Chapter 5
Growing up by the Ball
For a cat, time slipped by fast. Before she knew it, her third Jellicle Ball was not far away. Mistoffelees had mated with Rumpleteazer at the previous ball, and now they were both considered as young adults. And Victoria knew, that soon, she would have to do the same. One day, when Victoria was resting on the front porch, watching Mistoffelees playing tag on the lawn with Etcetera and Jemima, Juliet suddenly came out from the house.
"There you are, pretty," Juliet smiled and sat down next to Victoria, and watched the chasing cats in the yard. "Too lazy to play today? Well, I can't blame ya."
"How are you kitties doing today?" Juliet smiled at them. "Nice of you all to stop by. I'd think that Lestat and Phoebe can get really lonely sometimes. And you, Sandy, haven't knocked over my mini rose pot again, have you?"
Etcetera meowed in deny.
"You be a good girl," said Juliet, "and hey, Chastity, you haven't seen Anita home, have you?" Juliet went over to scratch Jemima's ears. Jemima knew that Juliet was a good friend of her human, Anita's, and that was how she got to know Juliet, because she visited Anita at their house often.
Victoria jumped off of the porch and ran toward Juliet and the small group, unwilling to be left out.
"Hey, you know what, Phoebe?" Juliet smiled as Victoria approached her. "Exactly two years ago on this day, you became a part of my life. And consider what a lucky day this day is, we should do something to celebrate. And now that your friends are all here." She took out an exquisite little box from her hands, and Mistoffelees, Etcetera, and Jemima all went closer to surround Juliet and looked at the box with great curiosity.
"Now, I know, that even when Lestat came into our house, I never put a collar on his neck, thinking that it might make him uncomfortable," said Juliet, "but when I saw this, I just couldn't press down the urge of buying it for you." She opened the little box and took out a small collar, decorated with small white stones that looked almost like real diamonds and crystals that glinted in the sunlight, and gently slipped it around Phoebe's neck.
"There, let me see how beautiful you are," Juliet looked at Victoria and smiled, "Ha! I was right! This is perfect on you! Do you like it?"
She took out a tiny mirror from her pocket and placed it in front of Victoria.
Victoria gazed at the white cat with the beautiful collar in the mirror, and let out a joyful purr. She rubbed her head on Juliet's hand, and turned her head around to show off the beautiful collar to Mistoffelees, Jemima, and Etcetera.
"Now, just wear it like a necklace," said Juliet, "all girls need some adornment on them to make them look pretty, as they're born to be. That's what my mother used to tell me all the time. But if it gets too uncomfortable, let me know and I'll take it off, ok?"
Victoria rubbed her back against Juliet's legs, and Juliet picked her up to give her a kiss on the face.
Juliet adjusted the sparkly collar on Victoria's neck a little, and patted her head.
"When I have money someday, maybe I'll get you a collar with real gems," she smiled as Victoria purred, and took her paw into his hand. "But plastic stones look just as good for now, I guess. At least lighter."
"How pretty!" Jemima walked around Victoria and gave the collar a good sniff, while Electra and Etcetera stared at it with almost looks of envy in their eyes.
"Now, you guys. Be good. I gotta go back in to do my work now. Don't stay out too long, ok?" Juliet smiled at the cats, and turned around to go back to the house.
After Juliet left, Victoria turned to Mistoffelees, and noticed him gazing at her with dreamy eyes.
"You look even more beautiful," Mistoffelees said when Juliet went back into the house. "Now, you're lucky, 'cause I can never even stand to look at a collar and imagine something like that around my neck. I'm satisfied enough with my bowtie." He pointed at the small patch of black fur under his neck that shaped somewhat like a black bowtie.
Victoria laughed and gently nuzzled him.
"Your human really spoils you, doesn't she?" Electra said.
"Now you might wanna watch out, Misto," Etcetera said, giggling, "now that she's even prettier, you might risk getting more rivals out there."
"Stop it, Etcetera! Tugger is enough for you to mind for now," Victoria pushed Etcetera onto the ground, and all burst into laugher.
"Oh, come on, no big secret!" Etcetera got up from the ground and licked her paw. "I mean, all of us are gonna get it someday, right? And Jemima and 'Pounce-a-wall' are already on the way!"
"Oh, Etcetera, shut your mouth!" Jemima slapped Etcetera's shoulder, with her cheeks turning red already, and Etcetera nearly choked with laughter.
"Oh, by the way, have you heard, that Tugger's humans are too worried about him not eating too much lately, that they're stuffing him double?" Etcetera said.
"Yeah," Victoria put a paw on her mouth to keep herself from laughing out. "Which is exactly what Juliet's doing to Misto."
Mistoffelees pouted as Victoria finished her sentence.
"You think that's funny?" he cried, "yesterday she sat in front of my dish and wouldn't let me leave until I had finished what was in it, and I ended up throwing up all night last night, don't you remember? I know that you and I mean half the world to Juliet, but this kind of love, I can do with less."
"Sorry, Misto, not to hurt your feelings, but I gotta say, that I agree with your human," said Jemima, "I mean, look at you! I can swear that I weigh more than you do! Really, what is keeping you alive?"
"Well, let's just say that, I have a metabolism bigger than anyone can ever imagine," Mistoffelees grinned, and they young queens all laughed.
"Hey, look! It's Tugger!" Etcetera suddenly screamed as she pointed toward the direction. Not far away from them on the road, Tugger was sauntering by with Bombalurina on the side. Etcetera and Jemima immediately hopped onto their paws and rushed over, forgetting about Mistoffelees and Victoria, and they were joined by Electra coming out of her house.
"Tugger! Tugger!" the troupe of kittens surrounded Tugger in a flash, and apparently he wasn't prepared for it at the moment.
"Silly kits, still trying to win his heart, huh?" Mistoffelees looked at the kittens. "I think that'll remain the goal of their lives as long as they live."
"Well, maybe after all this time, they still haven't realized that none of them can," said Victoria, "I mean, I've noticed that they'd probably drop down dead with joy if Tugger talks to any one of them for more than a few minutes. Maybe they still haven't gotten the picture of Tugger and Bombalurina?"
"They don't want to, that's the problem," Mistoffelees chuckled, "when Tugger just wants to flirt for a while, they'd take it seriously, not thinking that a playboy like Tugger can never be serous. And maybe that's why Bombalurina hasn't died of jealousy yet, because she realizes this part. But poor Tugger still has to live up to his reputation."
"What reputation does he have that I don't know of?" Victoria asked.
"Nothing much, really," Mistoffelees said with a chuckle. Victoria looked over at Tugger who was surrounded by the group of kittens. "You know, I always wonder, why don't they go after other toms? Surely there are toms in this junkyard who are just as good as Tugger, maybe even better?"
"Well, toms like Tugger suit their fantasies," said Mistoffelees, "they're a bunch of little kitten queens, and they have their crazy crushes on the ones who they think are the 'coolest', of course. I think you've known Tugger long enough to see that."
"I admit that I like it when he teases me like a little kit and plays with me," said Victoria, "but that's just playing, and he treats me more like... a little sister. Besides, if he dares to go further, wouldn't Bombalurina kill him?"
Mistoffelees laughed. "But you're not a 'little sister' anymore. Soon, you'll be considered a real queen."
Victoria's face turned serious.
Mistoffelees rubbed his face gently on Victoria's fur. "You know that you're up next for the mating dance at this year's Jellicle Ball, right?"
Victoria nodded.
"Very soon, Old Deuteronomy will announce who will be the chosen tom to bring you to young adulthood. Are you prepared for it?" Mistoffelees asked.
Victoria looked at her snow-white body, still small yet now taking on a much fuller shape as opposed to two year before. She will be two in cat age and fifteen in human age not long before the ball, and she'd have to go through what was probably the toughest task she had yet felt the need to face.
"Do I really have to do it?" she asked; her voice sounding so bleak and helpless.
"Unless you want to remain a kitten forever," said Mistoffelees.
"But... but... oh..." Victoria couldn't go on.
"Look at yourself," Mistoffelees said, and Victoria looked down to again study her own body. It was true, she had grown bigger and fuller, but there was something else, too! She stared at the full breasts that were now clearly bulging out, and her hip that was clearly taking on the curves of a grown queen. She sighed and moved her eyes away.
"Vicki," Mistoffelees called gently, "after this ball, you and I, we won't be able to consider ourselves as what humans call 'young puppy lovers' anymore. We're both young adults after this, and our relationship will be more like that of Munkustrap and Demeter's, and Alonzo and Cassandra's, do you get it?"
"Does... does it really have to... change?" Victoria shook her lips.
"I wouldn't call it changing," Mistoffelees smiled, "I would call it maturing. I mean, I'd say, when we were kittens, our love cannot be called real romance. But when we all grow up, little love will mature into real romance."
Victoria nodded, smile returned to her face.
"So, after the ball, you can say, that we can keep everything the way it's been since two years ago, only we can take it a little further. After this, we can truly declare ourselves as mates, like the adults."
Victoria's face brightened.
"So, from now on, you'll be able to say that I'm your mate, like what Munkustrap calls Demeter, what Alonzo calls Cassandra, and what Skimble calls Jenny?" she said, with delight in her voice.
"Right after you 'grow up' at the upcoming ball," Mistoffelees winked.
Victoria threw herself into Mistoffelees's arms.
"Misto," she said, licking Mistoffelees's face. "How lucky I am to have found you, how lucky I can be with you!"
"I feel the same way," Mistoffelees caressed Victoria's back. "Lucky that I've found you, and lucky that, I can have you love me."
"Now I kind of feel sorry for them," Victoria looked at Electra, Jemima, and Etcetera who were surrounding Tugger, each desperately hoping for more attention.
"Oh, don't," Mistoffelees smiled, "sooner or later they'll grow wise to find out themselves. It's just a matter of time. Now watch this!"
Mistoffelees waved his paw around in the air and suddenly a ripe apple fell off from the tree branch above their heads and flew toward Tugger and the group of kittens in a flash, followed by three yells of "ouch" coming one after another as the apple bounced on top of each of the three kittens' heads.
"Misto, was that you?" Tugger first stared at the three kittens in front of him flabbergasted, and then noticed the laughing Mistoffelees and Victoria in the distance.
Mistoffelees waved his paw, as Bombalurina was bent over with laughter.
"Misto, that was mean!" Electra cried.
"But that was a good shot!" Bombalurina called, as the kittens straightened the fur on their heads.
"Well, Misto, you just had to interrupt, huh?" Tugger said, trying hard to look cool while his face was red from holding back his laughters.
"Just thought I'd add some more fun to the fan club," Mistoffelees called.
"Well, that was more than enough," Tugger straightened his back and put his paws on his belt, while the kittens all glared at Mistoffelees. "Hey, Vicki, shouldn't you be at Asparagus and Jelly's for your writing lesson now?"
"Oh, oops," said Victoria, looking up at the sun. "I guess we gotta get going!"
Victoria and Mistoffelees ran toward Tugger and the fan club.
"You came here just to tell us that? How nice of you, Tugger," Mistoffelees said.
"Misto, wait till we get our revenge!" Electra picked the apple up from the ground and tossed it as hard as she could toward Mistoffelees.
A fire spark suddenly flew out of Mistoffelees's paw and in one second, the apple exploded into little pieces and came bouncing down on the three kittens.
"Oh, no, apple rain!" Jemima cried as she docked with her paws on top of her head, and Etcetera and Electra soon did the same.
"How many times do I need to tell ya, be careful when you're fooling around with a magical cat," Tugger smirked on the side.
"Ok, fine, Misto, you win again this time," Electra raised her head.
"Darn it, I should've known..." Electra mumbled.
Mistoffelees clapped his paws together a few times and smiled.
"So, what are you up to, Tugger?" Victoria asked.
"Well, Bomba and I have to ask Jelly something for Jenny, so we might as well go there together," said Tugger, "and Etcetera, would you stay away from my belt?"
"Oh, come on, Tugger, the kit's just playing with ya," Bombalurina winked, rubbed her shoulders against Tugger, and smiled like a seductress. "There would be no fun without some little kittens running around all the time, would it?"
"Is that an offer for tonight, babe?" Tugger asked, wriggling his eyebrows and catching up with her sexiness.
Mistoffelees and Victoria looked at each other and grimaced, then both made a face as if about to throw up.
Tugger moved his face close to Bombalurina, only to receive a reply of a bite on the nose in return.
"Ouch! Bomba!" Tugger cried, and Mistoffelees and Victoria tried their best to constrain their laughters.
"You think I'm that easily swayed, huh, big boy?" Bombalurina blinked her big eyes. "You're gonna have to catch me if you can!"
"Ok, are we going or not?" Mistoffelees asked.
"Yes, we are..." Tugger said, and suddenly grabbed Bombalurina and swung her over his shoulders, and ran ahead with her twitching and screaming.
"Hot red queen burning him bad," Mistoffelees muttered, and quickly ran after Tugger with the giggling Victoria, and the kittens noisily followed.
"Hi, Asparagus, hi, Jelly!" Mistoffelees and Victoria called when they entered the tent on the side of the junkyard under which Jellylorum and Asparagus usually stayed during the day with Etcetera.
"Hello, hello, dears!" Jellylorum called, quickly cleaning out a space. "Ready for your lesson today?"
Victoria nodded. "Can we read some more of Gus's playbills?"
"Why, of course, Vicki," Asparagus smiled, "I brought more today."
"Say, Jelly, we got a question for ya," Tugger said.
"Yeah?" Jellylorum asked, looking up.
"Jenny wants us to ask you if you can find some spare fabrics so she can make name tags for her mice," said Tugger.
"Oh, dear sister of mine," Jellylorum sighed, "always those mice! Well, tell her that I'll see what I can do."
"Ok, thanks! You folks have a good day!" Tugger smiled and walked off with Bombalurina, with the group of kittens following behind.
"Everlasting Cat, that Etcetera," Jellylorum sighed, watching the back of her daughter disappear from her sight. "I wonder when she's gonna grow up."
"Oh, come on, dear, she's still young, let her have some fun her own way," Asparagus smiled, while he spread out a pile of old playbills on the ground. "Here you are, little ones. Which one shall we start?"
"Um, Jelly, can I ask you something?" Victoria suddenly looked as if she was remembering something.
"What, dearie?" Jellylorum asked.
"Well, last night, I saw... an old Jellicle," Victoria said, looking at Mistoffelees, who was giving her a look of "how come you said nothing to me", and swallowed. "Her coat was gray and looked shabby, and she also looked like she was limping or something. I saw her walking by the street, and felt kind of strange about it. I was just wondering, if anyone would know who she is? Is she also one of us?"
Jellylorum and Asparagus immediately exchanged a look of alarm.
"She was gray, you said, and her coat was shabby?" Asparagus asked.
Victoria nodded. "And she looked very old, very tired, and... very sad."
Jellylorum and Asparagus again exchanged a look.
"Do you suppose it could be Grizabella?" Asparagus asked in a low voice.
"The description certainly matches," said Jellylorum, looking at Victoria.
"Grizabella, you said?" Mistoffelees looked surprised, "none of us have seen her for at least two years!"
"I thought the same thing," Asparagus said, "I didn't think she'd come back again after knowing that she was no longer wanted."
"No longer wanted?" Victoria opened her eyes big. "What do you mean by that?"
Jellylorum gave Asparagus a look of "should we tell her?" and shook her head.
"Ok, is there something that I should know but haven't been told?" Victoria glanced from one to another.
"Well, this is something that... I'd rather not tell young Jellicles about. But I can tell that you're probably very eager to know now. And since you're going into young adulthood pretty soon and are more mature than the average kittens, I guess I'll tell you then," said Jellylorum, glimpsing outside. Through the door of the tent they could see Tugger flirting with Bombalurina and teasing the other kittens, well Tumblebrutus and Pouncival were rolling on the floor and hitting each other in their usual "kitten fight" game. Munkustrap was on his usual spot, keeping a vigilant eye on everything in the junkyard, and Demeter was sitting beside him grooming her fur.
"Grizabella was a glamour cat," Jellylorum began, "and Misto already knows this. When she was young, she was the most beautiful and elegant queen you could imagine, yet very arrogant and sometimes, even somewhat willful. When she first came into the tribe, she was the most attractive queen in the junkyard, and also the most grandiose. Jenny, Skimble, Asparagus, and I were all still quite young by then, and I had to say we all admired her for her beauty and charm. Just before she reached middle age she became Old Deuteronomy's last mate and later the mother of Munkustrap and Alonzo, and after a year, Tugger."
Victoria looked at Mistoffelees, who seemed to be understanding the question that she was having in her mind.
"Tugger, however, is not Old Deuteronomy's son," Jellylorum licked her lips and continued. "Old Deuteronomy knew that when Grizabella gave birth to him, regardless of her attempts to hide the truth from everyone. Soon after Tugger was born, however, she left the tribe and disappeared, leaving Tugger behind for Old Deuteronomy to raise, knowing fully well that he was not his. Everyone searched for her, but she was gone without a trace. Until when Demeter suddenly returned, also after a long period of disappearance, the story of which you'll learn later, we heard from her that on her way she was helped by an old gray queen, who took care of her a little and had shown her the way back to the junkyard. And after Demeter came back, an old gray cat was spotted roaming around near Tattenham Court, and the Jellicles who knew Grizabella immediately recognized her, although we were all shocked at the first sight of her after such long time. She looked too different, and for a while we couldn't believe our eyes that were telling us that that was Grizabella the Glamour Cat. Everlasting Cat, she's grown so old, looking so jaded and withered, and has long lost her glamour. After a while of investigation, we finally found out what had happened to her after she ran away. We all somewhat felt sorry for her, but by then, we all knew, that we could no longer accept her as one of us after what she's done."
Victoria's mouth was wide open, and she appeared to be overwhelmed.
"But where did she go after she left the tribe?" Victoria asked.
"It would be too much for someone your age to understand, Vicki," Jellylorum sighed, "But I guess if I tell you now, then I might as well tell everything. When she left, she became what we saw as no less than a whore.
"What?" Victoria cried.
"Yes, you heard me," Jellylorum sighed, "but after all, she was a glamour cat."
"A whore?" Victoria's jaws were nearly dropped to the ground.
"For now, all you need to know now, is that when Grizabella left the tribe, she had abandoned everyone, even those whom she supposedly loved. We all could tell that she was unwilling to handle the responsibilities that she'd have to face as a mother of three and the solid truth of her having a bastard kitten, and the life she had while she was with the tribe was still not enough for her, and she wanted more. Since then she's long become a wanderer, though she's shown up at the junkyard a few times. And from the look of her, she might not have that much longer to live."
Victoria gasped and put a paw on her chest.
"This part of the history, only the older Jellicles of the tribe know," said Asparagus as he put a paw on Jellylorum's shoulder. "Misto and you are the youngest who know the secret. All I'm asking you is that you do not mention a word to another kitten what you've just heard from here, and also, never, ever, mention anything relating to this in front of Tugger. The poor thing still feels he's grown up in shame, and I think you can understand what he might feel as much as we do now that you've heard the whole story about his past, which is indeed, not something very pleasant. We know Tugger too well. On the outside, he can seem more flamboyant and tough than anyone else, but inside, he can be as fragile as a kit. This part of him is very much like his mother."
Victoria nodded slowly and stared distractedly at a small brown spot by her paw on the ground.
"In fact, I think it might be better for us to not even let Tugger know that Vicki knows this," said Mistoffelees, "the more that we know, the worse he'd feel. And you know how much he hates Grizabella, and how much he despises his background. Let's just keep this between us, ok? Maybe we'll let Jenny and Munkustrap know that we've told Victoria this, but I think it would be for Tugger's good if we keep him believe that only few Jellicles in the tribe knows this big secret."
"Misto's right," Asparagus looked at Jellylorum. "The less we say, the better. I do agree with you that Vicki is someone who deserves to know this, but we gotta think about Tugger, too."
Jellylorum sighed. "I truly wish none of this had happened. When Grizabella was with us, everyone was so happy. Despite her glamour ways, we all liked her. She was never really a responsible mother to Munkustrap and Alonzo, for glamour cats can never be the mother-type. But they, along with Old Deuteronomy, all loved and adored her. Up till this moment I'm still unwilling to admit to myself that I'm one of the many who shun her and are unable to forgive her. But there's nothing anyone can do."
"When will she be forgiven?" Victoria asked.
"I don't think there ever will be a time, Vicki," said Jellylorum.
"Why?" Victoria asked, "I'm sure she feels regrets for what had happened."
"Things are just too complicated, sweetie," said Jellylorum, "she just cannot be one of us anymore. In fact, now I feel, maybe she should never have become one of us."
"But why does it have to be this way?" Victoria asked when she walked out of Jellylorum and Asparagus's tent with Mistoffelees. "Why would no one forgive her? After all, she was once a member of the tribe."
"I wish I can explain, but I can't really speak for anyone," said Mistoffelees, "I never knew Grizabella that much, so I can only believe what everyone tells me. I know that she's been seen here and there on occasions, flitting about the no-man's land from sundown to dawn. When they discovered her again after she left, they knew she wasn't dead, and that was all. Because of what she's done in the past is considered much inappropriate and embarrassing to the tribe, all the Jellicles have since shunned her, especially Tugger, who hates her more than you can ever think for letting him born without a legitimate identity. I know that Tugger has always been very close to Old Deuteronomy, who's always been like a father to him, but he blames Grizabella for him not born as Old Deuteronomy's real son. Tugger and Munkustrap and Alonzo have always been like brothers to each other, but Tugger doesn't want to introduce himself to anyone as Munkustrap and Alonzo's brother, because he thinks it's only half true. Well, Grizabella was indeed wrong in the past, but the fact that everyone still clings to this and refuses to let it go is what puzzles me."
"She must be very lonely," said Victoria, "I can almost imagine how sad she must be all the time..."
"I can imagine," said Mistoffelees, "I know that she wants and even tries to join us again, but they wouldn't let her. They all say that once she abandoned the tribe, in their hearts she was gone forever. They say that she had gone out and become and prostitute, and that we cannot accept a cat like that into our lives. And besides, from what I've heard, how she looks right now also disgusts the other Jellicles, making them want to get away from her even more."
"But that's not fair!" Victoria cried.
"I, too, think that we're treating her a little too harsh, but what can we do?" Mistoffelees sighed.
"Can't we give her a second chance?" Victoria asked, "I'm sure she can start anew with the tribe if only we'd allow her!"
"I wish we can," said Mistoffelees, "when did you see her, by the way?"
"Um, last night, after Juliet went upstairs and you were in the kitchen. I was just sitting on the windowsill in the living room and looking outside, and I saw her out on the street," Victoria replied.
"I wonder what she's doing here," Mistoffelees uttered.
"Maybe she wants to see the tribe again?" Victoria asked.
Mistoffelees shrugged.
"Hey, Misto, hey Vicki!" Mistoffelees and Victoria turned around and saw Alonzo and Cassandra coming toward them.
"Hi!" Mistoffelees greeted.
"What are you guys up to?" Alonzo asked.
"Oh, we just came out of Jelly's," Mistoffelees replied.
"Ah," Cassandra licked her long fingers and smiled. "Writing lesson again?"
"Well, sort of," Victoria said, though she knew that they really didn't do much writing while they were at Jellylorum's.
"Such a wonderful day!" Alonzo raised his head to the sun.
"Uh-huh, and romantic, too," Cassandra winked and nuzzled Alonzo', who slipped an arm around her waist.
"Are you all ready for the ball?" Alonzo asked.
Victoria and Mistoffelees nodded. "We can't wait, as usual."
"And you, Vicki, are going to have a new adventure this year," Cassandra smiled, bending her slim, flexible body down and leaned on one of Alonzo's hind legs.
Once again Victoria's face turned from white to peach red.
"What are you doing? Harassing the poor thing again?" they heard Bombalurina's voice coming from behind them, and saw the tall scarlet queen ambling over, with her hips habitually moving from left to write as she moved her hind legs.
"Oh, no, not at all," Cassandra said, standing back up. "We're just discussing the ball here."
"About what? The mating dance, I bet?" Bombalurina grinned.
Victoria had to turn her face away.
"What's Tugger doing, by the way?" Alonzo asked.
"Over there tanning," Bombalurina indicated with a nod toward a rusted Ford in the back of the junkyard. "I decided not to join him this time, because my skin's gonna get toasted if I stay in the sun for another three and a half hours."
"So, we're gonna have another meeting tomorrow, so I've heard?" Cassandra asked.
"Yeah, Old Deuteronomy has to make the big announcement," said Bombalurina, glimpsing Victoria, who was almost hiding behind Mistoffelees now.
"Hey, dear," Cassandra bent down and put a paw on Victoria's shoulder. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. We've all done it."
"I think she's still shy about it, Cassie," Alonzo whispered in Cassandra's ears.
"Oh, come on, Vicki," Bombalurina said, "nothing to worry about! It's actually fun if you think about it the right way. I mean, if you get down there the right way, it actually makes you feel good for a special moment. Besides, it's the Jellicle tribe tradition. Who's gonna laugh at you?"
"Bombalurina, come on," Mistoffelees said, "she has totally different ideas. You'll only make her more uncomfortable by saying these kind of things to her."
"Oh, come on, there," Bombalurina walked over and stroked Victoria's ears. "Every Jellicle has to mate sooner or later, so you can just say to yourself that you're getting it over with. And besides, it's not like you don't know how it's done. You've seen it at the last two Jellicle Balls, haven't you? It's no big deal, if you think about it. And the mating dance doesn't last that long anyway. Once you're doing it, you won't be uncomfortable anymore. It's easier than you think, really! After this one time, you wouldn't mind it anymore. I'm speaking from personal experience here."
All heads turned from Victoria to Bombalurina.
"Is there something that you haven't told us about, Bombalurina?" Mistoffelees asked, glancing the car on which Tugger was stretching on from the corner of his eye.
Alonzo and Cassandra both had to cover their mouths to press down their urge of bursting into laughter.
Victoria moved out from behind Mistoffelees and gazed at Bombalurina, half amused, half confused.
"Me and my big mouth," Bombalurina mumbled and rolled her eyes, trying her best to cover her embarrassment by forcing out a normal expression. "Nothing, forget that!"
Mistoffelees and Victoria exchanged a look, and suddenly spat out a laughter. Alonzo and Cassandra, unable to hold any longer, also burst out laughing uncontrollably.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, very funny," Bombalurina muttered.