Chapter 2: Kittens

Disclaimer: Still don't own Cats. The musical, at least. I do have two actual cats at home. One is the perfect cat while the other is . . . Well, we call her "the demon cat" for good reason. Warning: there's a switch from first to third person for part of the story but it's still Bomba. Don't be thrown off. Happy reading!

I hate those kittens.

I'm perched up on some human contraption - a refrigerator, I think - watching the other Jellicles in the Junkyard. It's humiliating, being reduced to spying on him but I just can't keep away.

The kittens are all in the 'Yard, giggling and whispering and craning their necks to get a look at him. Any minute now he'll saunter in and they'll swarm around him, sniffing and squealing. It's disgusting.

It's been like that for as long as I can remember. The first time we met, Tugger and I still kittens ourselves, he had kits drooling over him . . .

First meeting

"Bom'a, wait for me." Demeter's plaintive wail stopped Bomba in her tracks. Heaving a sigh, she turned around and glared at Dem. The first time Bomba was allowed out on her own and she had to take Dem along. It was so unfair.

"Come on, then." she snarled, grabbing Dem's arm. "You're so slow, Demmy." She stalked into the Junkyard, tugging Dem behind her.

"Oh, Bombalurina, is that your sister?" Jellylorum, one of queens in between kitten years and adulthood, stopped Bomba and started cooing. "Aren't you the sweetest little thing? Jenny, come see!" Jennyennydots, the Gumbie cat, joined Jelly and Bomba took the opportunity to sneak away while the older queens were fawning over Dem.

She found Cassandra, her best friend, waiting in the main part of the Yard and flopped down beside her. "Mom made me bring Dem along. I can't believe it."

"I had to bring Exotica so don't worry about it. They can play together. Guess what?" Cass flipped onto her stomach, propping her chin up on her hands. Her eyes were gleaming with excitement, which meant she had a secret. "Old Deuteronomy's sons are coming today!"

We let out squeals. The Jellicle leader had kept his three sons sequestered away in the village and none of us had seen the toms. Cass and I secured perches overlooking the road from the village so we would be the first to see them.

Soon enough, dusty figures were visible on the road and within a quarter hour, they were distinguishable. Macavity had to be the reddish one hanging back. There were rumors that there was something off about him. Munkustrap was the silver and black one. Even now, some of the queens slightly older than Bomba were whispering that Munk would be the handsomest tom when he was grown. So the lanky, too tall cat with a scraggly mane would be the Rum Tum Tugger. Bomba started giggling at the sight of him.

"Do you see him? All mussed and silly looking."

"I know!" Cass dissolved in a fit of laughter, drawing unwanted attention up to them. Jelly the ever bossy ordered the two kits down and made them sit quietly for five minutes. By that time, the three toms were standing in the center of the Junkyard with uncomfortable expressions. Jenny and Jelly shooed the "regular" kits toward the newcomers with urges to make friends. Macavity ignored everyone and sat in the shadows near a large pipe. Munk fit right in with some of the other toms, Alonzo and Coricopat. That left Tugger.

He talked with Jenny and Jelly for a few minutes and when he left, the two started giggling like human teenage girls. Then he found Tantomile, Coricopat's twin sister and left her all ridiculous too. Next were Exotica and Demeter. Dem was obviously not impressed. And then he made his way to Cass and Bomba.

"Hello, ladies." Tugger had a very smooth voice and held himself in a way that made him seem a bit more muscular than he was. Bomba didn't know how he did it but she was not impressed. "I'm Tugger."

"Uh, I'm Cassandra and this is Bombalurina." Cass stuttered, her voice going airy and soft. "Nice to meet you." When Bomba didn't respond, Tugger moved away. In minutes, he was surrounded by all the females in the Junkyard, including Cassandra. That left Bomba alone with the other toms.

She knew right then that Tugger was the only tom who could measure up to her standards.

Today, nothing is different. Dem is still unaffected by Tugger and I still love him. The kittens still fawn over him and Tugger still loves the attention. Much to my horror and shame, I can feel tears stinging my eyes. I think I made a mistake, breaking up with him but there's no way he'll take me back now.

He swaggers in, grinning at the various kittens thronging him. He ruffles Teaser's hair and swats at Exotica's ear. But his gaze darts around the Junkyard, like he's looking for someone. He and Munk exchange glances before Tugger goes back to his fan club. Teaser says something excitedly and Tugger laughs and something clenches at my heart.

I hate those kittens.

AN: I changed my mind a bit on the story line. I was just going to do a series of somewhat random one-shots but then I figured out a way to string them all together. So, this story takes place after Mac kidnaps Dem and Bomby. Dem has a hard time recovering from the trauma, resulting in Bomba's break up with Tugger (ie, chapter 1). The rest of the chapter are in chronological order from that point.