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“What!?” Larry yelled. He rarely EVER yelled and, truthfully, he didn’t mean to. But today, he wasn’t expecting to be screwed over this bad. He angrily watched Archibald walk off like he did nothing wrong
“Get the new set ready.” Archie instructed everyone. He then pointed to Larry. “And you can follow me in the green room.”
Larry did so, Bob groaning quietly because he couldn’t just leave everyone to do things alone without his direction and his co-director just left with Archibald. So he could only pray the two didn’t kill each other.
Once Larry and Archibald entered the empty green room, the only man only crossed his arms. “I told you it was happening.”
“I didn’t think you were serious!”
“I’m ALWAYS serious, Larry! I’ve told you many times that this was coming! I mean, Why perform a SILLY song between Bible lessons?”
“And love songs is any better?”
“It’s much better.”
Larry huffed. “Archibald, please…”
“No.”
“But the kids love it! How can you deny them that?”
“They’ll get over it.”
“Archibald—!”
“It is decided, Larry, that’s that. I make the choices around here, remember?”
Larry stammered, trying to find a good argument. Because, frankly, Archibald was being absolutely RIDICULOUS. Larry really tried to make a compelling case, but the only thing that came out of his mouth was;
“You really like having all the power around here, huh?”
Archibald’s firm expression shifted into one of slight offense. “I beg your pardon?”
“You know what? Forget it— I don’t even know why I— you win! Fine!” Larry shouted.
Archibald’s expression faltered into something like regret but not enough to notice and definitely not long enough to make the older man feel bad. He only uncrossed his arms and sighed heavily. “Honestly, Larry, get over yourself.”
Larry gave him such an angry expression, angrier than Archibald had ever seen him, before he took a deep breath.
“You never think about anyone. Only yourself.”
“I think about people.”
“Only what they do wrong in your eyes. So, I’m just gonna stop trying to please you! You wanna get rid of Silly Songs? Fine.”
“Are you honestly moping because of songs where you’re singing about nonsense!?”
Larry groaned and opened the door of the green room to leave. “It’s way more than the songs!”
As the door slammed shut, Archibald stood there in utter confusion. He then frowned and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”
It was all just Larry being over dramatic, after all. He just likes to act like a lunatic. How is that any of Archibald’s fault? He was putting an end to this nonsense and Larry will just have to deal with it! He’ll learn from this and Archibald, as usual, will be in the right.
… Yeah.
That sounded about right.
———
Two weeks had passed since the release of the latest episode and Archibald was bombarded with angry letters. Letter after letter from viewers over Silly Songs being cancelled indefinitely. When Archibald thought that’d be the last complaint, what happened? Another letter complaining about Silly Songs being gone. It was exhausting!
“Has the world gone mad!?” He said in frustration. His wife, Lovey, was across the table they sat at in their dining room. The couple were eating dinner and Archibald was reading letters that were sent in. Anything Bob and Larry got from children, he will give to them another day for them to read and answer. But, so far, the majority of the letters were complaints about Silly Songs With Larry being cancelled.
“This is absolutely ridiculous! I’m doing everyone a favor!”
“What favor?” Lovey said, her tone showing indifference and mild annoyance.
“That I cancelled Silly Songs in the public’s best interest! There are standards and Silly Songs is NOT one of them! You’ve seen how The Song Of The Cebu went!”
“I don’t know, I thought it was funny.”
“It was funny because of the sad attempt at a ridiculous song.”
“Archie, love, please.”
Archibald scoffed and pushed the letters aside and continued to read the rest. He used a letter opener and sliced at the top of a pink colored letter before he began to read it. Lovey watched him for a moment before she put down her fork.
“Why are you so mean to him?”
Archibald looked at his wife. “Me? Mean? How am I mean?”
“You are always putting Lawrence down! What has he ever done to you?”
“Lovey, we aren’t doing this. I am doing everything for the benefit of this show and the people running it. We have standards for these things. I can’t fund or manage if he can’t follow those standards.”
“Made up standards, Archie! Children love the songs! It makes them laugh, smile! They watch this show to be taught not only the lessons God teaches us but to smile and laugh from a silly song. Yes, they’re ridiculous, but they can also be comforting for those children.”
Archibald had no words. He couldn’t really look her in the eyes either. Lovey continued.
“You prop yourself up as a righteous and good Christian man. But lately you have been too self-righteous. Larry has shown you grace, what ‘love thy neighbor’ truly means and yet you cannot show him that same grace. All he wants is to make people happy. Why is that not enough for you?”
Archibald felt a pang of guilt in his chest.
“… Think about it.” Lovey finished before getting up and cleaning her area.
———
“Larry, are you alright?” Bob asked gently.
“NO, I’m not!” Larry cried out. He then paused and sniffled. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay. You’re just upset.”
Larry sighed heavily and leaned his cheek against his fist as he stared at the unused Silly Song he had written before Archibald had decided to CANCEL his segment without any warning, embarrassing the younger man in front of the cameras. He suppose it made for a good comedic effect in the final product but the audience didn’t know how humiliating it was for Larry.
“Are Silly Songs really that important to you…?”
“It’s not—!” Larry stopped and took a deep breath. “It’s not about the Silly Songs, Bob, it’s Archibald! Everything involving him.”
“Oh… well… what is ‘everything’?”
“It’s… it’s just… I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. It’s like the moment we started this show, Archibald has hated my guts! No matter what I do, no matter how much I try or be his friend or do something nice, he responds with… THIS. And I’m trying, Bob, I’m TRYING to be kind to him but he does this? I…”
“That’s just how he is, it’s not just you. And he definitely doesn’t hate you. God wants us to love one another and, knowing Archibald, I think he’s a good enough Christian man to follow that rule.”
“Then why does he treat only me like this?”
Bob frowned and sighed. “I don’t know. I wish I did. Maybe you guys should talk things out again. Civilly, this time?”
“I don’t think that’ll help. He hates me, so why try?”
“Larry, come on…”
Larry simply got up from their dining room table and picked up his papers, shoving them into a folder and leaving them there. “I’m gonna take a bath.”
Truthfully, Larry knows he should make peace with people he has disagreements with and that he should show kindness to people who are unkind to him. But how can he? He’s shown grace to Archibald, had always been so kind, and never let his attitude get Larry down. But that wasn’t enough. Archibald was too overbearing and even controlling at times. Bob can be uptight but at least he didn’t try to force everyone into a mold that doesn’t fit them. Or dictate their every move! He knew Archibald was a manager of some sort, but come on!
This show wasn’t for managers and executives, the show was made for kids’ enjoyment! Why couldn’t he get that?
As Larry walked off down the hall of their shared home, Bob spoke again. “Archibald is more than you give him credit for. And you’re more than what he gives you credit for. At least try talking again.”
Larry only sighed. “I don’t know.”
———
Archibald ended up at a diner late at night, Lovey by his side. She forced him out of his home office, out the door, into the pouring rain with his hat and trench coat on, and forced him to look for Larry. Calling Bob, Lovey told him that Archibald would like to give Larry a formal apology and asked if Larry was home.
Bob informed her that he wasn’t home but said he must be at the nearby diner. One they would frequent quite often. Archibald groaned the moment Lovey hung up and told him to get dressed because they were going to make things right.
“Did we need to do this tonight? I get it, Lovey, I’m in the wrong! Happy? Can we wait until we get back to work?”
“No. You are doing this TONIGHT and if you don’t, you’re sleeping on the couch.”
Archibald looked at her before sighing. He knew better than to argue with Lovey of all people. “Yes, dear.”
“Good. We’re only two blocks away now.”
Before they entered the diner, he already saw Larry sitting beside a window. He looked miserable.
‘It’s way more than the songs.’
That same huge pang of guilt hit the older man’s chest again but he forced himself to shove it down. He just needed to get this all over with.
Archibald and Lovey entered the diner silently and his wife rolled her eyes when he instinctively covered his face with his trench coat. They sat at the counter and he placed a suit case down in front of himself on top of it.
“Be right with you two!” The employee there said as they wiped down the counter.
Archibald peaked over at Larry. Larry payed the two people there zero mind as he continued to wallow in his misery and tears. Archibald’s expression faltered into one of sympathy the moment he watched the younger man wipe his eyes and sniffle.
“Need anything else?” The employee asked, stopping at Larry’s table.
He simply sighed and began to dig into his pocket. He pulled out a wallet and after looking through it, he placed money on the table and stood up. “No, I’ll get outta your hair now. Sorry for all of my moping.”
“It’s alright, sir. Thank you for coming.”
As Larry grabbed his jacket, Lovey elbowed Archibald in the side. She then motioned her head for him to talk to Larry. She was not letting her husband delay this any further. Archibald groaned softly and rubbed his face in exhaustion. It was too late for this.
“Fine.” Archibald finally said. He spun the seat of his stool and stood up, removing his hat and taking his suitcase with him. “Ahem… Larry, wait.”
Larry looked up at the sound of his name and nearly fell over face-first. He stumbled in surprise at the fact that Archibald was here of all places and so late at night. Once he regained his balance. He backed away a bit.
“Archibald? Wh-What are you doing here?”
“I am here to talk to you. Can we sit?”
Larry hesitated a moment before he nodded awkwardly. He went back to sit in the same booth that was now cleared and cleaned up. Archibald sat across the younger man and put the suitcase down between them. Lovey stood next to Archibald, arms crossed expectantly.
“Go ahead.” Lovey said.
“I’ve got it.” Archibald grumbled.
Larry eyed the suitcase. “What’s that?”
“It’s papers. You’ll see. But before we get to that, I need you to understand why I did what I did.”
“Oh, here we go.” Larry rolled his eyes and leaned back into his seat, crossing his arms. “Are you here to rub it in more?”
“No, I’m not!” Archibald said. He then took a deep breath. “Just please listen. That’s all I ask.”
“… Fine.”
Archibald nodded before straightening his back more. “Larry… I understand I have been nothing but an obstacle for you. I have no excuse for how I treated you when you’ve don’t nothing wrong.”
Larry just looked at him. It didn’t seem to get through to him completely just yet but by the way his shoulder loosened up, at least a little, Archibald assumed he was going something right.
“But you must understand my position. I was simply acting in the public’s best interest. We do have standards to uphold, you know?”
Larry gave him an unimpressed look.
“… Yes, I see. Point being… I apologize for my behavior. My righteousness was inexcusable and I am deeply sorry.”
Larry’s eyes wandered a little as he let those words process in his brain. He sat back up and put his hands on the table, tapping his finger on the surface. “… Huh… I didn’t expect that at all… I mean, hearing you genuinely apologize is… weird.”
Archibald looked at him a bit offended and Lovey snorted a little. He opted to just let it go.
“But… uh… I… I don’t like holding grudges. These past few weeks have been weighing on me. It actually means a lot that you said that… so, thank you and I forgive you.”
Archibald quietly sighed in relief. “That’s good. That actually leads me to what I brought with me.”
“What is it?”
Archibald pulled the suitcase closer, clicking it open, and flipping up the top. He took out a giant stack of papers and slapped them onto the table, pushing the suitcase aside. He then slid the stack to the middle of the table.
Larry was beyond confused. “What?”
“Read the top.” Archibald picked up the top paper and turned it towards Larry.
On the top of the paper, in big, bold letters, read the words; “SAVE OUR SILLY SONGS”.
Larry’s eyes widened and he looked at Archibald. Archibald then pulled the paper to himself and cleared his throat to read.
“‘We, the undersigned, believe that Archibald Archdale should forgive the Song of the Cebu incident and return Silly Songs With Larry to regular programming. Signed, 157,512 adoring fans. Including, but not limited to, the store population of Duluth, Minnesota and even someone in Moose Lake.’”
Larry stared at him. “… Moose Lake?”
“Yes, Moose Lake.”
“Moose Lake.” Larry shrugged. What on God’s green earth was Moose Lake? He had no clue. “Your last name is Archdale?”
“Moving on. The people have spoken,” Archibald said as if he was announcing to an audience. “I’m afraid I have no other choice but to hereby decree Silly Songs is henceforth reinstated. Effective immediately! Which, I suppose, is what ‘henceforth’ means. But, yes, that means you may sing with all the silliness you can muster. Within reason, of course.”
Larry continued to stare at the older man in shock. He let his words turn in his head before a smile began to appear on his face.
“You mean it?”
“Yes.”
Finally, Larry began to laugh excitedly and stand up from his seat. “Wow! Wow— that’s— that’s awesome!! Thank you, Archie!”
Larry leaned over the table to hug him. Archibald yelped in surprise and just let it happen, body tensed up. He was typically not a hugger and he had no idea what to do. But he had to admit, it felt… not hat bad. It helped that Larry smelled nice.
“U-Um— maybe hold off on the nickname.”
Larry pulled away. “Right! But seriously, thank you SO much! I will not disappoint you!”
“Oh, don’t worry about me.” Archibald sighed as he put the papers back into his suitcase and clicked it closed. “Enjoy yourself. Go nuts.”
“Oh, I will!” Larry got out of the booth with Archibald and the three walked out of the diner. It had finally stopped raining.
“Would it be alright if we walked you home, Lawrence?” Lovey asked.
“You can call me ‘Larry’, Lovey. And I’d like that! It’s only a few short blocks away.”
———
“I’ll see you two around!” Larry said once he made it to his doorstep. “And I’ll see you at work, Archie.”
Archibald only huffed out a small chuckle. He’ll let the nickname slide for now.
“Just have the next script ready until then.”
“Oh, trust me, I’ve got an idea. G’night!”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Larry!” Lovey said.
When Larry entered his house, the couple began to walk home together.
“I’m proud of you.” Lovey said softly. She held her husband’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Oh, it’s just the bare minimum… but I must say, it was nice to see him smiling again… but don’t tell him I said that.”
Lovey giggled. “As you wish, my darling.”
———
The next week, Archibald, Larry, Bob, and Mike were at their small studio, gathered around to go over the new script. Archibald was across from Larry, staring at him with a perplexed expression.
“… You made a script for your Larry-Boy bit from David and Goliath?”
“Yup! Kids seemed to like it and I had a silly Batman parody idea for it. Kids like Batman, right?”
Weeks before then, Archibald would have told him how stupid of an idea this was. That this was a waste of time.
But ever since their talk and reconciliation, Archibald had internalized “Love your neighbor as yourself” and…
“… This could be… interesting. Give me the pitch.”
Larry’s big smile should not have made Archibald’s face as hot as it did.
”Yes!! And don’t worry, I have a lesson mixed in.”
Archibald hated the way he felt a fluttery sensation in his stomach and a warmth in his chest as Larry began to excitedly pitch the episode idea.