Part Three

Chapter Five

After a long bath, Kid was reintroduced to his coat. He was surprised to see himself a clean kitten when he glanced at his reflection in the creek that ran through the Junkyard. His fur had an off-white base and was striped with splashes of rusty red, black, and orange. This is actually me, he thought, marveling the wonder of a good bath. This is me, only clean!

Kid returned to the place where he had met with Bombulurina and Demeter, only to see them waiting for him and to inform him that he had taken so long bathing, all the kittens had gone home and they didn't need his help.

When Bomby and Demeter had left, Rumpel leaned over to Kid. "You cin come over ta my place," she said.

"You're place?" Kid asked. Kittens could choose their own homes in the Junkyard?

"It's a dream house!" Rumpelteazer laughed, so he took her word for it and followed her.

"Ya see, most cats prefer diggin' up a nice cozy den," Rumpel explained, "but I have slightly different taste. Ah, 'ere it is!"

Kid gaped. In front of them was a broken down car. Rumpel was right! To own their own car would be any alley cat's dreams, and now his were to be fulfilled!

Five minutes later, the two kittens were stretched out on top of the car. "Ya know," said Rumpelteazer suddenly, "you need a betta name then jus' Kid. Ya need a Jellicle name."

"How do I make one?" Kid asked.

"We think of it, dumbo!" laughed Rumpel. "What was your real name?" she asked, as if she knew that Kid couldn't be anyone's real name.

Kid thought for a while. Then he remembered! He heard it the day before he was kidnapped! "Jerry," he said.

They thought a little while longer. After about ten minutes, Kid stood up and thrust out his chest. "My name," he said proudly, "is Mungojerrie!"

Rumpel whistled, impressed.

Mungojerrie lay down again, then turned to Rumpelteazer. "By the way," he added, "you cin call me Mungo."

Chapter Six

"He escaped?!" Macavity roared. "I had big plans for that kid!"

Bruno swayed uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to upset you boss, I was under Octavier's command..."

"You fool," Macavity hissed. "I would have expected better from a dog! I'm glad Octavier's been disposed of, however," he added. "He knew perfectly well that I knew Jerry would make a good henchman ever since I lay eyes on him, the damn idiot. If that kitten could survive falling into the territory of a mad Pollicle dog, I knew he would make a fine assistant."

"I quite agree with you, Macavity, you know everything..."

"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, YOU FILTHY MUTT!" Macavity barked, and he hurled a broken bicycle tire the dog's way. "I HAVE NO USE FOR IDIOTS!"

The mongrel whimpered pathetically and ran out of the alley, tail tucked.

=..=

Mungo was suddenly awakened when he felt himself being pushed off the roof of the car. His eyes snapped open and found himself looking Rumpelteazer straight in the face.

"Wha' did ya wake me up for?" Mungo asked, though he knew that he should expect anything after living with her for over two cat years.

"It's my birthday, goofball," she giggled, rolling off him.

" 'Ow could I 'ave forgotten?" Mungo muttered.

"Hey, it's not ev'ry day ya get ta turn fifteen," she said happily. "I only wanted someone ta celebrate with," she added, pretending to be hurt.

"Can' ya jus' let me sleep?" Mungo asked sleepily.

"Uh...." said Rumpel, as though she were considering it, "NO!"

Rumpelteazer pounced. Laughing, Mungo wrestled playfully along. They played for a while, wrestling, rolling and tickling until Rumpel got up and let him get to his feet. "What should we do for breakfast?" she asked.

"Can' we jus' wait a little while?"

"Fine. I'll guess I'll jus' hafta go ta Jake's by myself, huh?"

Mungo's ears pricked upon hearing the name of his favorite barbeque restaurant. "Let's go then!" he said eagerly, glad to get some food and wreck havoc.

" 'Ere we are!" said Mungo when they reached Jakes. His mouth watered as the smell of barbeque wafted under his nose. He turned to Rumpel. "Strategy one, two or three?"

"Four."

Mungo grinned. He knew what that meant. Instead of going around the back where they usually went in, they would go in through the front, which would cause a bigger riot.

"The more the better," Rumpel added wistfully, as if she thought Mungo wasn't up to it.

"Let's go!"

Rumpel grinned, and they went in.

=..=

Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer returned to the junkyard with their sacks full to the top of barbeque. After pushing their bags in through the window, the quick-change comedians squeezed into the front seat to enjoy their meal.

"I was lookin' forward to some good food like this," said Mungo, stuffing his face with chicken. "Actually, I was plannin' ta bring ya here firs' thing in th' mornin' on account of yer birthday, Rumpel."

"Ya gotta be kiddin'! I couldn' get ya outta bed 'till I mentioned Jakes!" Rumpel laughed.

"Really!"

"Don' try an' fool me! Yer as dozy as a Great Dane!"

All of a sudden, lightning flashed across the sky. What scared the two young adults was that it was a perfectly sunny day, which only meant one thing:

"Macavity!"

"Mungo, stay inside!"

"You think I'm crazy?" Mungo nervously nibbled his barbeque chicken. "What makes you think that I'm gonna jump ou' the window or somethin'?"

"Yeah, wha' kinda cat thinks 'e's awake when 'e's asleep?"

The two Jellicles crouched under the dashboard until the other cats came back out. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer leaped out the moon roof and dashed out to see Munkustrap.

"What 'appened?" Rumpel asked.

"One of the kittens," he replied sadly. "He took one."

"Which one?"

"We don't know. He didn't have a name yet."

Mungo wasn't paying attention. He knew why the kitten was taken. Obviously he had done something of great talent under the Hidden Paw's watchful eye. He could feel his hair bristle, but all he could hope was that the kitten would be smart and not get into any trouble with Macavity.