Date: September 12, 2012. Location: Ant Island

It had been a month since the passing of Phyllis Diller, thus also making it the passing of the Queen Ant. The Queen had recently crowned her eldest daughter Atta as the new queen of the colony, and Atta's husband Flik her royal aide. The morning of the funeral was very typical for your average funeral morning: People (or ants in this case) wearing black, black umbrellas (in a bug's world, leaves stuck on a stick and painted black), rain, and sad faces. Lots and lots of sad faces, including that of Atta's younger sister, Dot, who, like all the other ants in the colony, adored the queen very much. 4 hours later, after the funeral ends and the rain stops, Flik, Atta, Dot, and P.T. Flea's circus troupe consisting of Francis, a male ladybug despite his feminine appearance, Slim, a stick insect, Heimlich, a gluttonous caterpillar with a German accent, the clowns of the troupe, Manny, a praying mantis and the magician of the troupe, Gypsy, a moth as well his lovely assistant and beautiful wife, Rosie, a black widow spider and the troupe's "mistress of the high-wire", Dim, a rhinoceros beetle and the largest bug in the troupe, and Tuck and Roll, 2 pill-bug twins who are the troupe's "cannonballs", sent up a memorial lantern, filled with memories of the queen. After which, they had a feast, Dot hardly eating anything except 2 boysenberries and a piece of grain. After eating just 2 bites from the grain, she went back to the anthill, causing Atta to grow rather concerned.

"Are you OK, Your Highness?" Slim asked. "Yes, Slim. It's just that ever since Mom died, Dot's been very upset. She's just not been herself." Atta explained, followed by a sigh. Atta placed her face in her palms, Flik and Francis rubbing her back.

"I shall converse with the young one." Manny proposed. "No Manny. She's my sister. I'll talk to her." Atta said.

"Very well, Your Highness." Manny agreed, not wanting to start an argument. Atta rose from her seat and went back into the anthill to find her sister. On the way, she saw Dr. Flora, the doctor of the colony, who was busy treating a young ant's cut.

"Dr. Flora, have you seen Dot?" She asked.

"Oh yes. She's in her room, the poor dear." Dr. Flora said.

"Thanks." Atta said before heading to Dot's room. Once she got there, she peered in and saw Dot sitting on her bed, looking at a photo. Atta got closer and looked over her sister's shoulder. The photo was of the queen, a younger Atta, and Dot as a newborn baby ant. Atta smiled and climbed up on the bed next to Dot. Dot sighed.

"Hi, Atta." Dot said sadly.

"Hi, Dot." Her older sister replied.

~Work In Progress~