Part 2
1976. Downtown London was where it had all started. A young silver tabby was making his way through the crowds. He was looking for a certain ginger tom. He had been by the university but had not found him. He had instead gotten into an argument with one of the bursars. How could it be so difficult to find a ginger tom in London? Well there were a lot of cats here but the ginger tom should stand out. According to what he knew the ginger tom was very tall, slim, with a glistening red coat, long elegant head fur and long sharp claws. His eyes were said to be pitch black. So far the silver tabby had not found the tom he had been looking for so he had started looking around near the university. He had met a bursar and had asked him of the other cat's whereabouts, only to be laughed and called stupid. If there was one thing this silver tabby could not stand it was being called stupid. His intellect was all he had going for him. So a fight had broken out and when security came he ran for it. The security being two humans with a water hose. He grumbled and brushed some water out of the fur on his shoulders. Humans were insane… he looked around. London sure was a pretty city. He had seen many cats around, had even flirted with a few queens but they had just giggled at the young tom and had ushered him away. He sighed again and looked around. That's when he saw him! Across the street he saw a ginger tom matching the description he had gotten. He ran across the street and approached the cat on the pavement.
"Pardon me", he said. "Are you Macavity, sir?"
"That depends", the ginger tom said and gave him a onceover. "Who's asking?"
"Oh, well, sure, sir, I'm Munkustrap, I'm at your service, sir. I have been looking for you."
"I'm getting nervous", the ginger tom replied, blushing a little.
"Sir… I heard your name at the university. I was seeking an accelerated course of study when I got sort of out of sorts with a buddy of yours. I may have punched him. It's a blur, sir. He handles the financials?"
"You punched the bursar", Macavity asked dumbfounded. They both got quiet and stared at each other.
"Yes!" Munkustrap then replied. "I wanted to do what you did. Graduate in two, then join the revolution. He looked at me like I was stupid. I'm not stupid! So how'd you do it? How'd you graduate so fast?"
"It was my parents' dying wish before they passed", Macavity replied.
"You're an orphan? Of course! I'm an orphan. EC, I wish there was a war! Then we could prove that we're worth more than anyone bargained for…" He was so excited. The ginger tom looked around before putting his arm around the other cat's shoulders to calm him down.
"Can I get you a drink?" he asked.
"That would be nice", Munkustrap replied and the pair started walking, Macavity leading the way.
Macavity led him to a junkyard. Munkustrap hesitated for a bit. He had heard stories about this place. This was the Jellicle junkyard. The Jellicles were a community of cats who, like most communities in London, were ruled by Growltiger. Many of the communities, or rather colonies, were getting fed up with his cruelty and harsh treatment of them. No one more so than the Jellicles. Rumour had it that a rebellion was imminent. Macavity nudged Munkustrap forward and they walked towards a den where drinks had been left in the shade for anyone who needed it. Macavity took out some food to trade with the alcohol. There were a few cats around the clearing and the pair of toms sat down in the shade.
"While we're talking, let me offer you some free advice", Macavity said calmly before taking a drink. Munkustrap nodded eagerly. "Talk less."
"What?" Munkustrap asked shocked.
"Smile more."
"Ha."
"Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for."
"You can't be serious!" Munkustrap exclaimed dumbfounded.
"You wanna get ahead?" Macavity asked and levelled him with a hard gaze.
"Yes", Munkustrap replied and lowered his head and ears, looking abashed.
"Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead." Just as Macavity said that there was a commotion from one of the large junkpiles. Three young toms had slid down it. One was rather small and brown all over except for some lighter parts on his face. The second was a tall and grey tom with a goofy grin. The last, when Munkustrap saw him he felt enthralled. It was a black and white patched tom. He had a black patch covering his left eye. He appeared to be the leader. He walked to the drink pitcher, traded some of the contents before turning to his two companions.
"Yo yo yo yo yo what time is it?" he shouted to them.
"Show time!" the pair replied and got their own water.
"…like I said." Macavity grumbled dryly and drank some water. Munkustrap on the other hand watched the trio in awe. The leader looked at the assembled group and grinned widely. Then he started speaking:
"Yo! I'm the stray Alonzo in the place to be! Two pints o' this beer, but I'm workin' on three, uh! Those pirates don't want it with me! Cuz I will pop chick-a pop these cops till I'm free!" The small brown tom put an arm around his excited friend's shoulders and started talking as well.
"Aye, aye my friends they ca' me Asparagus", he said. "The Lancelot of this revolutionary set! I came from afar just to say 'bye bye!' Tell Growltiger 'take a hike!' Who's the best? A'm!" The pair laughed and then the grey tom with the goofy smile jumped onto a table and started stomping and talking at the same time.
"Brrrah brraaah! My name is Admetus, up in it, lovin' it, yes I heard ya mother said 'Come again?'" His friends laughed. "Lock up ya daughters, of course it's hard to have intercourse over four sets of corsets…" He trailed off and while Asparagus sniggered Alonzo patted Admetus' back.
"No more sex", he laughed and then turned to Asparagus who had a bottle of scotch in his hands. "Pour me another brew, son! Let's raise a couple more…"
"To the revolution!" All three called. Munkustrap watched them in awe. They seemed so happy, carefree and determent at the same time. Macavity just snorted. His snort attracted the attention of the black and white tom, Alonzo. He turned to them and grinned. He nodded to his friends and the group hurried over. Alonzo grinned down at Macavity.
"Well, if it ain't the prodigy of London University!" he said with a grin.
"Macavity!" Admetus grinned, and sat down, right next to Macavity. He draped an arm across his shoulders. Asparagus plopped down on his other side. Alonzo crossed his arms and grinned at the group.
"Give us a verse, drop some knowledge!" he told Macavity.
"Good luck with that", Macavity said and removed Admetus' arm from around his shoulders. "You're takin' a stand. You spit. I'm 'a sit. We'll see where we land." He moved away from the group who all turned to him.
"Boooo!" Asparagus and Admetus called after him.
"Mac, the revolution's imminent", Alonzo said with a serious look on his face. "What do you stall for?"
"If you stand for nothing, Macavity, what'll you fall for?" Munkustrap asked and then blushed when all four cats turned to him. The trio of friends had just realized he was there. The black and white tom tilted his head and looked at Munkustrap curiously.
"Ooh, who are you?" he asked. His voice was gentle, curious.
"Ooh, who are you?", Admetus asked as well and got up.
"Ooh, who are you?" Asparagus mimicked. Asparagus and Admetus got in Munkustrap's face at once, looking at him curiously. Munkustrap held up his paws in what he hoped was a peaceful gesture and backed away slowly.
"Ooh, who is this kid? What's he gonna do?" the pair asked.
"Get off", Alonzo told them and pulled them back. Munkustrap watched the trio. He was fighting an inner battle. Should he follow Macavity's advice and try to talk less? Or should he take this shot and finding cats who thought more like him than Macavity appeared to do? He had thought that he and Macavity would be of similar thoughts, views, and values. But now it looked as if Macavity was just talk, no action whatsoever. These other three cats at least appeared to be both talking and taking action. The group was still looking at him curiously. He felt no malice from them, just curiosity.
"Who are you?" Alonzo asked again.
"I…" Munkustrap began. "I am just a tom who…" he hesitated.
"A tom who what?"
"A tom who… is not throwing away my shot!" he jumped onto his chair. "I am not throwing away my shot!" he said it more forcefully this time. "Hey yo, I'm just like you, I'm young, scrappy and hungry, and I'm not throwing away my shot!" he jumped onto a bin and the four other toms watched him curiously.
"I'm 'a get a scholarship to the London Imperial College", Munkustrap continued. "I prob'ly shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish. The problem is I got a lot of brains but no polish." The trio knew that feeling, Macavity just rolled his eyes. "I gotta holler just to be heard. With every word, I drop knowledge! I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal tryin' to reach my goal. My power of speech: unimpeachable. Only nineteen but my mind is older. These London streets get colder, I shoulder ev'ry burden, ev'ry disadvantage I have learned to manage, I don't really have claws to brandish, I walk these streets famished. The plan is to fan this spark into a flame. But damn, it's getting dark, so let me spell out the name, I am Munkustrap and we are meant to be a colony that runs independently." The trio of young toms grinned at him. "Meanwhile, Growltiger keeps shittin' on us endlessly. Essentially, he tax us relentlessly, then Growltiger turns around, runs a spending spree. He ain't ever gonna set his servants free, so there will be a revolution in this century. Enter me! Don't be shocked when your hist'ry book mentions me. I will lay down my life if it sets us free. Eventually, you'll see my ascendancy! And I am not throwing away my shot. I am not throwing away my shot. Hey yo, I'm just like this junkyard, I'm young, scrappy and hungry and I'm not throwing away my shot!" When he said that Alonzo suddenly got up and the other cats stared at him. He walked over to Munkustrap and smiled.
"My shot!" he said and raised his cup.
"And I'm not throwing away my shot." Munkustrap said again.
"My shot!" Alonzo echoed.
"I am not throwing away my shot!" By now Asparagus, Admetus and Alonzo all joined in so now far voices chanted:
"I am not throwing away my shot. I am not throwing away my shot. Hey yo, I'm just like this junkyard, I'm young, scrappy and hungry and I'm not throwing away my shot. It's time to take a shot!" They drank from their glasses and then Asparagus jumped onto the bin next to Munkustrap. Munkustrap toppled over. Alonzo caught him before he could get injured. The pair looked at each other before turning back to Asparagus. The brown cat grinned.
"I dream of life without a monarchy", he said with his strong Scottish accent. Munkustrap figured he must be from a Scottish clan or something. "The unrest in the Highlands will lead to…uh… How you say, how you say…" he leaned down as Admetus whispered in his ear. "Oh! Anarchy! When I fight, I make the other side panicky. With my shot!" He then fell off the bin as Admetus jumped up and took his place.
"Yo, I'm a tailor's apprentice", he said and grinned at them. "And I got y'all knuckleheads in loco parentis. I'm joining the rebellion cuz I know it's my chance to socially advance, instead of sewin' some pants! I'm gonna take a shot!"
"But we'll never be truly free until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me", Alonzo called over the cheering from his two friends. He turned to Munkustrap. He gripped the tabby's sholulder. "You and I. Do or die. Wait till I sally in with the first alley cat battalion! Have another shot!" The four of them grinned and drank. Munkustrap looked at them.
So Asparagus wanted to uproot the Scottish clan leader system or something? Admetus wanted to do something for the community rather than just making clothes for the upper crust. Alonzo however wanted to be the voice for alley cats. Alley cats were looked down upon because they had no tribes, no families, no one who wanted to be near them. Most thought them inferior and stupid. The majority of alley cats were used as slaves by cats in tribes, clans or communities. They were nothing more than garbage in some cats' eyes. Alonzo appeared to be a champion for them. Munkustrap noticed that Alonzo did not wear a collar or had one of those tattoos in his ear with a number to inform humans which home he belonged to. He could see that Admetus had a tattoo like that, as did Asparagus. Was Alonzo an alley cat? He had said he was a stray. Stray cats were cats born into tribes or communities but never stayed put in one. They strayed from one community to the next in search of one that suited them. So if Alonzo was a stray cat he must have been seeing more sides to the alley cats than most others. Munkustrap found himself fascinated by that.
"Geniuses, lower your voices", Macavity cut in when the group cheered loudly again. "You keep out of trouble and you double your choices." He put his hand on Alonzo's shoulder. "I'm with you, but the situation is fraught. You've got to be carefully taught: If you talk, you're gonna get shot!" Alonzo rolled his eyes and shrugged his paw off. Munkustrap sniggered and turned to Macavity.
"Macavity, check what we got", he said and pointed at Asparagus. "Mister Asparagus, hard rock like Lancelot." He then grinned at Admetus. "I am sure your pants look hot." Then he looked at Alonzo. "Alonzo, I like you a lot." The black and white tom grinned. "Let's hatch a plot blacker than the kettle callin' the pot..." He looked around at the four other toms. "Macavity what are the odds the gods would put us all in one spot, poppin' a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not, a bunch of revolutionary manumission abolitionists? Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is!"
He stopped speaking and blushed, he hurriedly sat down again. He was once again going through an inner battle. He knew he sometimes got over excited, shooting off at the mouth. In his life he had never had a group of friends before. Were these young toms his friends? They seemed like it. They were smiling at him and they didn't look at him as if he was garbage washed ashore by the sea. He had not known them for long but still felt that he wanted to make them all proud. He looked up at the group nervously. Asparagus and Admetus stared between Munkustrap and Alonzo. Alonzo's face was death serious. He walked up to Munkustrap and grabbed his shoulder. He then turned to the other three. Munkustrap looked up at him nervously. He saw the smirk there.
"Let's get this guy in front of a crowd", Alonzo said. He then turned to Munkustrap. Ademtus and Asparagus cheered loudly and jumped to their feet. Alonzo held his paw out to Munkustrap. Munkustrap took his paw and got pulled to his feet. He looked at the tom in front of him and smiled. The black and white tom grinned as well. Macavity shrunk back and started to move out of the clearing. A big group had gathered near the four young toms and he pushed through it. Alonzo had noticed the group as well and jumped onto a box.
"Ev'rybody sing", he shouted. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" The crowd answered in kind. "Hey! Ay, let 'em hear ya!" The crowd shouted louder. "Let's go!" Alonzo jumped off the box and ran to the middle of the clearing. "I said shout it to the rooftops! Said, to the rooftops! Come on! Come on, let's go!" The crowd and Alonzo's friend and Munkustrap kept singing and shouting. The same way Alonzo had. The patched tom grinned and turned to the crowd.
"Rise up!" he shouted. "When you're living on your knees, you rise up." He pointed at a pair of twins. "Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up. Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up. When are these colonies gonna rise up?" The crowd started echoing him and Asparagus and Admetus grinned smugly while Munkustrap was in awe. This tom who he had barley met already had an entire crowd doing what he asked them to.
"When are these colonies gonna rise up?" the crowd chanted. "When are these colonies gonna rise up? When are these colonies gonna rise up? Rise up! Rise up!" Alonzo was in the middle, rallying them and he turned and grinned at Munkustrap. Munkustrap watched him in awe. Asparagus and Admetus ran to join the crowd. Munkustrap watched from afar. He watched the black and white tom who raised his voice for freedom's sake. Who dared to speak out. Who was not afraid to die. Munkustrap looked at his feet. How could this young tom not fear death? How was he so full of life?
"I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory", Munkustrap whispered to himself. "When's it gonna get me? In my sleep? Seven meters ahead of me? If I see it comin', do I run or do I let it be? Is it like a beat without a melody?"
"Munkustrap are you okay?" a soft voice asked and he looked up. Alonzo stood before him now while the crowd cheered and rallied in the background with his friends leading them.
"I", Munkustrap began.
"If you don't want to speak to the crowd I apologize for causing something you were not ready for."
"No it's just… See, I never thought I'd live past twenty." Alonzo cocked an eyebrow at him. "Where I grew up some get half as many. Ask anybody why we livin' fast and we laugh, reach for a flask, we have to make this moment last, that's plenty." Alonzo opened his mouth but Munkustrap cut him off. "Scratch that, this is not a moment, it's the movement where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went!" He stalked past a stunned Alonzo and jumped onto a box near the crowd. He started speaking again.
"Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand", he said. "We roll like Rumpus, claimin' our promised land. And? If we win our independence? 'Zat a guarantee of freedom for our descendants? Or will the blood we shed begin an endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?" The cats all watched him curiously. Alonzo stood at the very back. He leaned on an old radio, held his arms crossed and smiled at Munkustrap. Munkustrap grinned and continued his speech. "I know the action in the street is excitin', but EC, between all the bleedin' 'n fightin' I've been readin' 'n writin'. We need to handle our financial situation. Are we a colony or a tribe? What's the state of our survival? I'm past patiently waitin'. I'm passionately smashin' every expectation, every action's an act of creation! I'm laughin' in the face of casualties and sorrow, for the first time, I'm thinkin' past tomorrow, and I am not throwing away my shot. I'm just like this tribe, I'm young, scrappy and hungry and I'm not throwing away my shot. I am not throwing away my… I am not… I am not throwing away my, not throwing away my shot!" He pointed at the sky and everyone around started cheering. Munkustrap jumped off the box he had been standing on. His back got slaps and pats as he made his way through the crowd. He soon reached Alonzo, Asparagus and Admetus. The three of them grinned at him.
"How was that?" Munkustrap asked nervously. Asparagus and Admetus grinned at him and cheered. Alonzo smiled a gentle smile and nodded back to the den with the drinks.
"Let's go celebrate", he said. Asparagus and Admetus cheered and ran ahead. Alonzo wrapped his arm around Munkustrap and Munkustrap wrapped his around Alonzo's. It felt right. He finally felt that he had finally found a place where he belonged.
Many hours later, after hours of celebrating the makeshift bar was about to close. The only cats still there was Munkustrap and his new friends. As the hours had passed Munkustrap had learned more about his three new friends. Admetus was the son of a butcher. Admetus had never wanted to pursue his father's career. Instead he had wanted to make a change. His father had not appreciated it and had thrown him out. A tailor had taken pity on him and now Admetus worked for him. He did not really want to work as a tailor, but he needed to survive.
Asparagus on the other paw had travelled to London from Scotland, trying to help the Jellicles become free. In Scotland the tribes were ruled by tribe leaders and most of them were corrupt, self-centred and just plain cruel. While their people starved and suffered the leaders, the kings if you will, lived lavish lifestyles. The cats in the tribes wished to rebel, but no one felt they had the strength to do it. So by being here Asparagus hoped to find cats who wanted to free themselves the way he wanted. He also looked for allies that could help him free the Scottish tribes.
Alonzo… now Alonzo was the tom that fascinated Munkustrap the most. He had been right, Alonzo was a stray cat. He had moved between many tribes and in each and every one of them he had witnessed injustices and cruelty towards alley cats. He would not stand for that anymore. Everyone had the right to become who they wanted to be and to walk in the grace of the Everlasting Cat. So many cats treated alley cats like inferior beings, proclaiming that they were less intelligent and that they did not deserve the love of the Everlasting Cat. Alonzo wanted to change all that. Munkustrap agreed with him fully. He was not exactly an alley cat himself or a stray, but he had witnessed the cruelty as well. The bartender shook her head at them.
"Time to go boys", she said.
"One last round ma'am!" Admetus shouted and she smiled.
"Fine", she said with a small smile. "Since the lot of you are going to fight for our freedom I can let you have another round." Admetus turned to the others and grinned.
"Well what do you guys say?" he asked. "We are off to fight! We need to remember this! We will celebrate again when we have won this war! Another round to our glory!" Alonzo chuckled and Asparagus sniggered. Munkustrap grinned and looked around at them.
"I may not live to see our glory", he said.
"I may not live to see our glory", the other three echoed.
"But I will gladly join the fight!"
"But I will gladly join the fight!"
"And when our children tell our story…"
"And when our children tell our story…"
"They'll tell the story of tonight."
"Let's have another round tonight", Admetus said happily.
"Let's have another round tonight", Ademtus giggled drunkenly.
"Let's have another round tonight", Munkustrap agreed and held his cup out. The four of them got their cups refilled. When they were about to drink Alonzo suddenly got up and raised his cup towards the sky.
"Raise a glass to freedom", he said and they all looked at him. Even the bartender. "Something they can never take away, no matter what they tell you." He walked over and put a hand on Munkustrap's shoulders. He looked warmly at Munk and smiled. "Raise a glass to the four of us."
"Tomorrow there'll be more of us! Telling the story of tonight." Admetus and Asparagus joined him as he said it and Admetus patted Alonzo's shoulder and Alonzo turned to him with a smile. They clinked their cups together. Asparagus got up as well and placed his hand on Munkustrap's shoulder. They clinked their cups together as well.
"They'll tell the story of tonight", Munkustrap mused as he moved away from them.
"Raise a glass to freedom", the other three toms sang and Munkustrap looked back at them. Alonzo and Admetus had their arms around each other and Asparagus was right next to them. Admetus patted Alonzo's shoulder before moving aside, but still remained close. "Something they can never take away."
"No matter what they tell you", Munkustrap sang and the group smiled at him.
"Let's have another round tonight", Admetus and Asparagus shouted. Alonzo however noticed how hesitant Munkustrap looked and moved over to him.
"Raise a glass to the four of us", he sang softly and put his hand at the back of Munkustrap's neck. Smiling at him. Munkustrap smiled back and all four of them called:
"Tomorrow there'll be more of us!"
"Telling the story of tonight", Alonzo and Munkustrap sang. Munkustrap smiled brightly while he looked into the night around them. Alonzo only had eyes for Munkustrap
"Let's have another round tonight!" Asparagus and Admetus called again. The pair started moving off into the darkness. Munkustrap turned his face and looked Alonzo. The patched tom met his gaze and for a second they just stood there, staring at each other. Then Munkustrap wrapped his arm around Alonzo as well. The younger tom, yes Munkustrap had found out that Alonzo was in fact a year younger than him, smiled warmly at him. With their arms around each other they followed their friends and left the bar behind them. Their song however rang out in the night around them and in their dens the Jellicles sang the same words back into the night.
TBC Okay here is the cast so far:
Hamilton - Munkustrap
Burr - Macavity
Mulligan - Admetus
Lafayette - Asparagus Jr.
Laurens - Alonzo