NOTE: I'm baaaaack! You were happy that I was gone, weren't you? Sorry I took so long. I've been engrossed in other things...including band. I haven't visited the MD section for a loooong time.

DISC: I don't own MD. Nor do I own Bon Jovi or Pixie Stix. ---- They were psyched when the date for their next meet, against their cross- town rivals, the Maddison Tigersharks. They had cleaned up their act, and picked out music. Alysa had instructed everybody on marching positions (rest, ready, and playing), and about the use of lyres, as she was a veteran marcher and knew what she was doing.

The Preston twins, who besides being band-geeks, were friends with the in- crowd, recruited some of their non-band friends for a flag squad.

The band was coming together very nicely. Gombay, with tips from George, set up a marching formation and distributed piccolos to Trish and Alysa.. The flag squad had a wonderful routine, thanks to Fuzz's skills in choreography.

The band had progressed rapidly, and picked up the new music very quickly. Gombay was impressed by them.

---- When they arrived at Maddison, the band was in a state of sugar high. Eric and Dave had "accidentally" brought along a supply of Pixie Stix. They energetically tumbled out of the bus and set up the equipment. A tidal wave of pink-and-purple polka-dotted sweaters collapsed in the Maddison band room. Claudia led the band into a striking rendition of Bon Jovi's It's My Life, with the flutes on vocals and everybody else playing the background music, while Fuzz was choreographing the flag squad.

This ain't a song for the broken-hearted.

No silent prayer for the faith-departed.

I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd .

You're gonna hear my voice .

When I shout it out loud .

It's my life

It's now or never

I ain't gonna live forever

I just want to live while I'm alive

It's my life.

My heart is like an open highway

Like Frankie said

I did it my way.

I just wanna live while I'm alive

It's my life.

"Shake it, Fuzzy-wozzy!" Melissa shouted.

Fuzz spun around, stopped, and (in an Elvis-like way) said, "Thank you, thank you very much."

Later, they calmed down. They must be serious about this. Their hard work could not go to rest, for fear that Gombay would end up like their prior band director.

Maddison had a rather good music department, so when Donegon went to perform, they were nervous. Gombay comforted them with conventional words of wisdom.

"Try again, you must."

"Isn't that from Star Wars?" Tony asked. Jaime smacked him.

"No shit, sherlock."

Eric and Dave promptly began to sing the theme song, but were abruptly stopped when Steph smacked the backs of their heads.

Suddenly, they were all silent. They calmly walked into the center of the arena. Everybody got into formation.

Trevor began to count.

"One.two.three."

The band began to play.

They had chosen a piece entitled Washington Post March, and it sounded wonderful. The judges were blown away by the improvement that Donegon had showed.

After the piece, they huddled together and crossed their fingers.

"And.this match ends with a tie!" one of the female judges announced.

Donegon gathered themselves together in a huge group hug. They hadn't lost this time! Even if they did not win..it was better than nothing. ---- "We're the Cattle, we are the best.we're gonna put you to the test.." Amy started to sing on the bus ride back home.

"So put on your head-dress." Timmy shouted.

"And step on the gas," Alysa and Alisha cheered.

"'Cuz we're gonna kick you in the.EVERYBODY! We will, we will.rock you, sock you, pick you up and drop you.cause we are the Cattle."

Gombay smiled in spite of himself.

It was going to be a long ride home.