CATS doesn't belong to me.

R&R please.


Old Deuteronmy:

"The moments of happiness…
We had the experience but missed the meaning
And approach to the meaning restores the experience
In a different form, beyond any meaning
We can assign to happiness…"

"The past experience revived in the meaning
Is not the experience of one life only
But of many generations - not forgetting
Something that is probably quite ineffable"

Jemima:

"Moonlight, turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin"

Pride rushed through Munkustrap while he listened to Jemima's singing. A hand snuck into his and squeezed it. He glanced there, to find Demeter smiling at him softly, pride glowing in her eyes as well. Their little girl had done it.

Everyone:

"Moonlight, turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin"

Gus' number came next, followed by Skimbleshanks'.

"Skimbleshanks"
– Old Deuteronomy
"the Railway Cat,"
– Old Deuteronomy and Jemima
"the Cat of the Railway Train!
There's a whisper down the line at eleven thirty-nine
When the Night Mail's ready to depart
Saying, "Skimble, where is Skimble?
Has he gone to hunt the thimble?
We must find him or the train can't start"
- Everyone

Skimbleshanks:

"All the guards and all the porters
And the station master's daughters
Would be searching high and low
Saying "Skimble where is Skimble for unless he's very nimble
Then the night mail just can't go."

"At eleven forty-two with the signal overdue
And the passengers all frantic to a man
That's when I would appear and I'd saunter to the rear
I'd been busy in the luggage van!"

"Then he gave one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal went "All Clear!"
- Everyone

"They'd be off at last to the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere!"
- Skimbleshanks

" Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat
The Cat of the Railway Train"
- Everyone

Skimbleshanks:

"You might say that by and large it was me who was in charge
Of the Sleeping Car Express
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards
I would supervise them all more or less"

Everyone:

"Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Of the travellers in the first and the third
He established control by a regular patrol
And he'd know at once if anything occurred"

"He would watch you without winking and he saw what you were thinking
And it's certain that he didn't approve
Of hilarity and riot so that folk were very quiet
When Skimble was about and on the move"

"You could play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!
He's a cat that couldn't be ignored
So nothing went wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks was aboard"

Skimbleshanks:

"It was very pleasant when they'd found their little den
With their name written up on the door
And the berth was very neat with a newly folded sheet
And not a speck of dust upon the floor"

"There was every sort of light
You could make it dark or bright
And a button you could turn to make a breeze
And a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window should you sneeze"

"Then the guard looked in politely and would ask you very brightly,
"Do you like your morning tea-"

"-weak or strong?"
– everyone

Simbleshanks:

"But I was just behind him and was ready to remind him
For Skimble won't let anything go wrong "

Everyone:

"When they crept into their cosy berth and pulled up the counterpane"

Toms:

"They all could reflect that it was very nice
To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice
They can leave all that to the Railway Cat"

Everyone:

The Cat of the Railway Train"

"Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat
The Cat of the Railway Train
Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat
The Cat of the Railway Train"

Skimbleshanks:

"In the watches of the night I was always fresh and bright
Every now and then I'd have a cup of tea
With perhaps a drop of scotch while I was keeping on the watch
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea"

"They were fast asleep at Crewe and so they never knew
That I was walking up and down the station
They were sleeping all the while I was busy at Carlisle
Where I met the station master with elation"

"They might see me at Dumfries if I summoned the police
If there was anything they ought to know about "

Everyone:

"When they got to Gallowgate there they did not have to wait
For Skimbleshanks would help them to get out! "
And he gives a wave of his long brown tail
Which says "I'll see you again!
You'll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The Cat of the Railway Train!"

"The Cat of the Railway Train!"

And it happened.

Glass broke, lightning shot through the night and they heard evil laughter once again. "MACAVITY!", cried Demeter and pointed forward. To everyone's shock, and before anyone could react, Macavity's hench-cats and rushed in, taken Old Deuteronomy and had left again. "No!", cried Victoria and tried to run after them, but Quaxo was quick to catch his sister.

Panic started to spread, so Munkustrap leaped upon the tire and gave a loud cry. Everyone fell silent and looked up at him. Despair, shame, panic and guilt flooded through the tabby. What kind of Protector was he when he couldn't even protect his own father? Non-the-less he gazed at all of them as calmly as he could and called: "Mark my words my friends. We will get father back! Macavtiy cannot have gotten far yet. So, Plato, Admetus, Asparagus, you three go out there and scout out our surroundings. We need to know what is happening."

The three toms nodded in acceptance.

"For the rest of us…we will continue the ball." An uproar of disagreement came up and Munkustrap tried to explain himself, but it was too loud. He glanced at Asparagus, who nodded and ushered the two younger toms away. They'd start their job now. Again he tried to get the others to listen to him, when suddenly…

Demeter:

"Macavity! Macavity's a mystery cat"

Everyone fell silent when Demeter started singing Macavity's song. Her eyes were still slightly widened in fright, but Bomba watched her sister proudly.

"He's called the Hidden Paw
For he's a master criminal who can defy the law
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard
The Flying Squad's despair
For when they reach the scene of crime Macavity's not there!"

"Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
He's broken every human law
He breaks the law of gravity
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare
And when you reach the scene of crime Macavity's not there!"

The cats started to scatter while Demeter continued the song so she had the space to perform it.

"You may seek him in the basement
You may look up in the air
But I tell you once and once again
Macavity's not there!"

Bombalurina:

" Macavity's a ginger cat
He's very tall and thin
You would know him if you saw him for his eyes are sunken in
His brow is deeply lined in thought
His head is highly domed
His coat is dusty from neglect
His whiskers are uncombed
He sways his head from side to side
With movements like a snake
And when you think he's half asleep
He's always wide awake!"

"Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
For he's a fiend in feline shape
A monster of depravity
You may meet him in a by-street
You may see him in the square
But when a crime's discovered then Macavity's not there!"

"He's outwardly respectable"
- Demeter
"I know he cheats at cards"
- Bombalurina
"And his footprints are not found in any files of Scotland Yard's"
- Demeter
"And when the larder's looted"
- Bombalurina
"Or the jewel cases rifled"
- Demeter
"Or when the milk is missing"
- Bombalurina
"Or another Peke's been stifled"
- Demeter
"Or the greenhouse glass is broken-"
- Bombalurina
"-and the trellis past repair"
- Demeter

Both:

"There's the wonder of the thing:
Macavity's not there!"

"Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
There never was a cat of such deceitfulness and suavity
He always has an alibi and one or two to spare
Whatever time the deed took place, Macavity wasn't there!"

"And they say that all the cats whose wicked deeds are widely known"

"I might mention Mungojerrie"
– Demeter

"I might mention Griddlebone"
- Bombalurina

Both:

"Are nothing more than agents for the cat who all the time
Just controls the operations
The Napoleon of Crime!"

"Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
He's a fiend in feline shape
A monster of depravity
You may meet him in a by-street
You may see him in the square
But when a crime's discovered then Macavity

Macavity
Macavity
Macavityyyy!

But when a crime's discovered then Macavity not there!"

And somehow, incredibly, the song had calmed everyone down. When it happened again. They heard Macavity's evil laugh, and he was back and gone again. That was when Asparagus came racing back in, followed by Plato and Admetus, followed by…Old Deuteronomy. Munkustrap, despite being very glad about his father being back, was slightly suspicious.

Why would Macavity catnap him, only to bring him back. He was about to step forward, when he heard a familiar hiss. Glancing behind him, he found Demeter's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Bomba tried to calm her, but Demeter backed off and started to leap at those that came to close to Od Deuteronomy. Munkustrap watched this in confusion and growled at himself. I really should not let mother get to my head.

He stepped forward, trying to calm his mate down, but she swiped her claws at him. Munkustrap leaped back, to give a startled cry when she leaped on Old Deuteronomy's back. The strange thing was though, that he didn't collapse under her weight, or even staggered. And that was when Munkustrap understood, when he understood what Demeter had realised in the very first second

. This wasn't his father at all.

The imposter spun once more and threw Demeter off. In a flash of light, he had turned into someone else. "Mac!", hissed Munkustrap and quickly stepped in front of his mate, daughter and Bomba. Macavity leaped at the tabby, who dodged the strike, only to realise his horrible mistake. The ginger tom reached forward and grabbed Demeter's arm, dragging her away.

"Mommy", heard Munkus Jemima whimper while Bomba held her back.

Immediately he ran after his brother and they started trying to pull Demeter away from each other. The queen gave a whimper and in his mind Munkustrap apologized profusely, when suddenly Alonzo came in. The black and white tom leaped between them, grabbed Demeter and carried her away. "Thanks Lonz", whispered Munkustrap. Alonzo winked at him while he brought Demeter to safety and Munkustrap could concentrate on fighting his brother.

The two hissed, then started swiping at each other. They circled, threw kicks and punches, scratched each other. Then Mac leaped onto the tabby's back, but Munkustrap managed to throw him off, only to get picked up by his older brother and slammed to the ground. The breath was knocked out of him and he wheezed in pain, before getting up again, only to find a strange sensation spreading through him. It felt strangely like the numbness unconsciousness came with, but he was nowhere near that yet.

Then he felt something else, the familiar pulsating of magic against his mind. In a flash he realised that Mac tried to put some sort of curse or spell on him. He broke free and reared back.

Macavity snarled enraged and leaped at him. Again the two clawed at each other as if there was no tomorrow, Munkustrap getting more desperate with each passing second. It was obvious to him that Macavtiy had prepared for this encounter, that he'd trained for him. Blood already seeped out of the many injuries that covered the silver tabby's body, but he wouldn't give up. That was when it happened.

Macavtiy grabbed his waist roughly and lifted him up, throwing him over his shoulder and headfirst onto the ground. A pained cry escaped Munkustrap and now unconsciousness really tried to claim him.

He barely saw a black and white flash leaping at Mac, continuing the fight. What he realised though, was the feeling of more than one tongue grooming his fur, cleaning the wounds. Hisses of many cats sounded in his ears and when clarity returned to his thoughts and senses, he saw something that, despite the situation, made him smile.

The whole tribe was facing Macavity, tying to chase him off.

And finally, Macavity did run. He rushed up a Junk-Pile and grabbed two wires. The evil tom gave another laugh, then forced them together. This short-circuited the entire Junkyard, bathing it in darkness. The moon barely had enough strength to shine through the clouds that had gathered. Suddenly Plato managed to get an old spotlight working and directed it to where Macavity had been standing but…

"Macavity is not there", whispered most cats.

With a small groan Munkustrap pushed himself up on all fours and crawled to the centre of the clearing gingerly. His whole body hurt like hell, but he couldn't give up now. He hid his pain as well as he could when the spotlight focused on him and Demeter rushed forward, rubbing her head against his worriedly, licking his cheek.

Cori and Tanto gave a hum, prompting everyone to sing: "We need to find Old Deuteronomy."

"You ought to ask Magical Mr Mistoffolees", sounded Tugger's voice suddenly. Munkustrap raised an eyebrow at his brother when the spotlight focused on the Main Cone Cat. Surely he was joking. Yet when he looked around, he realised that a certain black tuxedo tom had disappeared. "The original conjuring cat, there can be no doubt about that. Please! Listen to me. And don't scoff. All his inventions are of his own bat." Tugger leaped up and called: "There's no such cat in the metropolis, he holds all the peets(?) in Minopolis for performing surprising illusions and creating eccentric confusions."

Munkustrap shared a glance with Demeter while the two of them and Bomba retreated onto the tire. They hadn't planned that out that way, but it was most definitely worth a shot.

Tugger

"The greatest magicians have something to learn
From Mr. Mistoffelees' conjuring turn
And we all say:"

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

"He is quiet and small
He is black
From the ears to the tip of his tail
He can creep through the tiniest crack
He can walk on the narrowest rail"

Munkustrap had to hand it his brother, he knew how to write a good song for someone.

"He can pick any card from a pack
He is equally cunning with dice
He is always deceiving you into believing
That he's only hunting for mice"

"He can play any trick with a cork
Or a spoon and a bit of fish paste
If you look for a knife or a fork
And you think it was merely misplaced"

"You have seen it one moment, and then it is gone!
But you find it next week lying out on the lawn!
And we all say:"

Munkustrap smirked when he saw cats staring up at the pure black tuxedo tom, only the chest and face where white, whose fur glittered like the stars in the night. He lowered onto the clearing from a rope that seemed to hang nowhere, making quite the great entrance.

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

Mr Mistoffelees snapped his fingers and the rope disappeared in smoke and glitter.

"Presto!"
- Mistoffelees

Mr Mistofeless spun around…and the circuits repaired turned back on, bathing the Junkyard in light once more.

Tugger, Munkustrap, Demeter, Bomba, Tantomile and Coricopat:

"And we all say:
Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

And suddenly, everyone joined into the singing while Mistoffelees showed off a bit of his magic by firying crystal-blue lightning from his hands, having them explode upon contact without doing any damage.

Everoyne:

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!

Tugger:

"His manner is vague and aloof
You would think there was nobody shyer
But his voice has been heard on the roof
When he was curled up by the fire"

"And he's sometimes been heard by the fire
When he was about on the roof
(At least we all heard that somebody purred)
Which is uncontestable proof"

"You've trained him well", murmured Demeter to Munkustrap while they watched Mr Mistoffelees glide over the clearing with Tugger. Munkustrap gave a small smile. The last months had been hard training for everyone who was in on the secret, but seeing this now made it definitely worth it.

"Of his singular magical powers
And I've known the family to call
Him in from the garden for hours
When he was asleep in the hall"

"And not long ago this phenomenal cat
Produced seven kittens right out of a hat!"

"And we all say:"

Everyone:

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

Munkustrap watched amused how Mistoffelees danced up to one corner of the clearing and shot his magic forward. In a flash Victoria, who'd been on the other side a second ago, crouched there, staring up at him in awe. The black tuxedo continued to dance over the clearing, but then he ran up to the TSE1 and brandished a deep-red Cloth.

Tugger:

"And not long ago this phenomenal cat
Produced seven kittens right out of a hat!"

Mistoffelees swung the cloth around, then pointed at Cassandra, who looked quite elated at being allowed to help. He positioned her in front of one of the bigger pipes and Skimbleshanks and Asparagus helped him spreading the cloth over her. Once she was fully covered, he pulled the cloth back to the centre of the clearing, Cassandra still under it.

He glanced at Tugger, then Munkus and the twins. Each gave an encouraging nod and he took a deep breath, before he started to walk around the cloth and the cat underneath. Mistoffelees blew against his hands and waved them over the cloth, glitter flowed atop it and it glowed as well for a second, before he grabbed it. He pulled it off and standing there was…Old Deuteronomy.

Munkustrap, although he'd been present during most of the trainings, could barely believe that he actually saw his father standing in front of him.

Mistoffelees had done it!

Tugger walked closer now, checking the older tom's face. The took each other's hands and finally the Main Cone Cat smiled. He turned Old Deuteronomy around and gestured to Mistoffelees.

Tugger:

"And we all say:
Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

Mistoffelees bounded forward and leaped at Old Deuteronomy, a grin on his face. The old tom gave a laugh while he embraced the young conjurer.

Everoyne:

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

Now everyone came forward, greeting Old Deuteronomy and congratulating Mistoffelees.

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"

Tugger:

"I give you the marvelous
Magical
Mr. Mistoffelees!"

Mr Mistoffelees leaped into the air and…disappeared in a flurry of glitter.

After a long while everything had finally calmed down and Munkustrap, ignoring his stinging wounds, went to his father. It was getting close to the sunrise now. A choice had to be made. Once again Jemima began to sing, he eyes locked on the moon, and once again pride rushed through the Tribe's Protector. Yet again, the Mystic Twins and Mistoffelees reacted quickly, alerting him that something was happening. And something did happen.

Grizabella had shown up once more. Tugger walked up to her and practically sneered at her to go ahead. Victoria tried to get close, but Jelly pulled her back. Munkustrap stayed near his father, hoping the older tom would finally make a decision.

He knew he himself couldn't.

Grizabella:

"Memory
Turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, entering
If you find there, the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life, will begin"

"Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile of the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again"

"Burnt out end of smoky days
The stale could smell of morning
A streetlamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning"

"Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin"

At this Grizabella broke down and Munkustrap dug his claws into the fence-rests behind him to stay where he was. He didn't feel resentment to his mother anymore. Only pity. Pity of what had happened to her. She'd paid enough for what she did on the streets. Suddenly he heard it, the sweet sound that marked his daughter's voice.

Jemima:

"Sunlight through the trees in summer
Endless masquerading"

Grizabella and Jemima:

"Like a flower as the dawning is breaking"

Grizabella:

"The memory is fading"

"Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with a memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me, you'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun"

Slowly Grizabella sunk her head and started to limp away. "Father", whispered Munkustrap softly. He couldn't stand it anymore. Allowing Grizabella back, or even to go to Heaviside Lair, was his father's job, not his own. "Yes", whispered the older tom back. Victoria rose up suddenly and started towards the leaving queen. Then she hesitated and looked back.

Old Deuteronomy smiled and gestured forward, silently telling the white queen to bring Grizabella back. Carefully Victoria touched Grizabella's hand and Munkustrap couldn't help but smile a little at the look of relief and disbelieve that flashed over his mother's features. Slowly Victoria led her back to Old Deuteronomy. Some Jellicles looked confused, others furious, but Munkustrap told them off with a glare. He would normally back his father up on everything, but especially this.

Victoria placed Grizabella's hand in Old Deuteronomy and the ragged looking queen whispered: "I'm so very sorry. I was stupid."

"That you were", agreed Old Deuteronomy. "But you learned your lesson, which is why you will go home." Relief exploded in Munkustrap's chest and when his mother glance at him eh managed to smile back.

Everyone:

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

Grizabella glanced hesitantly back at Munkustrap, who gave her another smile and whispered: "Go." "I'm so very sorry", repeated the old queen. Munkustrap shook his head and answered: "It's all forgiven mother." At his last word, tears sprung into her eyes and Munkustrap was certain if Old Deuteronomy hadn't pulled her forward, she would've hugged him now.

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

"Up, up, up, past the Jellicle Moon
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

"Up, up, up, past the Jellicle Moon
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

It was like always, only that Munkustrap's own mother stood atop the floating tire with his father. His heart ache again when he remembered that this was the last time he'd ever see her. "It's the right thing", whispered Demeter's voice in his ear. Munkustrap blinked his tears away and whispered back: "I know, but that doesn't make it easier."

"The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity
Round the cathedral rang 'Vivat'
Life to the everlasting cat!"

And then Grizabella was gone. The choice had been made, now it was Old Deuteronomy's last duty to officially end the Jellicle Ball.

Old Deuteronomy:

"You've heard of several kinds of cat
And my opinion now is that
You should need no interpreter
To understand our character"

"You've learned enough to take the view
That cats are very much like you
You've seen us both at work and games
And learnt about our proper names
Our habits and our habitat
But how would you ad-dress a cat?"

"So first, your memory I'll jog
And say: A cat is not a dog"

Everyone:

"So first, your memory I'll jog
And say: A cat is not a dog"

Old Deuteronomy:

"With cats, some say one rule is true
Don't speak 'til you are spoken to
Myself I do not hold with that
I say you should ad-dress a cat
But always bear in mind that he
Resents familiarity"

"You bow, and taking off your hat
Address him in this form: "O' cat!""

"Before a cat will condescend
To treat you as a trusted friend
Some little token of esteem
Is needed, like a dish of cream"

"And you might now and then supply
Some caviar, or Strassburg pie
Some potted grouse or salmon paste
He's sure to have his personal taste
And so in time you reach your aim
And call him by his name"

Everyone:

"A cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect
So this is this, and that is that
And there's how you ad-dress a cat"

"A cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect
So this is this, and that is that
And there's how you ad-dress a cat"

And just like that, it was over. Another Jellicle ball, the most eventful yet in Munkustrap's opinion, had passed and the sun peaked over the horizon.