Demeter stumbled towards the end of the alleyway. If I can just make it, she thought, I'll be safe. But it was not to be. She tripped over an old beer can and blackness surrounded her before she even hit the ground.

Munkustrap sighed. He'd just stopped a fight between Pouncival and Tumbelbrutus, only to find that the argument had been about who could do the best impression of the Rum Tum Tugger. In his opinion, he deserved a break. Besides, Alonzo was on duty. He could afford to take a brake. Suddenly, his paw connected with something soft. Then he heard the crack that a tail makes when being broken. Oh bast! he thought. I've broken someone's tail! When he turned around to apologize, Munkustrap saw an unfamiliar Queen all bloodied and bruised, lying on the ground with limbs at unnatural angles. Munkustrap picked her up and ran back to the Junkyard.

…………………………………………………………………….

Demeter's head swam. She dimly registered the soft pillow under her head and a blanket around her, but that was not important. What was important was the voices above her.

"Do you think she's going to be alright Pouncival?"

"I don't know Tumblebrutus. She looks pretty messed up."

"Scat you two! You don't need to be in here. Ooch, poor dear." Demeter felt a wet cloth on her forehead. It felt glorious. "Come back to the land of the living."

"Jenny? Do you think she'll be okay?"

"I should hope so." Demeter said as she opened her eyes. Hovering above her was a big orange/brown/graying Queen and a petite all-white mini-Queen. The bigger Queen looked at the little one.

"Victoria, go get Munkustrap. He wanted to know when she woke up." The little Queen scurried off, presumably to get this 'Munkustrap'.

"How are you feeling dear?" the Queen asked.

"I'd feel better if I knew where I was."

"Oh how silly of me!" the Queen laughed. "My name is Jennyanydots, and you my dear, are in the Jellicle Junkyard. Now, I've given you my name and your location. Could you tell me what your name is?"

"My name is Demeter."

"And what, pray tell, caused you to be in the condition that I found you in?" said a tall silver tabby who stood in the doorway. Demeter screamed and tried to hide, but the only thing around her were blankets so she dove under the covers.

"Munkustrap! Stop scaring my patient!" she heard Jennyanydots say.

"How was I supposed to know that would happen?" Munkustrap replied. Demeter peaked her head out from under the covers. Jennyanydots noticed this and said, "It's alright Demeter. This is Munkustrap. He is the one who brought you to me to be healed. But his question is a valid point. You had two cracked ribs, a broken leg, cuts and bruises everywhere, and your tail is broken in six places. How did that happen?"

"Six?" Demeter said "I thought it was five?" Munkustrap looked sheepish.

"I uh, might have um, stepped on it by accident and broken it again."

"Munkustrap," Jennyanydots scolded, "you've seen that she is awake, now go away." Demeter decided it was time for her to leave.

"Well, thank you for healing me, now I'll just get off your paws and –"

"Oh no you don't! You still have a broken leg and tail. Any weight on it will damage it beyond repair!" Demeter realized she was going to have to be sneaky about this to get away.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "But I've been cooped up in here for – how long have I been out for?"

"A week." Jennyanydots supplied.

"Thank you. But I've been cooped up in here for a week and I must feel the sun on my face, the wind in my fur, or else I shall surely die!" she finished with a dramatic flair by putting a paw to her forehead. Jennyanydots looked suspicious but nodded her head. "But you can't put any weight on that leg so one of the Toms will have to carry you."

"NO!" Demeter exclaimed. "I can just hop on my good leg."

"Well, let me at least support you." Jennyanydots helped Demeter out of bed and got her to the door. "Now sit in this chair and don't move. Would you like something to eat?" in her mind, Demeter screamed YES! FEED ME! But she said "No thank you. I'm not hungry." But her stomach betrayed her. Jennyanydots looked at her skeptically.

"Why don't I make some mouse cakes, hmm?"

…………………………………………………………………………

Demeter looked out over what seemed to be a perfect view of the Junkyard. If this isn't Heavyside, she thought, I don't know what is. Just then, one of the other Queens in the yard sat down next to her.

"Hello, I see that you're new here. My name is Bombalurina." She was a scarlet Queen with a white bib like Demeter had. But that was where the similarities ended. Bombalurina swayed her hips when she walked and all the Toms seemed to watch her as she passed by. She seemed to like being the center of attention.

"I'm Demeter." They sat in silence for a while until Demeter decided to break to break it.

"So, um, do you think you could help me get away? I mean Jennyanydots has been wonderful and all but I don't want to intrude on her any longer." Bombalurina looked at her incredulously.

"Intrude? Hun, you're not intruding. The only time an injured cat is intruding is when it's the Rum Tum Tugger. No, no, Jennyanydots can do almost anything, which includes making sure that you stay here until you're nice and healthy."

"But I can't stay! I have to get as far away as possible!" Demeter stopped her self. She'd said too much already. Bombalurina looked at her curiously. "Away from what?"

"Oh, um, nothing." Demeter decided it was time for a change of subject.

"So, uh, if I'm going to be staying until I'm alright – or at least 'til Jennyanydots says I'm alright – would you mind telling me who is who here?" Bombalurina smiled.

"I'd be happy to darling. You see that tuxedo cat lounging on the pipe with the all white cat? They're Mistoffelees and Victoria. Though when he gets annoying I call him Mista Fleas."

"Victoria was there when I woke up."

"Yes, well she wants to take over for Jennyanydots one day. Even though she hates rats and roaches. That old tom who has all the kits gathered around him is Gus the Theater Cat. He loves to tell the kits stories."

"Why is he called the theater cat?"

"In his youth, Gus was an acting cat. He's played every possible part for a cat to play. Now though, he just sits in the sun and tells stories. Now, that black and white patched tom over by the gate; that's Alonzo. He is second in command to Munkustrap, or, at least he likes to think that since whenever Munkustrap isn't in the junkyard he is in charge. But don't let him boss you around 'cause he will. Right now he is talking to Munkustrap."

"I've met Munkustrap. Well…sorta."

"I'm not surprised. When you were out, he went to check on you every day until Jenny threatened to give him a real reason to visit! But he was so worried about you… well, it was cute."

"Oh."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" a shrill scream sounded throughout the junkyard. Demeter ducked behind Bombalurina.

"What in the name of Heavyside was that?" Bombalurina laughed.

"That was our Tugger alarm. Her name is Etcetera and she's one of the kits. She's also Tugger's biggest fan. She screams in delight whenever she sees him and all the little queen kits flock to him. If he starts flirting with you –"

"I don't want him to flirt with me!"

"Then smack him. Trust me, it will provide hours of endless entertainment for everyone else. But I digress. I was telling you who was who. Now where was I? Oh yeah. That Persian cat in the washing machine over there is Cassandra. She's Alonzo's mate. And those two cats curled up on that platform up there? Those are the mystic twins Coricopat and Tantomile. You never see one without the other."

"Which one's which?"

"Well, Coricopat is the tom and Tantomile is the queen."

"Yes, but which one is which? I can't tell them apart." Bombalurina squinted.

"You know, I can't tell from here. Anyways, that turtle-shell queen watching the kittens over there? That's Jellylorum. She takes in all of the kittens who aren't born into the tribe."

"Wow."

"Yeah. Even after they've become adults she still coddles them. Well, that's everybody who's here at the moment. I'll let the kittens introduce themselves to you. That way you'll get to know them better. Now, any questions?"

"Yeah. Earlier you said that the only time a cat was intruding on Jennyanydots was if it was the Rum Tum Tugger. Why?"

Bombalurina laughed. "He gets in trouble so much – whether it's hitting on a queen with a mate or strutting around with his nose so high in the air that he doesn't see where he is going and hurts himself – that Jennyanydots almost refuses to help him. She says that if he suffers though it, maybe he will learn better." Bombalurina snorted. "I doubt it. Now I'd better go push said tom off his high horse."

Demeter smiled. "Goodbye Bombalurina." The red queen looked back at her.

"Bomba, you can call me Bomba."

"Bomba then. Goodbye Bomba."