Epilogue
It was now time for the Jellicle ball. Macavity had kept his word and come visit his family. Demeter and her kittens had even gotten over their fear of him. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were still skeptical about him. So was many of them.
Old Deuteronomy was happy to have his son back and to meet his two youngest ones. He'd been the last to know, but it couldn't be helped. The two tuxedo toms and Alonzo had become real close and was for the moment discussing a little plot.
"Come on Lonz", Mistofelees said and nudged him. "Are you chicken?"
"No... I don't sing too good is all."
"Aw come on", Quaxo said. He had just become a full tom, so had Tumblebrutus and Victoria was now a queen. Plato was on his second year as a tom and the other kittens would be ranked grown ups next year or the year after for Pouncival, Etcetera and Jemima. "It will be great! And dad will be happy!"
"How did you manage to rope Mac into it?"
Quaxo's smiled widened so it put the Cheshire cat to shame.
"I take that as I don't want to know."
"Good choice", Misto said. "Now you'll do it Alonzo. Just think of Munkustrap's and Tugger's faces! This will be hilarious!"
"Okay, okay fine I'll do it..." Quaxo was suddenly standing up and everyone was looking at the twins.
"Old Deuteronomy", Quaxo said and he and they saw Jemima and Electra run into the dark.
"Well I believe it is old Deuteronomy", the twins sang.
"Well of all things can it be really
No. Yes. Ho. Hi. Oh my eye!
My mind may be wandering but I confess
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy", everyone sang.
"Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time
He's a cat who has lived many lives in succession
He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme
A long while before Queen Victoria's accession", Munkustrap sang solo but the next verse was taken by Tugger like the year before.
"Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives
And more I am tempted to say ninety-nine
And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives
And the village is proud of him in his decline"
"Old Deuteronomy's is the wisest of cats
He's the cat who leads us and guide
And his care for his tribe is greater than grand
And the tribes adores him and is proud", Alonzo cut in and Munk and Tugger smiled at him but when was about to sing again another voice cut in.
"At the sight of that placid and bland physiognomy
When he sits in the sun on the vicarage wall
The oldest inhabitant croaks:" It was Macavity who stood behind Munkustrap who smiled at him and started to sing:
"Well of all things can it be really
No. Yes. Ho. Hi. Oh my eye!
My mind may be wandering but I confess
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy" But he and Tugger didn't sing alone this time. It became six different voices that sang. Mistofelees and Quaxo refused to be left out of the song.
When the song was over and old Deuteronomy was sitting down his sons sat down in front of him so they could listen to Munkustrap talk about the awful battle of the pekes and the pollicles... before the ball continued in its usual manor. Ending with old Deuteronomy sending a cat to the Heaviside layer.
The end