Chapter 7: More Of The Past Revealed
Jezabel woke up in her own bed an hour before dawn. Yawning and stretching, she tried to remember what had happened the night before. She then remembered her talk with Munkustrap about family and her heart was saddened. While she enjoyed being free, she was terribly homesick, too. She missed her comfortable lifestyle, and everything was so new to her that it was frightening. She also remembered that Old Deuteronomy was coming at dawn and that she was going to be presented to him soon. Stepping outside, she decided to find a quite place to think and groom herself and try to remember everything Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie had taught her.
She found what she was looking for under an old tree that grew twisted by a dirty brook. She had just about finished her grooming and was admiring the shine on her coat when she heard a voice behind her say,
"You're Jezabel, right?"
Heart thumping in panic, Jezabel whirled around on the voice to find no one there.
"Cat got you're tongue?" the voice asked with a chuckle as a black cat materialized before her.
This was too much for Jezabel and she was up the tree in a flash.
Mistofelees craned his neck trying to see up through the leaves. "I guess they forgot to tell you about me, huh?" he called.
No answer.
"Uh, look, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
No answer.
"Um, I'm Mistofelees."
Still no answer.
"Could you come down, please. I don't bite. Honest."
Jezabel came down a ways and walked out onto a sturdy limb. But that was as far as she would go. She peered suspiciously at the black cat. Strange, he looked so very familiar and yet she was positive that she had never seen him before.
Mistofelees was getting the same feeling. He cocked his head to the side.
"Have we ever met before?" he asked wishing she'd come down. His neck was beginning to hurt.
"No," she said shortly.
"Oh. I see. Um, look, Munkustrap sent me to get you. There's something he wants to go over with you before Old Deuteronomy gets here."
Jezabel scooted back up the tree.
Sheesh, Mistofelees thought, I'd have better luck talking to the tree! Munkustrap said she was a little high-strung. He wasn't kidding.
"Come on," he tried again. "I'll walk you back."
She shook her head no.
And he let out an exasperated sigh.
Think of something to say, Mist, he willed himself. Come on, what did Munk say to tell her about?
He thought hard, his face strained in earnest concentration. Then it came to him. Tell her about your family. That was it. When Mistofelees had asked him to explain, he wouldn't.
There was nothing to lose...
"Um, I can tell no one told you anything about me, so I guess it's up to me." He sat down and leaned against the tree. "First off, I'm an orphan."
He glanced up and saw Jezabel sliding down the tree trunk, stopping just above his head.
That certainly got her attention.
"When I was little, my eyes had just been opened two days, the house we lived in caught on fire. My mom saved my sister and me. But I fell into a sewer. I never saw my sister again and don't know if my mom and brother ever made it out."
Jezabel came all the way down the tree this time and ran off in front of him.
So much for that, Mistofelees thought. Wonder what scared her off this time?
But Jezabel wasn't running away; she was just putting distance between them. She stopped six feet away from him and looked at him intently, waiting for him to go on.
Mistofelees looked at her in shock. He swallowed.
"You, um, y-you, look like what my sister would have looked liked if she were here now," he said struggling to maintain his composure. If I cry in front of her, Munkustrap, it's your fault!
It was those eyes of hers, those haunted eyes that must have witnessed something terrible.
"My mother was killed by a car while she was saving me and my brothers from our burning house." Jezabel spoke clear and strong, making the other start a bit.
Mistofelees hung his head in grief.
"Mama was the prettiest black cat there was. I can still remember sleeping between her white stocking paws."
"Daniel?!"
He jerked his head up to find that the silver cat was now three feet away.
"H-how, how did you know?"
Daniel was the name he had been given by his first human owners. His first human name. No one could possibly know that unless...
"It's not possible," he breathed.
The two cats, who were approximately the same age, stared wide-eyed at each other.
"My brother was a black cat just like you. He wandered off and I never saw him again," Jezabel said her chin quivering, and her eyes growing wet. "My other brother, Jimmy, was a tan kitten and sold to a different family than me."
"Jezzy?"
"Danny!"
With that they collapsed into each others arms sobbing in happiness and grief. When they pulled apart neither could speak. Finally, after so long, brother and sister were reunited.
Daylight broke through the tree leaves. Neither had seen a more glorious morning.
"Old Deuteronomy will be here," Mistofelees cried. He broke into a happy grin. "Oh, I can't wait for him to meet my sister." He was tickled by the way the word sister sounded. "Sister," he said again. He loved the sound of it.
They began to run for home when Jezabel stopped abruptly. "We have to tell Munkustrap first."
"He'll find out soon, Jezzy," he said, giving her a funny glance.
"No, Dann- I mean, Mistofelees," she smiled shyly, "I owe him that much. He should know first."
"Whatever," he replied joyfully. Together they took off for the Dumpster.
"That's wonderful!" Munkustrap exclaimed when he heard the news from an ecstatic Jezabel.
Just wonderful, he thought. His heart sunk.
He knew he should have been happy from them. Poor Mistofelees had always felt out of place among the Jellicles with no family. That was why he and the young cat were so close. But something inside him died as the brother and sister hugged. Jezabel would no longer need him; she had Mistofelees. And Mistofelees wouldn't need him either; he had Jezabel.
As the two kittens before him talked, he tried to keep his countenance cheerful. They could never know how he felt. A dark cloud of gloom settled over him. Now it was official; everyone had someone, but him.
After he had sent the two off to prepare for Deuteronomy's arrival, he slumped over and allowed himself a good sob. Not only had he lost both members his adopted family at once, he was about to face the Jellicle Leader's wrath. Life began to look very bleak for poor Munkustrap.
"You're kidding, right, Dem?" Bombalurina asked her sister with a frown marring her face. Jellylorum shook her head in disbelief. "I would never have thought she'd do that."
"Me neither," said Cassandra quietly. She looked pained as though she were torn between something.
"I'm not kidding," Demeter said with firm conviction. She was pacing around the drain pipe her eyes blazing. "That's why she doesn't associate with any of us and thinks she's too good for our toms."
Demeter looked about her to make sure she had everyone's attention. "Further more," she continued, "She's a rich house-cat. Munkustrap told her about his family. He's never told anyone but ME that!" She replaced the sob that was rising up with anger. "She knew his grandmother was a rich house- cat and his mother, too. Now she's after him!"
Jennyanydots studied the furious feline. True, Jezabel didn't associate with the cats much. But Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had absolute faith in her and spoke about Jezabel as proud parents would their kitten. And despite the cats' notorious reputations, their opinions were valued and respected. Jennyanydots was afraid that Demeter was reading too much into things. She had never seen Jezabel do anything like Demeter was suggesting. She sighed and shook her head as Bombalurina said,
"The poor cat is afraid of the toms. And that's all Tugger's fault!"
Demeter glared at her sister.
"Why are you defending her?!" she hissed crouching low, ready to pounce. "Soon she'll go for Tugger!"
The other cat rolled her eyes. "Did you forget who we're talking about here? The Rum Tum Tugger, Dem. Come on."
Demeter stomped her foot angrily. "She's trying to steal my mate and you all are making excuses for her!" With that she broke down in tears.
Her sister ran to her. "Oh, Demi, don't cry! Whatever you want me to do I will!"
"He's not you're mate yet, Demeter," Jennyanydots spoke up. "Don't forget that."
Demeter bristled and hissed at her. Cassandra and the queens crowded around Demeter all promising to do whatever she wanted.
Demeter smiled slyly. "This is what I want you to do."
Jennyanydots didn't wait to find out what the cat wanted. She left to go find Skimbleshanks.
A while later the others left to get ready for Old Deuteronomy's arrival. As Demeter stepped out of the drain pipe with a smug look on her face, Victoria stopped her.
"Are you sure about this, Dem?" she gazed at the other with wide innocent eyes.
The tabby's eyes flashed. "Of course, I am!" she snapped. "And if you're wise you'll keep Mistofelees away from her!"
Victoria watched sadly as Demeter left. She had started to get to know Jezabel and liked the cat. what she didn't like was being caught between a rock and a hard place.
Jezabel woke up in her own bed an hour before dawn. Yawning and stretching, she tried to remember what had happened the night before. She then remembered her talk with Munkustrap about family and her heart was saddened. While she enjoyed being free, she was terribly homesick, too. She missed her comfortable lifestyle, and everything was so new to her that it was frightening. She also remembered that Old Deuteronomy was coming at dawn and that she was going to be presented to him soon. Stepping outside, she decided to find a quite place to think and groom herself and try to remember everything Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie had taught her.
She found what she was looking for under an old tree that grew twisted by a dirty brook. She had just about finished her grooming and was admiring the shine on her coat when she heard a voice behind her say,
"You're Jezabel, right?"
Heart thumping in panic, Jezabel whirled around on the voice to find no one there.
"Cat got you're tongue?" the voice asked with a chuckle as a black cat materialized before her.
This was too much for Jezabel and she was up the tree in a flash.
Mistofelees craned his neck trying to see up through the leaves. "I guess they forgot to tell you about me, huh?" he called.
No answer.
"Uh, look, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
No answer.
"Um, I'm Mistofelees."
Still no answer.
"Could you come down, please. I don't bite. Honest."
Jezabel came down a ways and walked out onto a sturdy limb. But that was as far as she would go. She peered suspiciously at the black cat. Strange, he looked so very familiar and yet she was positive that she had never seen him before.
Mistofelees was getting the same feeling. He cocked his head to the side.
"Have we ever met before?" he asked wishing she'd come down. His neck was beginning to hurt.
"No," she said shortly.
"Oh. I see. Um, look, Munkustrap sent me to get you. There's something he wants to go over with you before Old Deuteronomy gets here."
Jezabel scooted back up the tree.
Sheesh, Mistofelees thought, I'd have better luck talking to the tree! Munkustrap said she was a little high-strung. He wasn't kidding.
"Come on," he tried again. "I'll walk you back."
She shook her head no.
And he let out an exasperated sigh.
Think of something to say, Mist, he willed himself. Come on, what did Munk say to tell her about?
He thought hard, his face strained in earnest concentration. Then it came to him. Tell her about your family. That was it. When Mistofelees had asked him to explain, he wouldn't.
There was nothing to lose...
"Um, I can tell no one told you anything about me, so I guess it's up to me." He sat down and leaned against the tree. "First off, I'm an orphan."
He glanced up and saw Jezabel sliding down the tree trunk, stopping just above his head.
That certainly got her attention.
"When I was little, my eyes had just been opened two days, the house we lived in caught on fire. My mom saved my sister and me. But I fell into a sewer. I never saw my sister again and don't know if my mom and brother ever made it out."
Jezabel came all the way down the tree this time and ran off in front of him.
So much for that, Mistofelees thought. Wonder what scared her off this time?
But Jezabel wasn't running away; she was just putting distance between them. She stopped six feet away from him and looked at him intently, waiting for him to go on.
Mistofelees looked at her in shock. He swallowed.
"You, um, y-you, look like what my sister would have looked liked if she were here now," he said struggling to maintain his composure. If I cry in front of her, Munkustrap, it's your fault!
It was those eyes of hers, those haunted eyes that must have witnessed something terrible.
"My mother was killed by a car while she was saving me and my brothers from our burning house." Jezabel spoke clear and strong, making the other start a bit.
Mistofelees hung his head in grief.
"Mama was the prettiest black cat there was. I can still remember sleeping between her white stocking paws."
"Daniel?!"
He jerked his head up to find that the silver cat was now three feet away.
"H-how, how did you know?"
Daniel was the name he had been given by his first human owners. His first human name. No one could possibly know that unless...
"It's not possible," he breathed.
The two cats, who were approximately the same age, stared wide-eyed at each other.
"My brother was a black cat just like you. He wandered off and I never saw him again," Jezabel said her chin quivering, and her eyes growing wet. "My other brother, Jimmy, was a tan kitten and sold to a different family than me."
"Jezzy?"
"Danny!"
With that they collapsed into each others arms sobbing in happiness and grief. When they pulled apart neither could speak. Finally, after so long, brother and sister were reunited.
Daylight broke through the tree leaves. Neither had seen a more glorious morning.
"Old Deuteronomy will be here," Mistofelees cried. He broke into a happy grin. "Oh, I can't wait for him to meet my sister." He was tickled by the way the word sister sounded. "Sister," he said again. He loved the sound of it.
They began to run for home when Jezabel stopped abruptly. "We have to tell Munkustrap first."
"He'll find out soon, Jezzy," he said, giving her a funny glance.
"No, Dann- I mean, Mistofelees," she smiled shyly, "I owe him that much. He should know first."
"Whatever," he replied joyfully. Together they took off for the Dumpster.
"That's wonderful!" Munkustrap exclaimed when he heard the news from an ecstatic Jezabel.
Just wonderful, he thought. His heart sunk.
He knew he should have been happy from them. Poor Mistofelees had always felt out of place among the Jellicles with no family. That was why he and the young cat were so close. But something inside him died as the brother and sister hugged. Jezabel would no longer need him; she had Mistofelees. And Mistofelees wouldn't need him either; he had Jezabel.
As the two kittens before him talked, he tried to keep his countenance cheerful. They could never know how he felt. A dark cloud of gloom settled over him. Now it was official; everyone had someone, but him.
After he had sent the two off to prepare for Deuteronomy's arrival, he slumped over and allowed himself a good sob. Not only had he lost both members his adopted family at once, he was about to face the Jellicle Leader's wrath. Life began to look very bleak for poor Munkustrap.
"You're kidding, right, Dem?" Bombalurina asked her sister with a frown marring her face. Jellylorum shook her head in disbelief. "I would never have thought she'd do that."
"Me neither," said Cassandra quietly. She looked pained as though she were torn between something.
"I'm not kidding," Demeter said with firm conviction. She was pacing around the drain pipe her eyes blazing. "That's why she doesn't associate with any of us and thinks she's too good for our toms."
Demeter looked about her to make sure she had everyone's attention. "Further more," she continued, "She's a rich house-cat. Munkustrap told her about his family. He's never told anyone but ME that!" She replaced the sob that was rising up with anger. "She knew his grandmother was a rich house- cat and his mother, too. Now she's after him!"
Jennyanydots studied the furious feline. True, Jezabel didn't associate with the cats much. But Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had absolute faith in her and spoke about Jezabel as proud parents would their kitten. And despite the cats' notorious reputations, their opinions were valued and respected. Jennyanydots was afraid that Demeter was reading too much into things. She had never seen Jezabel do anything like Demeter was suggesting. She sighed and shook her head as Bombalurina said,
"The poor cat is afraid of the toms. And that's all Tugger's fault!"
Demeter glared at her sister.
"Why are you defending her?!" she hissed crouching low, ready to pounce. "Soon she'll go for Tugger!"
The other cat rolled her eyes. "Did you forget who we're talking about here? The Rum Tum Tugger, Dem. Come on."
Demeter stomped her foot angrily. "She's trying to steal my mate and you all are making excuses for her!" With that she broke down in tears.
Her sister ran to her. "Oh, Demi, don't cry! Whatever you want me to do I will!"
"He's not you're mate yet, Demeter," Jennyanydots spoke up. "Don't forget that."
Demeter bristled and hissed at her. Cassandra and the queens crowded around Demeter all promising to do whatever she wanted.
Demeter smiled slyly. "This is what I want you to do."
Jennyanydots didn't wait to find out what the cat wanted. She left to go find Skimbleshanks.
A while later the others left to get ready for Old Deuteronomy's arrival. As Demeter stepped out of the drain pipe with a smug look on her face, Victoria stopped her.
"Are you sure about this, Dem?" she gazed at the other with wide innocent eyes.
The tabby's eyes flashed. "Of course, I am!" she snapped. "And if you're wise you'll keep Mistofelees away from her!"
Victoria watched sadly as Demeter left. She had started to get to know Jezabel and liked the cat. what she didn't like was being caught between a rock and a hard place.