A loud cocky laugh breaks the beautiful moment. "What's the point of singing if you don't make money from it?" The over-confident voice belonging to a mouse gets louder as he shoves his way to the anchor dog. "Animals like Squeakers here are saying things like, "Oh it's not winning, it's taking part that counts." Yeah, not me pal. I'm here to win." He holds up the flier to the competition. "That prize money - it's mine."

Inside the theater, an alligator is doing the robot to the song he's singing.

"People say yo Humpty,
you're really funny lookin'.
That's alright 'cuz I get things cookin'."

A gerbil does a jig to his song.

"Working 9 to 5..."

Next an adult kangaroo pulls out her joey from her pouch and holds her kid up to the mic.

"We can dance if we want to."

A camel sings out an operatic high note. Then, a snail slithers to the top of the microphone.

"So I ride like the wind, ride like the–"

The next audition needed to have the mic raised up high and sings out.

"Ben, the two of us need look no more."

The next group of singers to audition include Karla, the cocky mouse, Meena the shy elephant, Rosita and a certain gorilla.