My Angel - Part 1
The air was heavy as the large silver moon rose overhead, and a faint breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees. Someone rushing home muttered, and the street lamps guttered.
"Soon it will be morning," the person thought, continuing on.
Suddenly a piercing scream ripped through the velvet darkness. It was heard again, followed by a pitiful moan.
A cat lay on her side against a gnarled tree, gasping wildly, her large stomach rippling as another contraction tore through her body. She pushed hard and screamed again in pain.
A bush next to the tree rustled, and a small orange colored cat stuck its head out and sniffed the air.
The female cat screamed again as she experienced another contraction. The orange cat slowly slunk over to her. Breathing heavily, the female weakly raised her head and looked at him.
"Please-" she rasped. "Help me - please help me."
The orange cat nodded his head and placed his hand on her stomach.
"Tis coming lass," he said, brushing a gentle paw across the female's forehead. "Push! Push for your life, lassie!"
The female nodded and bore down, pushing as hard as she could. At that moment, her kitten slid out, meowing softly. The orange cat smiled as he picked the tiny newborn kitten up, cradling it in his arms.
"Tis a girl," he said, placing the kitten down next to her mother. "A wee bonnie girl. She's darling, lassie. A bonnie brae darlin."
Nuzzling her mother's side, the kitten began to nurse. The mother smiled wearily as she gazed lovingly at her child.
"Kathrinka," she said hoarsely. "My beloved little Kathrinka."
The orange cat smiled at the pair. He nodded to the mother and turned to leave.
"Wait!" the mother cried, and the orange cat turned back expectantly.
"I - I thank you," she said wearily. "You helped me - us - and I don't even know your name."
The orange cat smiled at her.
"Just call me Skimble," he said. "Be well, little Kathrinka."
And he disappeared into the darkness.
- - - - - -
The twilight streets were crowded as a small cat wove her way through the rushing crowds, a little kitten by her side. She stopped beside the steps of a fountain for a rest, and the kitten gazed around in wonder at the sights.
"Mother," she shrilled, looking up at a street sign. "What's that say?"
The mother glanced wearily at the sign.
"Piccadilly Square," she said, and the kitten nudged her.
"What's that, Momma?" she cried. "What's a pickadooly?"
Her mother laughed.
"Piccadilly, Kathrinka," she said. "It's a street. It's where we are now."
The kitten frowned.
"Is now our home, Momma?" she asked. "Are we home? I'm so tired."
The mother sighed. "Nearly, Kathrinka, we're nearly home," she muttered.
Kathrinka nodded tiredly. Her mother nuzzled her.
"I love you, my angel," she said. "Follow me, we'll be home soon."
The kitten giggled and followed her mother around the corner.
- - - - - -
The pair walked silently down the street and stepped to the edge of the curb. The mother picked the kitten up in her moth and began crossing the road.
As she reached the halfway point, a pair of headlights splashed over her. She flung her kitten away from her to safety, but couldn't get herself out of the way in time.
She cried out loudly as the car tire smashed relentlessly into the back of her soft body. The car never slowed and with a screech of tires disappeared over the hill.
Whimpering, the cat managed to drag her broken body to the side of the road. Her kitten raced over to her, sobbing loudly.
"Momma, please get up, Momma no!" she screamed.
Her mother dropped her head.
"Hush, my angel," she said softly. "I love you, don't you ever forget that, my little Kathrinka."
The kitten sobbed harder.
"Momma don't leave me, please don't go!" she cried. "I love you, Momma, don't go!"
The mother gently touched her kitten's face.
"I will never leave you," she said. "But my time here is done."
The kitten nuzzled her mother's forehead.
"Where do I go, Momma?" she said in a choked voice. "What do I do?"
The mother's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Find...Skimble," she said. "Orange...go...goodbye, my angel."
With a final sigh and a whispered prayer, the small cat closed her eyes, her body going still.
Kathrinka sat there quietly, tears running down her face. Suddenly on an impulse she didn't understand, she rose and turned her face to the silver moon.
"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel, Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer," she sang in her soft melodic voice, not quite understanding why.
She sighed and wiped the tears off her face. Kissing her mother's lifeless body farewell, she turned and walked away.
Skimble, she thought. Who is Skimble?
- - - - - -
Munkustrap sighed as he walked out the cat flap on his owner's door. Bored, bored, bored, he thought. What the hell is there to do any more?
He had already shredded three jingly mouse toys and his owner's prize fern plant. What more was there to do?
Guess I'll go harass Tugger, he thought glumly, as boring as that is.
As much as he enjoyed getting his brother's fur into a fluff (like it isn't freakin' fluffy enough already, Munk thought with a grin), it got old after a while. Still, it was better then nothing.
He trotted down the alleyway heading to the Junkyard when a scent caught his nose. He sniffed the air, trying to determine the location, when a trash can lid rattled, catching his attention.
Munk poked his head around the corner of the trashcan and stopped short. There, cowering against the wall in fear at the sight of him, was a small female.
Munkustrap looked at her in surprise. She was small with short white fur striped brown in even lines. Her wide green eyes were framed with long dark lashes and a brown patch covered her left eye.
She looks like a female Tumblebrutus, only a lot better looking, Munk thought with an internal smile. And she smells like...a Jellicle?
He stepped forward slowly.
"My name is Munkustrap," he said calmly, extending a hand. The female stared at him.
"K-Kathrinka," she said in a quivery voice. "W-what do you w-want?"
Munk smiled.
"I won't hurt you," he said. "I just want to talk to you. You are a Jellicle, are you not?"
Kathrinka tipped her head to the side, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"What's a Jellicle?" she asked.
Munk frowned.
"You don't know?" he asked, leaning forward and sniffing her again. "Then why do you smell like one?"
Kathrinka bristled, her green eyes snapping.
"If I knew what a stupid Jellicle was I wouldn't have asked, would I?" she growled. "You sneak up on me and scare me half to death, and then you say I smell?"
She turned from him in a huff and tried to storm off, only to smack her shoulder into the trashcan, knocking it over with a loud clang.
Munkustrap stared at her and began laughing. Kathrinka glared at him before suddenly bursting into laughter as well.
The two cats giggled and Munk held his hand out again.
"Let's start over," he said with a smile. "I'm Munkustrap, a stupid Jellicle. And you are?"
"Kathrinka," she responded with a giggle. "And apparently I must be a stinky cat."
The two laughed again and Kathrinka shook his hand. Munk smiled.
"Tell me," he said. "Why are you out here alone? You're awful young."
Kathrinka bristled again as her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm a year old, thank you!" she said. "And my m-mother d-died six months a-ago."
Munk felt his heart go out to the young queen.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Truly, I am."
He placed his hand on her shoulder. Kathrinka reached up and took it, and he pulled her into his arms. She sobbed into his silver and black striped pelt, crying for the injustice of losing her mother, crying for her mother, for herself. Munkustrap just held her as she cried, gently petting her head.
"Shhh, it's ok," he whispered in her ear. "It's ok, you're alright."
Gradually her tears tapered off, and she pulled away. Munk was surprised at how empty his arms felt without her in them, but he shook off the feeling.
"Thank you," Kathrinka said, sniffling. "You're the first cat who has shown me kindness since Momma died."
Munk felt his heart twist with pity.
"Anything I can do for you Kath, just tell me," he said.
She smiled at the nickname he gave her.
"Well, my mother told me, before she d-died, to find a cat named Skimble," Kath said. "Do you maybe know where I can find him?"
Munk paused.
"The only Skimble I know is a cat in my tribe," he said. "His name is Skimbleshanks, and he's a Jellicle."
Kath jumped up excitedly.
"Can you take me to him?" she cried. "Oh please please take me to him!"
Munk smiled.
"Just follow this stupid Jellicle," he said with a laugh.
- - - - - -
The junkyard was practically deserted as the two cats entered it. Munk gestured for Kath to follow him to an old car, and he knocked on the trunk.
"Skimble?" he called.
The trunk lifted slowly and an orange cat sat up with a yawn.
"Skimble, you lazy, good-for-nothing," Munkustrap said with a grin.
Skimble laughed and hopped out.
"Careful ye don't get too big fer your britches, wee one," he said.
Munk laughed.
"Skimble, there's a cat who says she's been looking for you," he said, pointing at Kath.
Skimble looked the young queen over. She looks so familiar, he thought. Why?
Outwardly he put on a big smile.
"Well Munkustrap, a good lookin' lass like that asks ye to help her find another tom and ye do it?" he said with a grin. "Have I taught ye nothing, laddie?"
Kath laughed.
"Skimble, forgive me for bothering you," she said with a curtsy. "My mother told me to find an orange cat named Skimble before her death, and I sincerely hope my search is over."
"Ah, lass, sorry I am to hear of your mother's death," Skimble said, bowing in return. "But who are ye? And who was your mother?"
Kathrinka raised her head high.
"My name is Kathrinka," she said. "My mother's name was Dulcebell."
Skimble gasped loudly.
"Kathrinka?" he cried. "Oh lass, how you've grown! I was there the day you were born, your mother - "
Suddenly he stopped, placing his hand over his heart.
"Dulcebell is dead?" he choked. "Oh sweet Heaviside no, oh no! Not Dulcebell! Oh little Bell!"
Munkustrap and Kathrinka looked at him in wonder.
"You knew my mother?" she cried. Skimble nodded sadly.
"How?" Munk asked. "How did you know her?"
Skimble sighed.
"She was my daughter," he said tearfully.
- - - - - -
Munkustrap and Kathrinka looked at him in shock.
"How?" Munk choked. "How is it possible?"
Skimble sat down heavily on an old paint can.
"She didn't even know I was her father," he said sadly. "You see, several years ago, before Jenny and I mated, and before Grizabella left, she and I had – well – we knew each other. She-"
He stopped to wipe a tear from his eye.
"She was carrying my kits when she left the tribe," he continued. " I found out several months later that she gave birth to two kittens – Dulcebell and Femore. Femore never survived past his first month, but Dulcebell grew into a beautiful queen."
Skimble smiled sadly at Kathrinka, brushing his hand across her forehead.
"I saw her once in a while – I would follow her to the park or wherever she was going," he said. "I learned one day that she was carrying a kit of her own. I followed her to her birthing spot and she saw me. She begged me for help, so I did. I was there for the birth of my beautiful granddaughter."
He gently wiped a tear off Kathrinka's face.
"I lost track of Dulcebell after that," Skimble said. "I haven't seen ye since the day ye were born. You're just as beautiful as your mother, my Kathrinka – my angel."
Kathrinka stared at him, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks.
"G-grandfather?" she gulped.
Skimble nodded and opened his arms. With a wild, joyful sob, Kath threw herself into his arms.
Munkustrap watched the pair's joyous reunion, tears in his own eyes.
"Munk, please meet my beautiful granddaughter," Skimble laughed, hugging Kathrinka close.
Munkustrap laughed.
"I've met her already, you old rascal," he said. "Shouldn't she meet my father?"
Skimble nodded gladly, and the trio made their way to Old Dueteronomy's lair. Skimble lifted the curtain over the door and motioned gallantly for Kathrinka to go first. She smiled at him and passed gracefully under the curtain.
Munkustrap watched her every move, and smiling at Skimble, he followed behind her into his father's home. Skimble watched the pair gleefully and with a happy chuckle went inside himself.
Once inside, Skimble retold the story to Old Deuteronomy, holding his granddaughter close to his side. With a smile, Old Deuteronomy extended a hand to Kathrinka, who grasped it willingly and curtseyed to the majestic old cat.
Old Deuteronomy laughed.
"Welcome to the Jellicles, my dear," he rumbled.
- - - - - -
Kathrinka stepped outside of the box she now called home. She had been a full-fledged Jellicle for a month, and was thrilled beyond belief to be one.
She thought of all the new friends she had made and how lucky she was to have been reunited with her beloved grandfather, Skimble. Her grandfather's mate, Jennyanydots, had accepted Kathrinka with a joy that made Kath's heart swell. She was proud to call Jenny grandmother.
As she stood alone in the velvet night, she saw Munkustrap sleeping on top of the old dryer that was his home when he was in the junkyard, and thought yet again how lucky she was to have been found by him, her new dearest, closest friend.
She looked up at the stars and sighed in peaceful contentment. I'm home, Momma, she thought. I made it home.
And for a brief moment, the stars seemed to shine all the brighter.