Five years ago, there was a big junkyard in London. People didn't really care about that old junkyard and thought that it was just an old rotten place. But what they don't know it that in that junkyard lives a big tribe of cats. But they aren't any wild cats. They are Jellicle cats! They've been living there for generations alongside with their leader Old Deutoromy.
But this story in not about Old Deutoronomy. It's about a young tuxedo kit named Mistoffelees.
It was a sunny winter morning when Mistoffelees woke up of his little bed. He has been waiting for this day the whole week! His parents we're going to take him and his siblings Alonzo and Victoria to their great-great grandfather's country house, 25 miles north of London.
-Hey Alonzo, aren't you excited about today? - asked the kit jumping around the room.
-Nah, not really. – answered his brother.
- Uh?! Why not? – asked Mistoffelees surprised. He couldn't understand why his brother wasn't exited. He and Victoria have been waiting the whole week for this day and couldn't even sleep last night.
- Look I just am not excited, ok? – answered him not even looking at Mistoffelees.
- But why? – Mistoffelees asked impatiently.-It's gonna be so fuuny, we can fish, play with animals, catch butterflies…
Then Alonzo quickly turned around to his younger brother and grabbed him by his small arm throwing him out of his room. Mistoffelees fell on the floor.
-LOOK I AM NOT EXCITED LIKE YOU! NOT GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE I KILL YOU!
Then a tall cat came from another part of the den. It was a tall tom with brown and white fur. It was their father, Thomas, one of the best magicians of the century.
-What on earth is going on here, Alonzo?- he asked.
-That little brat doesn't stop annoying me and so I decided to kick him out of my room.- said Alonzo pointing at his brother.
Thomas didn't like the way Alonzo answered. That was not the Alonzo he knew before. Now he was a rude cat who was always away from his family and closed in his room.
-Mistoffelees why don't you go and eat your breakfast in the kitchen? I'll be there as soon as I can alright?- he said looking at his soon.
Mistoffelees nodded and got up. He went to the kitchen holding with his paw in the place were Alonzo grabbed him. Now Thomas looked at Alonzo.
-Come with me. – he said but Alonzo stood where he was. Thomas grabbed his arm.- If there is one thing I hate is bad behavior. Now come with me.
Pulled by his father, Alonzo had no choice but to follow him. Thomas took him to a place not far from there with big mountains of trash just to make sure no one was going to listen their conversation. He dropped his son's paw and took a step back. He waited a few seconds for Alonzo's words, but Alonzo just stood there looking around like if it had nothing to do with him.
-Don't you think you've got something to tell me?- asked Thomas.
Alonzo only shook his head and didn't say a word. He crossed his arms and looked away. Thomas knew there was something wrong with his son and wanted to help him.
-Alonzo please, I know there's something wrong with you. Why do you treat your brother like that? You know, in the past few weeks I just… started thinking that you don't love us. Son, please tell me what's wrong and I will help you the best I can.
-Why would I tell you? You never talk to me. You're always playing with Mistoffelees and Victoria and you don't have time for me anymore.- he cried.
Thomas had no idea what to say. In one point Alonzo was right. He was always playing with Victoria and Mistoffelees and never talked to him like before.
-Son.. I… I'm sorry.
-You're sorry?!- he shouted.
-Lately you've always been away from the den and we only see you at dinner time so I thought all you wanted from me was distance and I decided to give you that, but if you wanted to talk to me why didn't you say so? No matter what I would and I will listen to you.
-Why did you think I wanted distance from you?-he asked.
-You're never home and now you're becoming an adult. It's also hard for me to see you our any of your siblings growing Alonzo. I know you don't understand right now but one day you will be a father and you will understand this.
Alonzo looked back at Thomas. He wasn't angry with him and now he knew that what he did was stupid.
-I thought you never talked to me because you and mom liked them more than me. I thought that none of you would listen to me.
-Son that's ridiculous. We're a family aren't we? We help each other no matter what.-he put his paw on Alonzo's shoulder.
-I know it now. I made the biggest mistake in my life, dad. I'm sorry.-apologized with his head down.
-You don't need to apologize. We both made mistakes, son. Your mother and I should've talked to you about this months ago and we didn't and parent's need to talk with their children when they see something wrong. Let's make a deal, ok? From now on you promise that you will tell us what you feel alright? And I promise you that we will always listen to you. Deal?
-Deal.- nodded Alonzo.
Thomas hugged him tightly like he never did before. A tear came out of his eye, not of sadness, but of happiness and proud. Alonzo was only a few inches smaller than him and was no longer a kitten. "My father was right about this. It's not easy for me to see my kittens growing up. I know they won't understand now but one day they will." thought Thomas.
-So do you want to tell me what's wrong now?
Alonzo nodded and sat on a bench with his father. "I guess I should've never done what I did."
-Munkustrap and I aren't friends anymore. That's it.
-What happened? You have always been best friends.
-He's becoming an idiot that's it. Now he spends most of the day with Old Deuteronomy learning what he needs to be the leader of the tribe and when he comes back he's all bossy and arrogant and all that he talks about is "Me becoming the leader".
-Have you told him this?- asked Thomas.
-Yes, yesterday. He said I had to face reality and pay homage because now he is the "prince" of the tribe. And then I said that with that behavior he would never be a great leader like his father and would never be my best friend. After this, he left without saying a word.- explained Alonzo.
-Well son, try to put yourself in his position. It is quite natural that he is excited with the idea of being the leader, but he still needs to know what it really means to be a leader. He's still young and as much to learn before he becomes an adult and both of you are going through a stage of life were your ideas and thoughts will change. You did what was right when you told him what you thought about his actions and maybe he's at home now thinking about it and maybe he will apologize everyone including you.
Alonzo didn't say anything for a while but after thinking about what his father said he understood.
-Wow, I never thought about it like that. Thanks, dad. Now I'm going to wait and see if he apologizes, and I know he will. Even when he does stupid things, after a while he realizes what he did was wrong and never repeats it.-Alonzo said and stood up.
-I'm sure this time is one of those times son.- Thomas stood up too and both of them walked back to the den.
Back in the den, Lily was making sure every windows were closed. She heard the two toms arriving and couldn't believe her eyes. Alonzo and Thomas were talking and laughing with each other. Her son wasn't sad, he was happy and in a good mood. When he saw her he ran to her and gave her a hug.
-Oh mom, I'm so sorry. I promise to you that from now on I will never behave like that again and I will always talk to you whenever I need.
-Oh Alonzo, my boy.- she hugged him back again.
The front door opened and Mistoffelees and Victoria came out. Alonzo looked at his younger siblings and kneeled in front of them.
-I'm sorry you guys. I'll never be so mean to you again. I promise to you that I will be the best older brother in the world.- he looked at Victoria and then at Mistoffelees- Mistoffelees I'm sorry for what I did to you today. I was in a bad mood.
-That's ok.
-Thanks little bro. Now who wants a free piggyback?- said Alonzo in a playful way.
-Me! Me!- said Mistoffelees and Victoria at the same time as both of them jumped to Alonzo's back, making him falling.
-Hey guys once at the time please.- he said laughing.
Victoria was the first one to go, since she was the youngest and a queen. Mistoffelees was running and jumping around Alonzo and telling jokes creating an atmosphere full of laughs. Thomas and Lily were holding each other's paw and watching their children playing together. A smile drew up on their faces as they watched them.
-You know what I think Lily?-asked Thomas.
-What is it honey?
-I think this trip will be the best in the world.-he looked at her and kissed her lips.
They walked back to the den to prepare their stuff while their children were playing outside. Thomas looked at them again before entering the den. None of his children looked like him. Mistoffelees only had his father's magical powers and his white paws while the rest of him was more fond of his mother Lily and his uncle Bustopher who are tuxedo cats like him. Alonzo and Victoria only and their father's eyes and their fur was a combination of their parent's fur. In terms of personality Alonzo was more like his father; proud, brave, with a good heart and a natural hunter while Mistoffelees hated hunting and was more fearful, with a passion for dance and magic, more kind and gentle like his uncle Bustopher, but if he needed to be brave, he would be brave. Victoria's personality was the same as her mother's; friendly, sometimes bossy, housekeeper, a gifted ballerina and a very strong queen. They were all different but they were all special in their own way.