Tugger opened his eyes as the curtains were opened without warning. He turned his head as his morning crankiness overcame him. "Bomba," he groaned, glaring at his secretary.

"Tug, it's my job to make sure you're where you're suppose to be at everyday," said Bomba.

"I have an alarm clock."

"You had an alarm clock forty years ago, but you threw it against the wall the first time it woke you up."

"I don't wanna get up," said Tugger, like he did every time he had to wake up not on his free will.

"Oh hurry up Tummy," said the drowsy tom next to him.

"No, Misty," he said stubbornly. He looked at his lover. "How are you feeling today?"

"Just fine," said Mistoffelees, sitting up in the bed, more awake.

Bomba set a tray over his lap with a delicious looking breakfast.

"Why don't you ever make me breakfast?" Tugger asked.

"Everlasting Cat, Tug, not a day goes by that you don't act like a stubborn kitten."

"It's in his nature," said Misto.

"Don't side with her."

Misto smiled down at him, taking a bite of his toast.

"How come you don't age as fast as me?" Tugger asked.

Misto's fur didn't really change color but it did lose it's sheen and sparkle and in the places that it did change color it didn't turn gray but instead white. So his torso was almost completely white while the rest of him remained black. He hardly wrinkled and his body started to sag, but overall he still looked fifteen years younger than his actual age. "Probably because I'm almost seven years younger than you."

"You still look twenty-five."

Misto laughed at his ridiculousness.

"Come on Tug, you need to get dressed."

Tugger glared at his secretary, but reluctantly got out of bed. He went to his large, walk in closet and put on his all black attire. He did his hygiene and then went back to his bedroom. He placed a kiss on Misto's lips and said, "I'll see you for lunch."

"Have fun," said Misto, pulling out a book. "Be sure to make me sound good."

"It's easy to do that dear." Tugger walked to the door in his bedroom and walked down the stairs that held another door at the end of the stairwell. Tugger's mansion consisted of three levels. The third story was his house and the second level was where his office was. The first floor was where his employees worked, other than Bomba. It was also where he had social events, but he hadn't had one in years. He opened the door at the bottom of the stairwell that led to a dem. There was another door in the den which led to his office. It was made specifically for Misto to use to visit Tugger. Though if Tugger were to go out on an errand he used the other stairwell, or sometimes the stairs from his balcony. Any way, didn't let people ever up this house area, except for Bomba or an occasional friend. Tugger use to want to have all attention on him, but after some time he quickly switched to the private life, which made the people so curious about his life.

He sat down in his chair where come sardines were set out for him with mustard sauce and milk, his favorite meal for any time of day. He ate it quickly and soon after Artemis came into his office.

"How are you today, Mr. Tugger?" Artemis asked, sitting down causally.

"Quite well, and yourself?" Tugger asked.

"Just fine." Artemis pulled out his recorder and notebook and leaned back in his chair. "Well then, let's continue."

"So," said Mr. Tugger. "I reassured that the seniors would be able to attend an Academy of their choice a year after they graduated, if they wanted to. Most of them did want to anyway. Though I didn't have everything ready and I told them that once they graduated in a month then they could help me get the Academies ready as well. Then once the Academies were done they could attend them. It was a build-it-for-yourself type of thing. 'Built by students for students.' That was the logo we used. We had to get blue prints ready though so by the time they did graduate it was time to build them. Though as construction was going on I had to find people who could teach in specific areas for the Academies."

I nodded then, remembering what my parents told me about how the hunt for teachers was very hyped up. My father told me it was made out to be like a huge Scavenger Hunt. Though the Rum Tum Tugger was the only one who was looking for the teachers with the help of others.

"But," said Mr. Tugger. "Even before that started, the day after I spoke with the high school, there was one thing on my mind - Mr. Mistoffelees. I remember pacing my office in my old building slowly. I turned to Bomba and said, 'Bombi, you remember that tom I was talking to yesterday?'

She smirked up at me and said, 'You mean the one that looked terrified talking to you?'

I frowned at her. She always had to have some snappy comment. 'He's shy, Bombi, he wasn't afraid of me, but yes, that's the one.'

'What about him?'

'Well, he's new to the school.'

'New? How?'

'Well, his sister is Victoria, and I asked her about him. She said their parents sent him out of the country, but she said she'd get in trouble if she told me the reason why. i confronted him about it, and he ran right out of there he seemed so wrecked about it.'

'That's strange. What if they did something illegal, the parents I mean?'

'That's what I said, but Vicki denied it. Though she could just be covering for them.'

'I think this should be taken up with your brother, Tug.'

I nodded, and the very next hour I was at my brother's office. I walked in and he was discussing something with Alonzo quietly, but once I entered they immediately turned away from each other and put on fake smiles, because they hated it when I interrupted them, which is something I did often.

'What is it Tugger?' Munk asked me.

'Well, there's something strange going on,' I told him and then explained the whole thing with Mistoffelees and Vicki.

He nodded and said, 'That is strange. I'll check into it. Alonzo, come along.'

'Wait, you're doing it now?'

'Yeah, Tugger, it's the Junkyard. Things are slow all the time.'

'Well how about I go with you? I-I want to make sure my students are okay?'

'Your students?' Alonzo snorted.

'Yes. My students,' and when I said that it sounded very nice.

So the three of us spoke with Misto's parents, who were always private people that only ever went to other places instead of hosting people at their house. We knocked on the door and Vicki answered.

'Oh, hello,' she greeted shyly, confused at our presence.

'Hi Vicki,' I responded.

'Hello Victoria,' Munk said. 'Can we have a word with your parents?'

Her smile faltered and she looked at me. 'Uh, of course,' she said and led us into her house.

It was a large house that was all black and white and quite empty. There were no pictures any where, except for one that was of Vicki and her parents, none of Misto. She led us to a closed room with two doors. She opened them slowly to reveal a large den. This room didn't fit with the rest of the house. It had pictures and seemed much more normal and homey. The parents were sitting in there, reading nonchalantly." As the Rum Tum Tugger spoke, there was slight contempt in his voice, and it became obvious that he did not like the parents. I couldn't even say their names, because it seemed that he refused to speak them. "They looked startled to see us," he continued. "They sat up immediately and put on tight smiles.

'Oh, uh, hello,' said the mother.

'What do we owe the pleasure of seeing you here?' asked the father.

'Well, we've come to talk to you about your son,' said Munkustrap.

'What has he done now?' the father asked, and I frowned at him then. He seemed like a real stiff to me.

'Nothing,' said Munk, and I was glad to see him frown, too.

'Well, why don't we sit down?' suggested the mother. 'Vicki, go get some tea, please, sweeite.'

We sat down on the sofa and I glanced at the pictures, which actually had Misto in them this time. I smiled slightly at some of the pictures, but then I realized that they were only of him when he was very small, and no recent ones.

'So, uh, what would you like to say about Mistoffelees?' asked the mother.

'You see, my brother told me that he's new to school and sent out of the country previously,' explained Munk. 'But neither of your children said why when he asked them. We have concern as to how you're treating your son. Would you like to diminish the confusion?'

The parents exchanged looks. 'You see-' They were interrupted when Vicki brought in tea. After serving it, she sat down next to her mother, looking at her like she was waiting for her to do something. 'Uh, you see, Mistoffelees is a...different cat, different in a way that no other cat his age is like. He's uh...' She looked to her husband.

'He has magical powers,' said Vicki. 'They sent him out of the country to a tom that is a magician, too, who taught Misto how to control his powers. They didn't tell anyone because he wasn't in control for some time and they didn't want him to hurt anyone. They were going to bring him back earlier, but then your brother...acted out, and so they kept him with the tutor because they were scared of what people thought of him.'

It was interesting to hear. I was relieved it wasn't anything illegal, but it was obvious his parents were embarrassed of him, or otherwise ashamed. I knew Munk was going to deal with this, and that's all I needed to hear, so I stood up and said, 'If you'll excuse me,' and walked out without any elaboration.

I was walking through the house when it suddenly occurred to me that Misto was most likely in the house. So I looked around then decided to walk upstairs. I peaked in one room to find nothing and then peaked in another to find the bathroom. The third room was my lucky find. I entered upon a large room, a massive one, just like the others, and found the little magician sitting there on his window seat, staring out into the rainy sky. I shut the door loudly with my foot to get his attention. He jumped and turned to look at me.

'Oh, what're you doing here?' he asked me.

'My brother and I had a talk with your parents,' I replied and sat across from him. 'So, you're a magician?'

'Uh...yes.'

I frowned as he seemed ashamed of it. 'Lucky,' I said. 'My oldest brother had magical powers, too, and when he played with me he'd always win whatever game we were playing. Cheater he was. So, glad to be back?'

'Kind of. I really liked my tutor. He was an old tom who was like a grandfather in a way. Though it's nice to get out.'

'What do you plan on doing after high school?'

'I don't know exactly. There's not much I'm good at. I can dance but I don't wanna turn that into a career, it's my hobby. I don't know anyone who would want to hire me for my powers, and no one else would hire me because I can't really do anything.'

I nodded, smirking as an idea came to my mind. 'You know how all your classmates are going to help build the Academies, right?'

He nodded. 'Yes, I'd go, but I wouldn't be much help and my classmates don't really like me that much. It's not my thing either.'

'Well, you could always still help me.'

He looked at me with his big blue eyes that were like the sky. 'How?' he asked.

'Come with me, to look for teachers for the Academies. See, you're just about the only one who knows anyone outside of the Junkyard that I can trust, and I'll probably need someone outside of the country to teach for me.'

'I only know one person, my tutor.'

'But surely he knows someone.'

He paused, and then a faint smile formed on his lips. 'You're being serious?'

'Of course I am. So - do you want to come with me?'

Then he smiled bigger, a real genuine smile. 'Definitely,' he told me."

The Rum Tum Tugger's story was very captivating to me that I forgot we were in an interview. I missed that our session was over by thirty minutes.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tugger, but it appears that our session is over," I said.

"Okay, well, see you tomorrow, son," he replied.

"Of course, Mr. Tugger. Can't wait."

Comment please :p