(3 months earlier- Tug's POV)
"Hey Munk, how's it going?" I greeted my friend. It was the day of the ball and the silver tabby looked ready to tear his fur out.
"Not good," he called back, "I need to sort the decorations, get the food, let Dad know what time we're starting, welcome any visitors..."
I began to daydream as he went on and on. Munk needed to be less uptight and a little more relaxed like me. Carry on at this rate and he'd have a heart attack before the age of four.
"Tug? Are you even listening to me? Oh forget it I don't have time for this!"
I caught Munk by the shoulders as he was about to dash off again,
"Hey Munkus, chill. It'll get done, it always has every other year."
Munk remained unconvinced so I decided to take matters into my own paws,
"Jerrie, Teazer! Grab some grub for the ball will ya? Misto, you and the kittens fancy putting up some decorations? Jenny, are you ok to welcome anyone new? Skimble, on your way to the station? Think you can stop by the vicarage wall to tell Deuteronomy what time we're starting?"
After everyone in question had agreed I took the stressed second-in-command to somewhere quieter,
"See Munk, no problem," I grinned.
"But...but, you asked Jerrie and Teazer to get the food, everlasting cat only knows what they'll get, and from where."
Hmm, maybe asking the notorious duo wasn't the best idea I've had but what could go wrong?
"Hey, calm down. It'll be fine," I tried to think of less stressful topics, "Who's the lucky queen you'll be taking to the ball? Demeter maybe?"
Munk and Dem had grown closer especially after Dem had been catnapped by Macavity, and Munk had helped her to come to terms with it. She was still scared but a lot better than what she was. Even though I'd never admit this they were kinda cute together.
"Erm, no," Munk replied. He appeared to be uncomfortable and shifted around nervously.
"Why? What going on Munk, you can tell me," I didn't like the way he was acting, what on earth had happened between them?
"I don't feel that way about her, she likes Alonzo anyway."
"Well, what about the other queens, Cassandra likes you, has for years now."
Munk chewed on his lip, a nervous habit he'd had since he was a kitten. He took a deep breath before answering,
"You don't understand Tug," he whispered.
I leant in closer so I could hear.
"I...I don't feel that way about... Well you know... queens."
Now this was a turn up for the books,
"You mean you think you're...."
"Yeah," Munk gazed down at the ground.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with it," I reassured him.
"I know, it's just...everyone expects me to be perfect, and I'm not. Nowhere near."
"Munk, you're fine the way you are, the jellicles will accept it. No one expects you to be an exact copy of Old Deut."
"Oh Heaviside. Dad! What will he say? Oh Everlasting Cat!"
"Calm down, you don't have to tell anyone until you're ready to, ok. You know I wont say a word. Besides Old Deut will understand."
"You promise you won't say a word?"
"I swear on my manly, good looks," I grinned.
Munk rolled his eyes, "I've never met anyone who has a higher opinion of himself than you, Tugger."
"I'll take that as a compliment," I pulled Munk to his feet, "Come on let's get this ball on the road."
"Hey Munk, how's it going?" I greeted my friend. It was the day of the ball and the silver tabby looked ready to tear his fur out.
"Not good," he called back, "I need to sort the decorations, get the food, let Dad know what time we're starting, welcome any visitors..."
I began to daydream as he went on and on. Munk needed to be less uptight and a little more relaxed like me. Carry on at this rate and he'd have a heart attack before the age of four.
"Tug? Are you even listening to me? Oh forget it I don't have time for this!"
I caught Munk by the shoulders as he was about to dash off again,
"Hey Munkus, chill. It'll get done, it always has every other year."
Munk remained unconvinced so I decided to take matters into my own paws,
"Jerrie, Teazer! Grab some grub for the ball will ya? Misto, you and the kittens fancy putting up some decorations? Jenny, are you ok to welcome anyone new? Skimble, on your way to the station? Think you can stop by the vicarage wall to tell Deuteronomy what time we're starting?"
After everyone in question had agreed I took the stressed second-in-command to somewhere quieter,
"See Munk, no problem," I grinned.
"But...but, you asked Jerrie and Teazer to get the food, everlasting cat only knows what they'll get, and from where."
Hmm, maybe asking the notorious duo wasn't the best idea I've had but what could go wrong?
"Hey, calm down. It'll be fine," I tried to think of less stressful topics, "Who's the lucky queen you'll be taking to the ball? Demeter maybe?"
Munk and Dem had grown closer especially after Dem had been catnapped by Macavity, and Munk had helped her to come to terms with it. She was still scared but a lot better than what she was. Even though I'd never admit this they were kinda cute together.
"Erm, no," Munk replied. He appeared to be uncomfortable and shifted around nervously.
"Why? What going on Munk, you can tell me," I didn't like the way he was acting, what on earth had happened between them?
"I don't feel that way about her, she likes Alonzo anyway."
"Well, what about the other queens, Cassandra likes you, has for years now."
Munk chewed on his lip, a nervous habit he'd had since he was a kitten. He took a deep breath before answering,
"You don't understand Tug," he whispered.
I leant in closer so I could hear.
"I...I don't feel that way about... Well you know... queens."
Now this was a turn up for the books,
"You mean you think you're...."
"Yeah," Munk gazed down at the ground.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with it," I reassured him.
"I know, it's just...everyone expects me to be perfect, and I'm not. Nowhere near."
"Munk, you're fine the way you are, the jellicles will accept it. No one expects you to be an exact copy of Old Deut."
"Oh Heaviside. Dad! What will he say? Oh Everlasting Cat!"
"Calm down, you don't have to tell anyone until you're ready to, ok. You know I wont say a word. Besides Old Deut will understand."
"You promise you won't say a word?"
"I swear on my manly, good looks," I grinned.
Munk rolled his eyes, "I've never met anyone who has a higher opinion of himself than you, Tugger."
"I'll take that as a compliment," I pulled Munk to his feet, "Come on let's get this ball on the road."