Part 7

Much later, many hours into the late evening. Munkustrap and his three closest friends got out in front of the house to get some air. They were all pretty tipsy and were all laughing a lot. Munkustrap had Asparagus and Admetus' arms around his shoulders as they got out into the park in front of the huge house. Alonzo turned to them, staggering a little on drunken paws.

"I may not live to see our glory!" he sang happily.

"I may not live to see our glory!" Asparagus and Admetus replied in kind.

"But I've seen wonders great and small."

"I've seen wonders great and small."

"Cuz if this tomcat can get married", he pointed at Munkustrap who laughed and blushed.

"If Munkustrap can get married…"

"There's hope for our ass, after all!" Alonzo laughed and Munkustrap hurried over and wrapped an arm around him to keep from falling, laughing as well. Asparagus watched them all and grinned wickedly.

"Raise a glass to freedom", he sang happily.

"Hey!" his three friends called and raised their glasses.

"Something you will never see again!" Asparagus pointed at Munkustrap and Alonzo laughed, Munkustrap just grinned.

"No matter what she tells you", Admetus said and pointed back towards the house.

"Let's have another round tonight!"

Alonzo had sobered up a little after nearly falling and pulling Munkustrap with him. Now instead he got up and put his hand at the back of Munkustrap's neck.

"Raise a glass to the four of us!" he called and his friends all did.

"To the newly not poor of us!" Admetus laughed, as did Asparagus. Alonzo just smiled and Munkustrap laughed merrily.

"We'll tell the story of tonight", Asparagus giggled and nearly tumbled over when he walked into a garden gnome.

"Let's have another round", Alonzo began but then stopped when he realized someone else had walked into the garden. It was a ginger tom he knew well. He smiled at the ginger tom who grinned back at him. Munkustrap noticed the new arrival and grinned.

"Well, if it isn't Macavity!" he cheered and hurried over to him.

"Sir!" Macavity replied with a bow.

"I didn't think that you would make it."

"To be sure."

"Macavity!" Asparagus and Admetus cheered.

"I came to say congratulations."

"Spit a verse, Macavity!" Admetus called drunkenly and nearly toppled over. Alonzo steadied him while giggling. Macavity rolled his eyes at them.

"I see the whole gang is here", he said dryly.

"You are the worst, Macavity!" Asparagus called from the ground and then giggled.

"Ignore them", Munkustrap chuckled. "Congrats to you, Lieutenant Colonel. I wish I had your command instead of manning Deuteronomy's journal."

"No, you don't" Macavity chuckled.

"Yes, I do."

"Now, be sensible. From what I hear, you've made yourself indispensable." Before Munkustrap could reply Alonzo appeared and draped an arm across Macavity's shoulders with black eyes shining with mischief.

"Well, well, I heard you've got a special someone on the side, Macavity", Alonzo teased.

"Is that so?" Munkustrap asked with a grin.

"What are you tryin' to hide, Macavity?"

"I should go", Macavity chuckled nervously.

"No, these guys should go." Munkustrap started pushing his three friends towards the door.

"What?" Asparagus objected.

"No!" Alonzo protested.

"Leave us alone", Munkustrap laughed.

"Aw man", Admetus whined but the trio left the garden and went inside the house again. When they were gone Macavity and Munkustrap looked at each other. They chuckled and sat down on a rock together. They sat there in silence for a little bit, then the silver tabby turned to the ginger tom.

"It's alright, Macavity", he said. "I wish you'd brought this girl with you the festivity."

"You're very kind, but I'm afraid it's unlawful, sir", Macavity sighed.

"What do you mean? "

"She's married."

"I see."

"She's married to one of Growltiger's officers."

"Oh shit…" Munkustrap gaped at the other cat who just chuckled.

"Congrats again, Munkustrap", he said and got up. He smiled a tiny, sad smile. "Smile more. I'll see you on the other side of the war." He started leaving.

"I will never understand you", Munk said and got up as well. "If you love this queen, go get her! What are you waiting for?"

"I'll see you on the other side of the war." Macavity said and walked out into the night.

"I'll see you on the other side of the war." Munk called after him.

Macavity walked down the road on his own, looking up at the moon. He had really wanted to tell Munkustrap everything about his queen, but for some reason he could not do it. Besides what he had said was true… it was unlawful. He was not like Munkustrap who saw what he wanted and took it for himself… the silver tabby was rash or perhaps brave like that. The silver tabby had seen Alonzo and his crew all those years ago when he first came to London. Alonzo had been Macavity's friend first… but then Munkustrap saw him and the other two. He had seen them… and he had taken them. Well he could keep Asparagus and Admetus, but Alonzo had been Macavity's first friend.

He sighed and sat down near the river, looking at his reflection in the water. Soon another reflection appeared beside him, if it was real or not he didn't know. It was a black and white patched tom. Macavity chuckled and started talking, telling this ghostly reflection what he had wanted to tell Munkustrap.

"Exotica writes me a letter ev'ry day", he said. "I'm keeping her bed warm while her husband is away. He's at Growltiger's side in Soho. He's tryin' to keep the tribes there in line. He can keep all of Soho. Exotica, she's mine." He looked up at the moon. "Love doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes, and it takes, and it takes and we keep loving anyway." He turned to the tom at his side and chuckled. "We laugh and we cry, and we break, and we make our mistakes. And if there's a reason, I'm by her side when so many have tried then I'm willing to wait for it."

"What do you stall for?" the other tom asked.

"My grandfather was a fire and brimstone preacher, but there are things that the homilies and hymns won't teach ya. My mother was a genius. My father commanded respect. When they died they left no instructions. Just a legacy to protect."

"I see."

"Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes, and it takes, and it takes, and we keep living anyway. We rise and we fall, and we break, and we make our mistakes. And if there's a reason, I'm still alive when everyone who loves me has died, I'm willing to wait for it."

"I know how you feel."

"I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable I am an original. I'm not falling behind or running late. I'm not standing still, I am lying in wait. Munkustrap faces an endless uphill climb. He has something to prove, he has nothing to lose. Munkustrap's pace is relentless, he wastes no time. What is it like in his shoes?" He turned to the patched tom.

"I seriously don't know anymore", the patched tom replied and sighed.

"Munkustrap doesn't hesitate. He exhibits no restraint. He takes and he takes, and he takes, and he keeps winning anyway. He changes the game. He plays and he raises the stakes. And if there's a reason he seems to thrive when, so few survive, then EC damn it! I'm willing to wait for it… Life doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes, and it takes and it takes. We rise. We fall and if there's a reason, I'm still alive when so many have died, then I'm willin' to wait for it."

"Then I'll wait with you for now", the patched tom said and got up, he held his paw out. "Come on my friend. This is not the end. The night is young, and we have nothing to lose. You wanted to know what it is like in his shoes?" Macavity looked at the outstretched paw. "Let's go take a walk by the shore."

"No…" Macavity got up. "I'll see him and you on the other side of the war." He brushed his legs off and walked down the street, disappearing into the night. The patched tom watched him leave, and then turned around and headed back to the party.

TBC

Okay here is the cast so far:

Hamilton - Munkustrap

Burr - Macavity

Mulligan - Admetus

Lafayette - Asparagus Jr.

Laurens - Alonzo

King George - Growltiger

Angelica - Bombalurina

Eliza - Demeter

Peggy - Victoria

Philip Schuyler - Bustopher Jones

George Washington - Old Deuteronomy

Theodosia - Exotica