Part 10
A few weeks went by and in that time the leader had been elected guess who it was! Aw you're no fun! Fine it's Bustopher Jones! Yup and he has a councilwith both young and old, male and female cats! Jellylorum is one of them as is Macavity and Munkustrap and various cats I haven't mentioned.
One morning Bustopher woke up and looked at his big window and fell out of bed. He saw three shapes at his window. One sat with his back to the glass, watching him, the other stood beside him leaning on the window frame and looking out at the yard and the third was leaning against the wall beside the window.
"Who are you", Bustopher asked.
"Tell his reverence your story", said the one looking out through the window.
"Let's see if he's impressed", said the one leaning on the wall.
"You were lodging here last night and you were the honest bishop's guest", said the one sitting.
"And then", the first one said calmly. "Out of goodness from his heart and when he learned about your plight, you maintain he made a present of this silver." He turned to Bustopher. "Do you remember us now?"
"The bishop's men", Bustopher said and put down the fire-hook he'd grabbed before. "What are you doing here?"
"Looks like you really did what he asked of you", the one sitting said and rose and walked over to him. "Didn't you?"
"What are you talking about you…" Bustopher stared at the black cat. "Sweet EC you are so young I thought you older."
"Ten years has past."
"Yes but yet you are so young."
"25 is not that young good sir. Now did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"'You forgot I gave these also, why would you leave the best behind? But remember this my brother, see in this some high plan. You must use this precious silver to become an honest tom. By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood, EC has raised you out of darkness; I have bought your soul for her'."
Bustopher paled. "I… I've been trying."
"Trying", said the second one. "Let's see, you took care of a child not your own and you raised her like she was. You saved her from a fate worse than death and you helped the revolution. You saved a tom trapped underneath a lot of boxes and you saved the life of a tom in danger. I think you did a pretty good job sir."
"How do you know all this?"
"The bishop had faith in you and asked us to watch", said the first one that seemed to be the leader. "We have followed in your footsteps and seen it all. The bishop will be happy by our report."
"But-"
"Don't you have more important things to care about", the young one said as the other two jumped out the window.
"What?"
The black tom smiled and sang:
Ring out the bells upon this day of days!
May all the angels of the Lady above
In jubilation sing their songs of praise!
And crown this blessed time with peace and love.
Then he jumped out the window, Bustopher hurried up and looked outside and saw three shapes run down the street and disappear into the night. Bustopher smiled and looked at the sky.
"Thank you my Lady", he said. "Had you not sent the bishop for me I would not have been here. Thank you." He closed the window and went back to bed.
The wedding dance was in a full blow, everyone was dancing happily. Munkustrap was dancing with his wife and Tumblebrutus and Mungojerrie took turns in dancing with their sister.
Admetus led his fiancé since two days around the floor, her name was Exotica and her cousin Cassandra were to be wed with Rum Tum Tugger two days from then. Cori danced around with his twin sister Tantomile and Misto and Quaxo had taken it upon themselves to escort Asparagus' younger sister Etcetera and her best friend Electra everywhere they went.
Young Plato had been presented to Asparagus' sister Victoria and everyone could see the love they had for one another. Munkustrap smiled big when he saw his brother dance with a scarlet queen, the ex-prostitute Bombalurina who he'd befriended after saving her from a cruel fate on the streets. She took turns with dancing with him and Mungojerrie who she seemed to have taking a liking too.
But the funniest thing Munk had realized was that his brother and his best friend were stealing glances at each other. Oh yes Macavity and Rumpleteazer had fallen for each other.
"Wonderful isn't it", Demeter said. "How all our friends have fallen for someone or each other."
"It is quite amusing my love", Munkustrap said.
"Oh my." Demeter said.
"What?" Munkustrap turned and saw Skimbleshanks and Jennyanydots dance around the floor in horrible horrible outfits. "EC have mercy…"
Skimble looked at his wife grinning widely singing:
Ain't it a laugh
Ain't it a treat?
Hob-nobbin' here
Among the elite?
Here comes a prince
There goes a duke.
This one's a queer – He shrugged.
But what can you do?
Junkyard at my feet
Junkyard in the dust
And here's me breaking bread
With the upper crust! – They started to walk around the room and Skimble sang while pointing out:
Beggar at the feast!
Master of the dance!
Life is easy pickings
If you grab your chance.
Everywhere you go
Law-abiding folk
Doing what is decent
But they're mostly broke!
Singing to the Lady on Sundays
Praying for the gifts She'll send. – Jenny laughed and they sang together:
But we're the ones who take it
We're the ones who make it in the end!
Watch the buggers dance
Watch 'em till they drop
Keep your wits about you
And you stand on top!
Masters of the land
Always get our share
Clear away the barricades
And we're still there!
We know where the wind is blowing
Money is the stuff we smell.
And when we're rich as Croesus
Bast! Won't we see you all in hell!
Skimbleshanks flew through the air and slid across the floor hitting the wall with a bang. He rubbed his sore nose and got up, staring at the one hitting him.
"'ello there pops", Jerrie growled. "Ya ain' welcomed 'ere."
"Mu-Mungojerrie", Jenny exclaimed in shock.
"Whot ye wan' ya backstabboing 'orrible-" Teazer covered his mouth.
"No' now Jer, we're among foine cats yeah?"
"Oh roight sorry", Jerrie said though her paw muffled his voice so all they heard was odd noises.
"Thois ain' yours", Tumble said taking a ring off of Skimble's hand and dashed off.
"Hey give it back you little-" he made to chase the kit but a strong hand on each shoulder stopped him. He looked up at Admetus and Cori that were glaring at him with narrowed eyes.
"Uh little ray of sunshine", Skimble tried.
"Good try", Ad said and nodded for Plato and the twins. Plato made a salute and walked towards the door and opened it. Misto and Quaxo grabbed Skimble's legs and the four toms walked to the door and threw him out. He landed in a trashcan with a crash.
"You can't do that", Jenny screeched and hit on Admetus with her umbrella.
"Madame", he said grabbing it. "Be lucky I do not hit ladies."
"I do", Demeter said and delivered one blow to the older queen's face. Jenny stumbled backwards and Tantomile stuck her long leg out and Jennyanydots fell and when she landed on the ground her legs pointed straight up and everyone could see her underpants... big underpants. Everyone laughed and Bustopher bent down and helped her up.
"Ah respectless bunch of idiots the lot of you", she screeched.
"Madame respectless isn't a word", Jelly said. "You mean disrespectful."
"Now stop this bickering", Bustopher said. "This is a wedding dance not a boxing arena. Will someone please show this madame outside?"
"Allow us", Etcetera said and she and Electra took each of Jenny's arms and led her towards the door, but when they got their Teazer rammed the old hag in the back and she toppled down the stairs and ended up in the mud. Everyone stared at the small calico.
"Whot", she said innocently. "All Oi wanted was some payback."
Everyone laughed and they closed the doors. When they were closed Tumble peaked out from a curtain with big eyes and something clutched in his hands.
"Are they gone", he asked frightened. Macavity walked over to the kitten and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Why are you scared?" he asked.
"Because Oif they foind me on tha street they'll koill me for sure."
"Ya ain't gonna go back ta them", Jerrie said. "Oi've talked ta moi adoptoive parents an' they said they wanna take you an' Teazah oin oif ya wanna."
"Really", Tumble asked with big shining eyes. "Me?"
"Yes."
"I will not let Teazer move in", Macavity said.
"Oh an' woi not", Teazer asked.
"Unless you move in with me."
"Aw", all the queens said and Tumble pulled on Macavity's coat.
"Yes kid", he asked.
"Oi thoink thois ois yours", he said handing something to Macavity. "Oi took oit from dad."
Macavity looked at what he now had in his paw and saw his father's ring.
"That bastard", he said. "Thank you Tumblebrutus." He ruffled the kitten's headfur. "You are one clever little kid."
"Well ya know what they say!" Tumble called and jumped onto a table.
A worm can roll a stone.
A bee can stoing a bear.
A floi can floi around Buckingham P 'cos flies don' care
A sparrow oin a 'at, can make a 'appy 'ome.
A flea can boite tha bottom of tha pope oin Rome
A bright flash made all the kittens shriek in terror.
"They're shooting at the barricade!" George screamed and dove underneath his covers.
"Deuteronomy killed himself", Sillabub squeaked and hugged her teddy-bear close. The others kittens whined in terror.
"Ois no'", said the old tom with a brown patch over his right eye and white fur with brown headfur, turning grey at places. "Ois only tha thundah."
"But grandpa Tumblebrutus", little Bill Bailey said. "Is that really how the flag got here?"
"Of course oit ois Oi was there ta see oit!"
"But grandpa that was 100 years ago!" said little Victor.
"Whoi do ya thoin' they call me tha oldest cat oin thois yar'? Oi was only ten at tha toime an' know Oi'm 110. Whoi do ya thoink Oi ge' so much respect from all tha
leaders and tha councoil?"
"Oi don' believe ya", said Carbucketty. "You loi! Ya sai' you are tha Tumblebrutus tha' worked whoit Growltoigah before Ghengois go' to 'im!"
"Oi was too! When Oi was youngah… much youngah Oi lef' tha yar' tha 'ave some more adventures… Teazah an' Jerrie wanted ta koill me many times ovah for that. Anyway Oi was walkoing down that Thames when suddenly thois big ol' barge came towards me. Oit was 'uge an' had 'oles everywhere oin oit an' on tha deck stood…"
As we leave the den the kittens creeps closer to the old tom and his voice fades for us as we leave. Another story is about to be told. As we walk over the square we can't see any traces of those slaves we saw the first time and at the top of the highest tower… waves a big red and black flag. The flag of freedom that will always wave high and mighty. Forever.
Tada finally finished! Phew that was a sweaty one but hopefully someone enjoys it! Don't own CATS or Les Mis.
