The morning of the Junkyard was covered by a thick wave of fog. According to the wisdoms of the ancestors, the fog would bring forth a sunny day. The kittens were all excited in their dens, as the day to come would be bright and cheerful.

And at last the sun revealed its great illumination, its rays reaching the damp dirt of the Junkyard. All cats, young and old, crept out of their dens and found their usual spots on the dirt. With friends and families near, they would spend hours and hours talking, making simple crafts, or just enjoying the sun.

"Jem?"

"Hmm… Pounce?"

"Do you mind if… if… I tell you something kinda personal…?"

"Oh, go ahead. I'm actually really curious what it is…" Jemima said with a smile.

"Ok… Well… Well, it's rather embarrassing…" Pouncival said shyly.

"Pounce! No need to be embarrassed between friends!" Jemima said, laughing.

"Alright… just keep it a secret, Jem. Well, you know… Etcetera…" Pouncival said with a blushed face.

"Pounce! Really? Oh… how cute!" Jemima exclaimed.

"What, Jem? I haven't said anything yet!"

"Oh, it's obvious. What more do you have to say than that you have a crush on her?"

"How do you know?" Pouncival asked, looking around him and making sure that no one heard what she had just said. He felt somewhat worried about how her friend knew about it already.

"It's obvious by how you are acting, Pouncy! Your face is more red than the sunset!"

Pouncival felt his face with his paws. It was warm with both embarrassment and excitement. His heart was beating like a racing horse. He realized that he was displaying a gigantic smile all day long.

"Oh, Jem! What should I do? I've heard about all this crush thing… but it's my first serious crush!"

"Well, Pounce, you know what the wise folks tell you: Just act naturally by your heart…"

"Like that's easy!" complained Pouncival. "I can't even breathe naturally near her!"

"Well, all you need to do is simply show her that you care for her, that you consider her special…"

"Like how…?"

"Like… Simply smiling when you're next to her, or helping her do something… Something that will make you closer to her," Jemima answered.

"But what if she realizes that I have a crush on her? Then maybe she'll hate me and everything will get screwed up!"

"Pounce, there's nothing wrong with her realizing that you have a crush on her! She'll think it's really sweet and all! Think about it. If someone has a crush on you, wouldn't you feel really great? Wouldn't you feel really special and happy?"

"Well… I guess you're right…"

"I don't know, Pounce. It's just what I feel. What happens from now on is totally up to you."

"Jem, but the thing is… I want you to kinda help me… You know… Since you and Etcy are best friends, maybe you can kinda indirectly hint at her…"

"Oh! Pounce! Please! Act like you have guts! And you're a tom!"

They both laughed. Then, there was a long moment of silence. Pouncival slumped down to the ground, sighing. Jemima seemed to be fiddling with something in the grass.

"Pouncy?"

"Hmm?"

"I made a ring out of dandelions," Jemima said, showing her fragile piece of art.

Pouncival laughed. "Maybe that should be your mating ring."

"No. That's for far away in the future."

"Jem, I really feel excited about her right now. When I close my eyes, I can see her smile. My heart is racing. And I… I… I don't know. It just feels so good…!"

"Oh, I know that feeling. Enjoy it, Pounce. It's a wonderful feeling to have a crush. And now, it's time for you to show it!" Jemima said with a naughty smile. Immediately, she grabbed him at his paws and raced toward where Etcetera and some other cats were.

"Jem! Stop it! Seriously!" Pouncival screamed, half-laughing and half-panicking.

"Pounce! It's no good to do nothing and just sit! Look, I'll make sure things go smoothly," Jemima replied.

Finally, the kittens arrived by Etcetera, who was excitedly chattering with Electra.

"Hey, Etcy. Pounce has something to say to you," Jemima said with a smile.

Etcetera looked up. "Oh, hey! How are you doing?"

"G… good… Thanks…" Pounce said, almost inaudibly.

"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" she asked.

"W… well…" Pouncival couldn't manage to look into her eyes. Instead, he shyly stared down at the ground.

"Pouncy, it's not polite to look down when we're talking. Come on, look at me," Etcetera said.

At this, Pouncival felt as if his heart had suddenly stopped. He slowly lifted his head, revealing his blushed face.

"Pouncy! Are you like… sick or something? Your… your… face is so red…!" Etcetera said worriedly.

"No… I'm… f… fi…"

That instance, without giving him a break, Etcetera raised her paw up to his forehead. He almost fainted, but he also couldn't deny how great he felt at the moment.

"Hmm. Your forehead is rather warm, but not something like a fever. Come on, you're just having a bad day, that's all." She leaned forward and gave Pouncival a tight hug; he gasped. He could feel her heart right next to his.

Jemima, right next to them, was dying with laughter.

Etcetera let go of Pouncival at last. "Wow, your heart is beating like mad. But I hope that makes you feel better. We all have bad days; I understand," she said with a friendly smile.

"Th… th… thanks…" Pouncival replied, his mouth almost numb.

"Anytime. Just come to me if you need a good hug."

"Sure!" Jemima interrupted. "And I need one too, best friend!"
Etcetera gave Jemima a hug; she kept on laughing.

"He's having a rough day, isn't he?" asked Etcetera.

"Oh, you'll see why pretty soon," Jemima replied with an amused face. Etcetera simply grinned.

Jemima then ran away, leaving the blushed Pouncival with his crush. He tried to say something to her, but he couldn't manage to let out any words. Sighing, he ran off toward his friend.

"I'm gonna kill you so bad, Jem!" he playfully screamed. He leaped toward his friend and wrestled her down to the ground.

"Who's boss now, Jem? Huh?" he said, laughing.

Jemima, who was also laughing, quickly escaped and pushed down Pouncival; now, he was the one on the bottom. Jemima put her face so close to his face that he was actually somewhat frightened.

"Ok, Jem. It's getting kinda creepy," he said.

"Someday, someday… You'll thank me, Pounce," Jemima said quietly with a smile.

He simply laughed, but he just couldn't figure out what his friend meant.