Epilogue

Flik navigated through the crowded Dining Hall, shaking hands and accepting praise humbly. He had announced he was departing for bed over an hour ago - and yet had only gotten about three more inches closer to the exit. "Next time I go to a party," he thought, "I'd better say goodbye when I arrive!"

Atta appeared overhead, hovering. "Flik!" she exclaimed. "There you are. You can't leave yet. You'll miss the toast!"

Flik grinned tiredly. "Another one? What will this make, eighty-six?"

"Come on, party pooper." Atta lifted Flik out of the crowd and flew him back where the Royal Ants, and the Royal Council, and the circus bugs (save for Ymri) had gathered.

"A toast," Manny was proposing, "a toast to the gracious Queen of the Anthill for her hospitality for this Winter."

Droplets of various drinks were raised.

"And," cut in Francis, hovering in front of the mantis, "to Flik for all his harebrained schemes."

"To harebrained schemes!" agreed Thorny enthusiastically, elbowing Cornelius. Cornelius rolled his eyes.

"Okay," yawned Flik. "Any more toasts? Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Blip and Flash suggested a few ridiculous toasts, but were for the most part ignored.

"I got one," said P.T. He raised his drop. "To the New and Improved P.T. Flea's Circus."

The others looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?" asked Slim.

P.T. lowered the drop and looked at it. "I mean," he said slowly, "that I've decided to...snazz up the show a little. To add an act."

"Vat act?" wondered Heimlich.

The flea harrumphed. "Okay you ants," he called out over the crowd. "Hop to it!"

At his command Cora, Flip, Chase, Clack, and Quick disengaged themselves from the throng and swiftly assembled themselves into a pyramid in front of the Queen.

"Wonderful!" laughed the Queen, clapping her hands. The five ants hopped down.

"Hey that's pretty good," remarked Francis. "They do requests?"

"And," went on P.T., a bit reluctantly, "I've been uh...thinking about what you all said and..." He paused, and the others blinked at him. "I guess you guys are right: We do need someone to do all the gruntwork around the tent."

The bugs were mystified. "Who?.." began Rosie.

"I have found him," announced Ymri, gently forcing his way through the crowd, a confused Molt in tow.

P.T. was proud of himself. "Strong, willing, and virtually a clean slate," he beamed. "And he's good with the millipedes."

"Uh...what's goin' on?" asked Molt.

Flik laughed. "You just got yourself a job."

The grasshopper was stunned. "A...A job?"

"An' I just got me a new partner for Toad Invasion!" enthused Blip. Flash scowled at him.

Flik couldn't hold back another yawn. "Okay," he said. "That's it, I'm beat. See you all in the morning." He started schmoozing his way through the crowd again.

Atta smiled as he left. "Guess some people just can't take excitement."

The Queen laughed. "Not like the rest of us," she grinned. "Come on, Corny, let's cut a rug."

This story is ©1999 Cynthia "Sparky" Read. It disregards all non-movie story sources (storybooks, etc). All characters contained herein that appeared in A Bug's Life are ©Disney/Pixar. Please do not reproduce this story without permission from the author.