Some time later ….

"Welcome Jellicles, to the first rehearsal of 'The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles'."

The assembled cats hurrahed and clapped their paws. Munkustrap held up his paws for silence and began assigning characters to various cats. Mistoffelees was paired with the ginger Tom Skimbleshanks and went off with him to learn the highland dance they had been allotted. It was lots of fun, and by the sounds of things the two of them got more done than the others did. Munkustrap's voice was constantly on the verge of hysterics and Ademetus' name in particular kept coming up.

"Aye, the reason Munkustrap is bein' so hard on poor Ademetus there," Skimbleshanks grinned during a rest break, "is tha' he played the Rumpus Cat a wee while ago and doesnae like others tae play tha part. He's a soft spot for the role and hates when a cat moocks it up. You should ha' seen the Rum Tum Tuggers audition – I thought oour Protector was goin' tae explode!"

Mistoffelees tried to imagine the Rum Tum Tugger doing what another cat told him to for dance moves, but couldn't. The rockstar cat would scrap the plan and do his own dance instead! Which reminded him -

"Skimbleshanks, do you think I could do a dance for the Ball?"

"A solo ye mean?" the railway cat asked. Mistoffelees nodded. "Well, what would yir dance be about?"

"I could do some magic? I want to be noticed so they will send me up to the Heaviside Layer, so I can see my mum again," Mistoffelees admitted.

Skimbleshanks gave him a sad look. "I dinnae ken, laddie. There are cats down here tha' would miss ye."

"Mum could be missing me too," the kitten told him. "I miss her. And I want to see what is up there, maybe I could visit?"

"No kit, that's for when ye have been down here for a wee while. For now make friends, fall in love, have kits of yir own. Your mum wouldnae want you not tae live, young Tom." Skimbleshanks watched Mistoffelees's little face fall and put a comforting arm around him. "But I for one would like tae see ye magic, and watch ye dance. Yir a fine dancer, has nae anyone told ye that before?"

"No," Mistoffelees said, looking at Skimbleshanks uncertainly.

"Well, ye are. And if you and I are to impress the tribe during the Battle we had best be on with the rehearsal, what dae ye think?"

"Alright. Thank you for teaching me."

"Ye are welcome, little magic cat. Ye are most welcome."