Chapter 2: The Worst Of Times
"Jezabel! Here, kitty, kitty."
A gray cat with exquisite black markings glanced around the corner at her owner's kitten, a tall gawkish girl of thirteen.
"There you are, Jez," the girl cooed, picking the cat up and snuggling her close. The cat rewarded the girl with a face washing.
"Pretty kitty, let's go watch the TV."
As soon as Jezabel was set down the cat raced ahead into the TV room and daintily jumped into a miniature recliner that was reserved for her. Her owner's kitten followed and flopped heavily into an identical regular-sized recliner. The TV droned on with a boring soap opera, and Jezabel curled up for a catnap. Awhile later, she heard the front door open announcing the arrival of her owners. She made a dash for the door.
While she was free run the spacious mansion she lived in, she was not allowed outside, the very place she longed to be.
The door was just about to close. Picking up more speed, Jezabel squeezed through the door and out in the sunlight. She laughed merrily as she heard her owners cry:
"Jezabella, come back! Someone stop that cat! She'll get filthy!"
Jezabel ran and ran soaking in that wonderful fresh air. She ran until she could run no more. Collapsing with happiness she pawed playfully at a butterfly. A mouse ran into her backside, and stood paralyzed in fear. She was so happy that she licked the little creature, startling him so badly that he fainted dead away. Feeling extremely frisky she rolled over several times ending up on her back with her eyes closed. Her smile faded when she began to smell a horrible stench. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into the jaws of a hungry Rowtweiler. With a screech and a leap, Jezabel was off like a rocket. And so was the dog; he hadn't been chained!
With no idea where she was going, Jezabel ran for her life.
"We can't stay in the Junkyard any longer," Munkustrap was saying. "It's not safe any more. The Pollicles will be back. And we won't be able to sustain another fight."
"But what about our homes? Those who are d- that we lost yesterday?" Victoria asked.
Munkustrap had caught the hesitation in her voice when she tried to say "those who are dead"; he had seen the look in her eyes, in all of their eyes. All because of him.
He cleared his throat and responded harshly, too harshly, in attempt to appear undaunted.
"This isn't a permanent move. I hope we can return one day. Until then we need to move fast. Skimbleshanks, send word to the Jellicles not present here. Demeter, you're in charge of getting together the ladies and kittens. Cassandra, you're in charge of the wounded. Four hours, Jellicles. Four hours only, then we must be gone. Rum Tum Tugger, you're with me."
No one moved. How could Munkustrap be so unfeeling?
Munkustrap glanced round. "NOW!"
The cats scattered.
"Wound up a little tight there, aren't we, Munk?"
Munkustrap turned around and glared at the Rum Tum Tugger. "We have no time to waste. Get busy."
Tugger raised an eyebrow. "I'm with you, remember?"
Munkustrap's shoulders slumped and he sighed. "I'm sorry, Tugger."
Tugger gave him a sardonic grin. "Whew, I'm so glad we're friends again. You had me worried when you used my full name."
Munkustrap shook his head and a faint smile crossed his lips. "Come on, we have a lot to do and no time to do it."
Tugger blocked his way. "What about that shoulder?"
The silver tiger cat frowned. "There's no time for that."
"Sit down, then."
"Tugger-"
"Sit down and shut up."
Rolling his eyes, Munkustrap sat as Tugger went work on his arm.
"You know, Munk, I'd let you go but it really wouldn't do for a leader of the Jellicles to get an infection and have his arm fall off."
Munkustrap turned his head away and mumbled under his breath, "Some leader I am."
Tugger looked at him, then understood. "Feeling guilty for what happened yesterday?"
The other cat started slightly; he didn't think Tugger had heard. "It was my fault. It never should have happened."
Tugger remained silent and Munkustrap said, half-joking, half-serious, "That's when you're supposed to disagree with me."
"Who said I disagreed?" the other deadpanned.
Munkustrap let out a sigh. Tugger was surprised by the expression on his friend's face. In all the time he had known Munkustrap, he had never seen him close yo tears.
"Come on, Munk, I was just playing. I don't think you're responsible for yesterday. No one else does either."
"Yeah, sure. Thanks, Tugger, for bandaging my shoulder."
"No, problem, bud." Tugger watched Munkustrap leave, feeling helpless to cheer the other cat up.
Two days had passed since the Jellicles had left the Junkyard. They were in their new "home". Munkustrap had said it was the only place the Pollicles wouldn't come. No wonder. Would you go to the Dumpster? Munkustrap hadn't even let them mourn their dead properly. Some hadn't even been buried at all! And to top things off it had been storming for the last two days.
"I. 'ate. The. Rain!" Rumpleteazer cried indignantly at the sky.
Bombalurina threw an apple core at her. "We know. That's all you've said for the last hour. None of the rest of us like it either."
"Give her break," Victoria said.
"Don't tell me what to do," Bombalurina jumped up.
"Ladies, please," Cassandra said. "The last thing we need is a cat fight."
"She's right," Rumpleteazer said saucily. "Et's just cabin fever." She sat back on her haunches. "Of, course," she continued slyly, looking sideways at Demeter. "None of thes would 'ave 'appened if Munkustrap 'adn't brought us 'ere."
"Rumpleteazer!" snapped Jellylorum.
"She's right, though," Jemima piped in.
"Jemima!" snapped Etcetera, mimicking Jellylorum.
Before long all the queens were arguing with each other. Mungojerrie heard their squalling and burst grandly into the old drain pipe they were in.
"Cease and exist, dear sistas. Stop the meaningless bickering!"
"OUT!" All the queens advanced toward him and threw him out.
"Ow, ow, ow! OW!" Mungojerrie tumbled down the hill. When he finally stopped he saw Mistofelees standing on his head. He wasn't standing on his head, of course. Mungojerrie was just upside down.
"What happened to you?" Mistofelees asked helping the cat up. Mungojerrie was caked in mud.
"'em!" He pointed to the drain pipe. "Whoteva you do, don't try to stop 'em from fightin'."
With that Mungojerrie trudged off to get cleaned up.
Mistofelees laughed. He was going to head in too, but something caught his eye and he went the opposite way.
"Hey, Munk. What are you doing out?"
Munkustrap shrugged. "Just looking over things."
"Oh."
The older cat frowned. "What are you doing here?"
Mistofelees smiled sheepishly. "Disappearing act gone wrong. I started out in the car and I meant to end up in the ladies' drain pipe. I ended up in a drain pipe all right. Just one that was actually being used to drain water."
The corner's of Munkustrap's mouth turned up.
Mistofelees continued. "Now I'm glad I didn't make it to the ladies."
"Oh?"
"Jerrie just came from there. They threw him down the hill."
"I wonder what had happened to him."
"Yeah," Mistofelees stopped. Munkustrap had turned his back to him. He obviously wanted to be alone.
"Um, well, see ya, Munk."
"Mist,"
"Yeah?" Mistofelees turned back to the other cat. Munkustrap was still in the same position.
"Thanks."
"Yeah, you're welcome." Mistofelees took off running happily.
The rain continued for just a little while longer, then sun broke through the clouds and the cats came out to play. Demeter ran for Munkustrap. She danced all around him, trying to entice him to play. He didn't move. He remained stone-face, arms folded across his chest.
"Come play, Munk. The sun's out; it's beautiful."
"Not now, Demeter."
Not now, Demeter. That was it. Then he walked away from her.
The others had seen how Munkustrap had treated her.
"Demeter," Bombalurina said sympathetically.
"Wow, Dem, I've never seen him do that to you," Etcetera said. Rumpleteazer looked mystified. No one treated their mate-to-be like that.
"It's nothing," Demeter shrugged. "He's got a lot on his mind." Her bottom lip began to tremble. "He's been like this since the fight, because- because... Because he doesn't love me anymore!"
Demeter went bawling into Bombalurina's arms. The other's gathered around her trying to comfort her.
"Jezabel! Here, kitty, kitty."
A gray cat with exquisite black markings glanced around the corner at her owner's kitten, a tall gawkish girl of thirteen.
"There you are, Jez," the girl cooed, picking the cat up and snuggling her close. The cat rewarded the girl with a face washing.
"Pretty kitty, let's go watch the TV."
As soon as Jezabel was set down the cat raced ahead into the TV room and daintily jumped into a miniature recliner that was reserved for her. Her owner's kitten followed and flopped heavily into an identical regular-sized recliner. The TV droned on with a boring soap opera, and Jezabel curled up for a catnap. Awhile later, she heard the front door open announcing the arrival of her owners. She made a dash for the door.
While she was free run the spacious mansion she lived in, she was not allowed outside, the very place she longed to be.
The door was just about to close. Picking up more speed, Jezabel squeezed through the door and out in the sunlight. She laughed merrily as she heard her owners cry:
"Jezabella, come back! Someone stop that cat! She'll get filthy!"
Jezabel ran and ran soaking in that wonderful fresh air. She ran until she could run no more. Collapsing with happiness she pawed playfully at a butterfly. A mouse ran into her backside, and stood paralyzed in fear. She was so happy that she licked the little creature, startling him so badly that he fainted dead away. Feeling extremely frisky she rolled over several times ending up on her back with her eyes closed. Her smile faded when she began to smell a horrible stench. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into the jaws of a hungry Rowtweiler. With a screech and a leap, Jezabel was off like a rocket. And so was the dog; he hadn't been chained!
With no idea where she was going, Jezabel ran for her life.
"We can't stay in the Junkyard any longer," Munkustrap was saying. "It's not safe any more. The Pollicles will be back. And we won't be able to sustain another fight."
"But what about our homes? Those who are d- that we lost yesterday?" Victoria asked.
Munkustrap had caught the hesitation in her voice when she tried to say "those who are dead"; he had seen the look in her eyes, in all of their eyes. All because of him.
He cleared his throat and responded harshly, too harshly, in attempt to appear undaunted.
"This isn't a permanent move. I hope we can return one day. Until then we need to move fast. Skimbleshanks, send word to the Jellicles not present here. Demeter, you're in charge of getting together the ladies and kittens. Cassandra, you're in charge of the wounded. Four hours, Jellicles. Four hours only, then we must be gone. Rum Tum Tugger, you're with me."
No one moved. How could Munkustrap be so unfeeling?
Munkustrap glanced round. "NOW!"
The cats scattered.
"Wound up a little tight there, aren't we, Munk?"
Munkustrap turned around and glared at the Rum Tum Tugger. "We have no time to waste. Get busy."
Tugger raised an eyebrow. "I'm with you, remember?"
Munkustrap's shoulders slumped and he sighed. "I'm sorry, Tugger."
Tugger gave him a sardonic grin. "Whew, I'm so glad we're friends again. You had me worried when you used my full name."
Munkustrap shook his head and a faint smile crossed his lips. "Come on, we have a lot to do and no time to do it."
Tugger blocked his way. "What about that shoulder?"
The silver tiger cat frowned. "There's no time for that."
"Sit down, then."
"Tugger-"
"Sit down and shut up."
Rolling his eyes, Munkustrap sat as Tugger went work on his arm.
"You know, Munk, I'd let you go but it really wouldn't do for a leader of the Jellicles to get an infection and have his arm fall off."
Munkustrap turned his head away and mumbled under his breath, "Some leader I am."
Tugger looked at him, then understood. "Feeling guilty for what happened yesterday?"
The other cat started slightly; he didn't think Tugger had heard. "It was my fault. It never should have happened."
Tugger remained silent and Munkustrap said, half-joking, half-serious, "That's when you're supposed to disagree with me."
"Who said I disagreed?" the other deadpanned.
Munkustrap let out a sigh. Tugger was surprised by the expression on his friend's face. In all the time he had known Munkustrap, he had never seen him close yo tears.
"Come on, Munk, I was just playing. I don't think you're responsible for yesterday. No one else does either."
"Yeah, sure. Thanks, Tugger, for bandaging my shoulder."
"No, problem, bud." Tugger watched Munkustrap leave, feeling helpless to cheer the other cat up.
Two days had passed since the Jellicles had left the Junkyard. They were in their new "home". Munkustrap had said it was the only place the Pollicles wouldn't come. No wonder. Would you go to the Dumpster? Munkustrap hadn't even let them mourn their dead properly. Some hadn't even been buried at all! And to top things off it had been storming for the last two days.
"I. 'ate. The. Rain!" Rumpleteazer cried indignantly at the sky.
Bombalurina threw an apple core at her. "We know. That's all you've said for the last hour. None of the rest of us like it either."
"Give her break," Victoria said.
"Don't tell me what to do," Bombalurina jumped up.
"Ladies, please," Cassandra said. "The last thing we need is a cat fight."
"She's right," Rumpleteazer said saucily. "Et's just cabin fever." She sat back on her haunches. "Of, course," she continued slyly, looking sideways at Demeter. "None of thes would 'ave 'appened if Munkustrap 'adn't brought us 'ere."
"Rumpleteazer!" snapped Jellylorum.
"She's right, though," Jemima piped in.
"Jemima!" snapped Etcetera, mimicking Jellylorum.
Before long all the queens were arguing with each other. Mungojerrie heard their squalling and burst grandly into the old drain pipe they were in.
"Cease and exist, dear sistas. Stop the meaningless bickering!"
"OUT!" All the queens advanced toward him and threw him out.
"Ow, ow, ow! OW!" Mungojerrie tumbled down the hill. When he finally stopped he saw Mistofelees standing on his head. He wasn't standing on his head, of course. Mungojerrie was just upside down.
"What happened to you?" Mistofelees asked helping the cat up. Mungojerrie was caked in mud.
"'em!" He pointed to the drain pipe. "Whoteva you do, don't try to stop 'em from fightin'."
With that Mungojerrie trudged off to get cleaned up.
Mistofelees laughed. He was going to head in too, but something caught his eye and he went the opposite way.
"Hey, Munk. What are you doing out?"
Munkustrap shrugged. "Just looking over things."
"Oh."
The older cat frowned. "What are you doing here?"
Mistofelees smiled sheepishly. "Disappearing act gone wrong. I started out in the car and I meant to end up in the ladies' drain pipe. I ended up in a drain pipe all right. Just one that was actually being used to drain water."
The corner's of Munkustrap's mouth turned up.
Mistofelees continued. "Now I'm glad I didn't make it to the ladies."
"Oh?"
"Jerrie just came from there. They threw him down the hill."
"I wonder what had happened to him."
"Yeah," Mistofelees stopped. Munkustrap had turned his back to him. He obviously wanted to be alone.
"Um, well, see ya, Munk."
"Mist,"
"Yeah?" Mistofelees turned back to the other cat. Munkustrap was still in the same position.
"Thanks."
"Yeah, you're welcome." Mistofelees took off running happily.
The rain continued for just a little while longer, then sun broke through the clouds and the cats came out to play. Demeter ran for Munkustrap. She danced all around him, trying to entice him to play. He didn't move. He remained stone-face, arms folded across his chest.
"Come play, Munk. The sun's out; it's beautiful."
"Not now, Demeter."
Not now, Demeter. That was it. Then he walked away from her.
The others had seen how Munkustrap had treated her.
"Demeter," Bombalurina said sympathetically.
"Wow, Dem, I've never seen him do that to you," Etcetera said. Rumpleteazer looked mystified. No one treated their mate-to-be like that.
"It's nothing," Demeter shrugged. "He's got a lot on his mind." Her bottom lip began to tremble. "He's been like this since the fight, because- because... Because he doesn't love me anymore!"
Demeter went bawling into Bombalurina's arms. The other's gathered around her trying to comfort her.