"The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat" was written by Eugene Field.
* The idea of disownership is the creation of the author. If you would like to use it get in touch with the author. Thank you.
Chapter 5: Jellicle Or Not?
" 'The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think?)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went 'bow-wow-wow!'
The calico cat replied 'mee-ow!"
The was air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it was always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, 'Oh, dear! what shall we do?'
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw-
And,oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate!
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)
The next morning, where the two had sat,
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: They ate each other up!
Now what do you think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)
The Jellicles laughed and applauded Jezabel when she finished her tale. She had been with them only two days and was already hounded by the kittens for her stories. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had taken her under their wing and taught her everything about the Jellicles from the Jellicle Ball to Macavity, as well as what they knew about life. Munkustrap always checked, though, to make certain they didn't teach her to be notorious as well.
She was quite popular among the other Jellicles, too, save for Demeter. And probably a little too popular among the toms. Munkustrap kept a particularly close eye on Tugger. He did think it was odd, however, that Bombalurina didn't see Jezabel as a threat to her and yet Demeter did. Munkustrap shook his head. He just didn't get it; Demeter always said there was something she wanted to be to him and it wasn't his sister. She would never be specific and Munkustrap didn't try to find out. Being a Jellicle leader was too time- consuming.
And he was concerned about Jezabel. Despite the friendliness of the others, she tended to keep her distance from them. She didn't talk much or let others get to know her. And she was always with either Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, or himself. This made him worry about her being a Jellicle. He hadn't seen any other Jellicle have this much trouble fitting in, not even Grizabella who wasn't accepted by the others at first.
Oh, well. That was what the meeting with the other Jellicles was for and that was where he was headed.
Munkustrap stretched inside his crate and was just about to step outside when a streak of gray and black bolted into the crate. He turned around unsurprised. This was an everyday occurrence.
"Who's been getting too friendly this time, Jez?" he asked the shaking ball of fur.
"T-t-tugger," she replied wide-eyed. Jezabel had taken to running to Munkustrap for protection whenever the toms got too close.
Munkustrap let out a low growl. Just wait 'til I get my paws on that cat! he thought.
"Come on, Jez," he said motioning for her to follow him out. The cat shook her head. He sighed and sat beside her.
"Look, Jezabel. I'm starting to worry about you."
Jezabel grimaced. She knew what was coming.
"You haven't been making very many friends among the Jellicles," Munkustrap cocked his head to the side.
"I know," she said, green eyes gazing at him pitifully. His heart melted.
"And I know you're having trouble trusting anyone but Jerrie, Teazer and myself. But give them a chance. They're good cats."
With that Munkustrap got up and headed out to the meeting he was late for.
Jezabel sighed and curled up tightly knowing that he was absolutely right.
All of the Jellicles were gathered in the center of the Dumpster. In their mist, on top of a garbage bin sat Munkustrap. He held up his paws for silence and the chatter ceased.
"You're all here, as you know, to discuss our newest arrival, Jezabel."
Someone let out a wolf whistle.
Munkustrap shot a warning glare in that general direction and continued, " She has been with us for two days and despite everything I have not been able to determine if she is a Jellicle or not-"
"Not a Jellicle?" Alonzo cried. "Then what's she doing here?"
"Shut up!" Mungojerrie hissed angrily at him, but the others had already been stirred up.
"Munkustrap, how could you let a non Jellicle stay among us?" someone asked.
"I don't know that she's not a Jellicle," he responded as the noise grew louder.
"She could be a spy for Macavity!" someone else cried.
Munkustrap rolled his eyes. "She is not," he said irritably. "She never been out of her house before."
Pouncival, who liked Jezabel very much but wanted to create some trouble, stood up on a soap box.
"She's not a Jellicle! But a bloody purebred!" he cried, shaking his fist in the air. The others began to get riled up, murmuring about evil purebreds.
"Hey!" came an indignant cry from Cassandra. "I'm a purebred!"
"So am I!" piped up Victoria.
"Me, too!" a few others cried. The crowd began to turn on Pouncival.
"Oh." was his sheepish reply.
"Idiot!" Rumpleteazer snapped at him.
Munkustrap waited until everyone had settled down again. "I have decided to let Jezabel continue to stay here until Old Deuteronomy comes. Then it is his decision."
The Jellicles murmured their approval except Pouncival, who felt it was better to keep his mouth shut.
A flash of light and a cloud of smoke appeared next to Munkustrap. Mistofelees waved his paws in front of him trying to clear the smoke causing Munkustrap a coughing fit.
"Hey, everyone," he said cheerfully once the smoke had cleared. "What's going on?"
Once he was filled in on Jezabel, for he had been with his master for the last few days, he clapped his black paws together gleefully.
"Wonderful!" he cried. "Finally, someone else my age."
"And size," Munkustrap added.
The magical cat just grinned.
When Rumpleteazer returned home, she found Jezabel waiting for her. She liked having the cat around, kept her company when Mungojerrie wasn't there. But she did share Munkustrap's concern about Jezabel possibly not being a Jellicle.
"Where's your family?" Jezabel asked out of the blue.
"Me three sisters are somewhere in England. So's me brother. I think ," she said, busily straightening things up. Mungojerrie was coming over for lunch.
"Don't know 'ere, though. Mum's been gone awhile and don't know about me pop. Really, Jerrie's all I got." She paused thoughtfully.
"And you now, love."
Jezabel smiled.
"Whot about you?"
"Mom's gone," she said with a sad distant look. "Dad was sold after I was born. One of my brothers was sold and the other wandered off and I haven't seen him since."
Rumpleteazer had stopped her work to look at the young cat. Poor dear, she thought. Been through so much.
"What about Munkustrap?" Jezabel asked.
Rumpleteazer was as much surprised by that question as by Jezabel's sudden interest in family, but then she smiled slyly. "Got a thing for Munk, 'ave you, dear?" Jezabel's brow wrinkled in confusion. "What?"
The older cat shook her head. "Neva mind. 'As he got any family? Not really. 'is granddad ez Old Deuteronomy, 'oo I was telling ya about. But no one else. Now, 'at's a sad story, if I eva 'eard one. But for the truth, ya 'ave to ask 'im yourself. Everything else is just rumors."
"No family," Jezabel said quietly. "That's an awful feeling. Poor Munkustrap." A plan was formulating in Rumpleteazer's head. "'at 'ould all change now 'at you're here, love." And Jezabel was too naive to understand what her friend was suggesting.
* The idea of disownership is the creation of the author. If you would like to use it get in touch with the author. Thank you.
Chapter 5: Jellicle Or Not?
" 'The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think?)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went 'bow-wow-wow!'
The calico cat replied 'mee-ow!"
The was air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it was always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, 'Oh, dear! what shall we do?'
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw-
And,oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate!
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)
The next morning, where the two had sat,
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: They ate each other up!
Now what do you think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)
The Jellicles laughed and applauded Jezabel when she finished her tale. She had been with them only two days and was already hounded by the kittens for her stories. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had taken her under their wing and taught her everything about the Jellicles from the Jellicle Ball to Macavity, as well as what they knew about life. Munkustrap always checked, though, to make certain they didn't teach her to be notorious as well.
She was quite popular among the other Jellicles, too, save for Demeter. And probably a little too popular among the toms. Munkustrap kept a particularly close eye on Tugger. He did think it was odd, however, that Bombalurina didn't see Jezabel as a threat to her and yet Demeter did. Munkustrap shook his head. He just didn't get it; Demeter always said there was something she wanted to be to him and it wasn't his sister. She would never be specific and Munkustrap didn't try to find out. Being a Jellicle leader was too time- consuming.
And he was concerned about Jezabel. Despite the friendliness of the others, she tended to keep her distance from them. She didn't talk much or let others get to know her. And she was always with either Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, or himself. This made him worry about her being a Jellicle. He hadn't seen any other Jellicle have this much trouble fitting in, not even Grizabella who wasn't accepted by the others at first.
Oh, well. That was what the meeting with the other Jellicles was for and that was where he was headed.
Munkustrap stretched inside his crate and was just about to step outside when a streak of gray and black bolted into the crate. He turned around unsurprised. This was an everyday occurrence.
"Who's been getting too friendly this time, Jez?" he asked the shaking ball of fur.
"T-t-tugger," she replied wide-eyed. Jezabel had taken to running to Munkustrap for protection whenever the toms got too close.
Munkustrap let out a low growl. Just wait 'til I get my paws on that cat! he thought.
"Come on, Jez," he said motioning for her to follow him out. The cat shook her head. He sighed and sat beside her.
"Look, Jezabel. I'm starting to worry about you."
Jezabel grimaced. She knew what was coming.
"You haven't been making very many friends among the Jellicles," Munkustrap cocked his head to the side.
"I know," she said, green eyes gazing at him pitifully. His heart melted.
"And I know you're having trouble trusting anyone but Jerrie, Teazer and myself. But give them a chance. They're good cats."
With that Munkustrap got up and headed out to the meeting he was late for.
Jezabel sighed and curled up tightly knowing that he was absolutely right.
All of the Jellicles were gathered in the center of the Dumpster. In their mist, on top of a garbage bin sat Munkustrap. He held up his paws for silence and the chatter ceased.
"You're all here, as you know, to discuss our newest arrival, Jezabel."
Someone let out a wolf whistle.
Munkustrap shot a warning glare in that general direction and continued, " She has been with us for two days and despite everything I have not been able to determine if she is a Jellicle or not-"
"Not a Jellicle?" Alonzo cried. "Then what's she doing here?"
"Shut up!" Mungojerrie hissed angrily at him, but the others had already been stirred up.
"Munkustrap, how could you let a non Jellicle stay among us?" someone asked.
"I don't know that she's not a Jellicle," he responded as the noise grew louder.
"She could be a spy for Macavity!" someone else cried.
Munkustrap rolled his eyes. "She is not," he said irritably. "She never been out of her house before."
Pouncival, who liked Jezabel very much but wanted to create some trouble, stood up on a soap box.
"She's not a Jellicle! But a bloody purebred!" he cried, shaking his fist in the air. The others began to get riled up, murmuring about evil purebreds.
"Hey!" came an indignant cry from Cassandra. "I'm a purebred!"
"So am I!" piped up Victoria.
"Me, too!" a few others cried. The crowd began to turn on Pouncival.
"Oh." was his sheepish reply.
"Idiot!" Rumpleteazer snapped at him.
Munkustrap waited until everyone had settled down again. "I have decided to let Jezabel continue to stay here until Old Deuteronomy comes. Then it is his decision."
The Jellicles murmured their approval except Pouncival, who felt it was better to keep his mouth shut.
A flash of light and a cloud of smoke appeared next to Munkustrap. Mistofelees waved his paws in front of him trying to clear the smoke causing Munkustrap a coughing fit.
"Hey, everyone," he said cheerfully once the smoke had cleared. "What's going on?"
Once he was filled in on Jezabel, for he had been with his master for the last few days, he clapped his black paws together gleefully.
"Wonderful!" he cried. "Finally, someone else my age."
"And size," Munkustrap added.
The magical cat just grinned.
When Rumpleteazer returned home, she found Jezabel waiting for her. She liked having the cat around, kept her company when Mungojerrie wasn't there. But she did share Munkustrap's concern about Jezabel possibly not being a Jellicle.
"Where's your family?" Jezabel asked out of the blue.
"Me three sisters are somewhere in England. So's me brother. I think ," she said, busily straightening things up. Mungojerrie was coming over for lunch.
"Don't know 'ere, though. Mum's been gone awhile and don't know about me pop. Really, Jerrie's all I got." She paused thoughtfully.
"And you now, love."
Jezabel smiled.
"Whot about you?"
"Mom's gone," she said with a sad distant look. "Dad was sold after I was born. One of my brothers was sold and the other wandered off and I haven't seen him since."
Rumpleteazer had stopped her work to look at the young cat. Poor dear, she thought. Been through so much.
"What about Munkustrap?" Jezabel asked.
Rumpleteazer was as much surprised by that question as by Jezabel's sudden interest in family, but then she smiled slyly. "Got a thing for Munk, 'ave you, dear?" Jezabel's brow wrinkled in confusion. "What?"
The older cat shook her head. "Neva mind. 'As he got any family? Not really. 'is granddad ez Old Deuteronomy, 'oo I was telling ya about. But no one else. Now, 'at's a sad story, if I eva 'eard one. But for the truth, ya 'ave to ask 'im yourself. Everything else is just rumors."
"No family," Jezabel said quietly. "That's an awful feeling. Poor Munkustrap." A plan was formulating in Rumpleteazer's head. "'at 'ould all change now 'at you're here, love." And Jezabel was too naive to understand what her friend was suggesting.