CHAPTER 7: A Little Chat

"Deme…?"

"Hmmm…?"

"Are you sure this will 'do them good'?"

"It's you who said it might. Why?"

"Well, it's just that it's been going on for over a month, and, well…shouldn't they have sorted out their differences by now?"

"Maybe." Demeter suddenly looked at straight at Munkustrap. "Don't tell me you want me to talk to her about it…"

"Now, there's an idea!" Munkustrap said as if a lightbulb had suddenly been switched on inside his head.

"Surely, you can't think –"

"Please, Deme?"

Demeter threw up her paws in surrender. "Fine. Just tell me what you want me to say and I'll say it."

"I don't know, just" – Munkustrap shrugged – "ask her if she still loves Tugger or something…"

"Well, you're no help," Demeter grumbled, stalking out of the den to find Bombalurina.


Bombalurina was sitting on the tyre with Alonzo purring over her when she noticed a familiar figure advancing towards them. "Hey, Deme!" she called out, waving to her sister.

"Hey, Bomba, are you busy?"

Bombalurina glanced at Alonzo. "Well…uh, I was…why?"

Demeter shrugged. "No particular reason. I was just wondering if you'd like to go for a walk, that's all. Of course, if you're busy…" She shrugged and turned to go.

Bombalurina glanced at Alonzo, who cocked his head towards Demeter. Bombalurina smiled, then hopped off the tyre. "Deme, wait! I'd love to come for a walk with you."

Demeter smiled as her sister joined her and the two headed towards the junkyard entrance. After a few minutes of silence, Demeter tentatively brought up the subject. "So, how are you and Alonzo going?"

"Fine."

"Just…fine?"

"Yes…why?" Bombalurina asked blankly before eying her sister suspiciously.

"Should I have a reason for enquiring? I'm just wondering how my sister's doing." Demeter pouted.

"I suppose not…"

Demeter ventured a little further near the end of their walk. "Tugger's been missing you."

Anger reflected in her eyes. "Oh, he has, has he? He seems perfectly content with her. How would you know, anyway? He wouldn't confide in you."

"I know a lot about how cats feel. I don't have to have them confide in me to figure things out," Demeter said quietly, leaving her sister to ponder her words before Bombalurina had a chance to say anything.