I sat in an alleyway, shivering and giving an occasional yelp of pain. The
kittens were ready to be born, but was I ready to let them? It was a long
way from the place I once called home, the jellicle junkyard. A long way
from my mate. I had wanted to see the world; one little junkyard was just
not enough. So I left. Not realising that small bulge in my stomach was
kittens.
"Damn Deuteronomy," I cursed my mate, when another wave of contractions passed over me. Giving birth in an alley, a far cry from where I should be. Far from what any glamour cat should be doing.
I sighed exhaustedly as I looked down at my four kittens, 1 queen, and three toms. One white, one silver, one black and beige, and one black and white, all healthy. I curled up around them, making sure they got enough heat for the night.
"Hello kittens, I'm Grizabella, your mum."
(a few months later)
"No Munkustrap, you've got to sneak up quietly, then pounce quickly," I instructed my eldest kit.
They had all come along nicely, now I was perfecting their hunting skills. Munkustrap tried again and this time was rewarded with the plump mouse he had managed to catch. He was a fast learner. Noticing the others hadn't been successful he called them over and shared out the mouse. He would be the one to look after them when I... I shook the thought away; I hated myself for even just thinking of leaving them. But for some time now I had been itching to roam and explore the world, without kittens tagging along. Now would be the time, they could all look after themselves, I had made sure of that from the beginning. They were about six months old now, they'll be fine without me, and they'll be able to get on with life. Just to make sure I called them over to me,
"Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger, Alonzo, Griddlebone!"
They ran over obediently, such handsome kittens, not an ugly runt among them.
"Have I ever told you about the jellicle junkyard?" I asked them. They shook their heads silently.
"Well, it's a wonderful place, I lived there once."
"Is our dad there?" Griddlebone asked. She was always asking about Deuteronomy, I hadn't really told them a lot about him and that I regretted. Deuteronomy would have loved them.
"Don't Griddle, you'll upset mum," Munk warned her. He was protective over the others and me, like a mini-Deuteronomy really.
"It's ok Munkustrap. Deuteronomy was kind, loving, and very wise. He is the leader of the jellicles. You know Munkus? You are very much like him."
Munk screwed up his nose slightly. He wasn't convinced,
"Well, why did you leave then?" he asked.
I shrugged, "I wanted to get out, to see the world and then settle down when I was a little older. But I didn't realise I was pregnant with all of you at the time."
I smiled warmly at them,
"If ever you're in trouble or are not sure what to do I want you to go to the jellicle junkyard."
"But how will we know where it is?" Tugger asked. This tom was starting to get the beginnings of a mane; he would be a heart breaker.
"All jellicles know, almost without really knowing. Follow your instincts and that is how you find it."
"Maybe you could take us there one day mum," Alonzo purred as he curled against me, the others followed suit. Why wasn't I taking them there? Why was I leaving them to fend for themselves? Secretly I knew the answer. I was scared. Being near the junkyard meant being near Deuteronomy, I couldn't face him, not after just disappearing like that. When I was sure my kittens were asleep I kissed them gently and quickly disappeared once again into the night.
"Damn Deuteronomy," I cursed my mate, when another wave of contractions passed over me. Giving birth in an alley, a far cry from where I should be. Far from what any glamour cat should be doing.
I sighed exhaustedly as I looked down at my four kittens, 1 queen, and three toms. One white, one silver, one black and beige, and one black and white, all healthy. I curled up around them, making sure they got enough heat for the night.
"Hello kittens, I'm Grizabella, your mum."
(a few months later)
"No Munkustrap, you've got to sneak up quietly, then pounce quickly," I instructed my eldest kit.
They had all come along nicely, now I was perfecting their hunting skills. Munkustrap tried again and this time was rewarded with the plump mouse he had managed to catch. He was a fast learner. Noticing the others hadn't been successful he called them over and shared out the mouse. He would be the one to look after them when I... I shook the thought away; I hated myself for even just thinking of leaving them. But for some time now I had been itching to roam and explore the world, without kittens tagging along. Now would be the time, they could all look after themselves, I had made sure of that from the beginning. They were about six months old now, they'll be fine without me, and they'll be able to get on with life. Just to make sure I called them over to me,
"Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger, Alonzo, Griddlebone!"
They ran over obediently, such handsome kittens, not an ugly runt among them.
"Have I ever told you about the jellicle junkyard?" I asked them. They shook their heads silently.
"Well, it's a wonderful place, I lived there once."
"Is our dad there?" Griddlebone asked. She was always asking about Deuteronomy, I hadn't really told them a lot about him and that I regretted. Deuteronomy would have loved them.
"Don't Griddle, you'll upset mum," Munk warned her. He was protective over the others and me, like a mini-Deuteronomy really.
"It's ok Munkustrap. Deuteronomy was kind, loving, and very wise. He is the leader of the jellicles. You know Munkus? You are very much like him."
Munk screwed up his nose slightly. He wasn't convinced,
"Well, why did you leave then?" he asked.
I shrugged, "I wanted to get out, to see the world and then settle down when I was a little older. But I didn't realise I was pregnant with all of you at the time."
I smiled warmly at them,
"If ever you're in trouble or are not sure what to do I want you to go to the jellicle junkyard."
"But how will we know where it is?" Tugger asked. This tom was starting to get the beginnings of a mane; he would be a heart breaker.
"All jellicles know, almost without really knowing. Follow your instincts and that is how you find it."
"Maybe you could take us there one day mum," Alonzo purred as he curled against me, the others followed suit. Why wasn't I taking them there? Why was I leaving them to fend for themselves? Secretly I knew the answer. I was scared. Being near the junkyard meant being near Deuteronomy, I couldn't face him, not after just disappearing like that. When I was sure my kittens were asleep I kissed them gently and quickly disappeared once again into the night.