The Buzz Quartet

A story about a bunch mosquito musicians aiming for limeligth.
 Recommended Listening: Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing

Jenni plays the clarinet. She also does the laundry. She takes her many sisters to recital. She does the dishes. She is a mosquito. But most of impactful of it all, what really says the most, is that Jenni plays the clarinet.

There is something special in the air when she is standing with the band, pushing the keys and blowing in the reed.  When Jeff lays it into the piano. Then Jib thumps in on that bass, and Jolene flourishes the guitar. The four of them become the buzz of the town. There is magic there. Everyone is enthralled. Everyone expect the Big Ones. The Humans. Those big oafs don't care. They just move away, taking their big lights with them.
That was what gathered the Buzz Quartet together. They shared a dream. They wanted to play in the big leagues. Be in the limelight. Dance with the greatest. The greatest and grandest.
So they practiced and practiced. As soon as Jenni brought the juice home for the kids, she was off to play the clarinet. They learned the bebop and the bubap and the shibadup.
It was almoast too much. Jib was about to give up. He was too old he said, almost 6 days he said. Wanted to spend it safe with the family he said. Didn't he understand? Everyone can die with a spouse, but can anyone do a swing with the Humans? Jenni said. Jib thought hard, then nodded. And so they pushed on. Cause they had a goal. They were dreamers. There was a light, and it kept on calling. It almost burned Jenni felt it so close.
It was days later. They put in so much of their lives. It was time. This was their last performance and it was going to be a bang.
They flew in the window. As planned, Jenni and Jib took the bass, Jolene, and Jeff the piano. Smooth entrance. Still got the bit to set up. But then! The Limelight lit up. It flooded the little windowsill in brightness. Jeff froze, the piano wasn't fully tuned yet. Jenni looked at Jolene, it was up to them to pick up the slack. They had to play their little hearts out and hold the performance while the instruments were set up. So they took to the air. The clarinet with the whimsy melody, and the guitar with those swingy jabs. They danced out and in out of key and safety. Like they danced around the big one. But it was a hard crowd. Jenni gave the sign and Jolene kicked it up a notch. And Jenni blew like she never blew before. It was glorious.
And then the Big One started to dance. Slowly at first. Small shakes here and there. Then came the legs and soon it was frolicking up and down the room in joy. Hands waving in the rythm.
Jennies hearth was so full. They were doing it. It was the happiest moment of her short-short life. And then joined the quicksilver bass of Jib and the flowery runs of Jeff. Both mouth agape in the sheer wild joy of the music.
Another human joined the party. Then another. And soon it was the biggest audience the Buzz Quartet ever had. Jenni's heart swelled with pride. She could see the light now. The warm lazing limelight around them. She could see the four of them, playing night after night in this bright place, to a crowd of giants.
As the climax, the last song approached they gathered on the windowsill. For the last tune that would make them stars. They played it with every breath, fingers ablaze with the passion of it. The melody coming going from one to the other in perfect harmony. When they finished Jenni looked up. And she heard the clapping of feet. The beating rythm of shoes. She finally saw the Hand that would raise them into new heights. Coming so fast, like it couldn't wait to get more of the Great Buzz Quartet. Then it was over.